Innholdsfortegnelse for Spring 2024 i Explore Magazine

Print magazines invite us to slow down. Lean back. Unplug. So, fittingly, they take a proportionally lengthy amount of time to produce—conversely to the fast-paced publishing cycle of the digital world. As such, I’m required to write these seasonal editorials decidedly out of season. Winter editorials are written in fall; spring editorials are typed in winter. Sometimes I find myself looking so far forward I forget—if only for a moment—which season we’re in. I suddenly feel like skiing is on the menu in October or that it’s already over in February. Well, I’m writing this in February. And while the ski season isn’t “over,” it’s on life support. January saw temperatures cresting to more than 18 C in British Columbia’s Lower Mainland; a dearth of snow across the Western mountains…

Think you know Canadian geography? It’s possible that you don’t know much about the island of Anticosti, which lies smack dab in the middle of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, seemingly suspended between the west coast of Newfoundland and the Gaspé Peninsula. The island’s population hovers around 200. Chances are you will be hearing more about this huge, hitherto unknown island, as it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in September 2023. Billions of fossils have the scientific world talking, hence why the island recently secured this designation. You could be forgiven for not knowing much about the largest island in Québec, as it rarely makes the news. The last time it made national news was in 1937, when German ‘investors’ visited, hoping to buy the entire island. Its…

Orvis Pro Fishing Jacket $600; orvis.com For a paddling jacket, we want more than impenetrable protection and a great hood. We also want soft neoprene wrist gaskets, like on this fishing-focused shell. Cinch tabs alone don’t stop water from rolling down our wrists from splashes and dunked hands—not to mention drippy tarps. With a versatile cut that works well for paddling and hiking, we’ve started wearing it for all our wet weather adventures. Costa King Tide 6 $419; costadelmar.com The low-angled spring sun glinting off the water calls for sunglasses with ample protection. The King Tide 6’s large frames and slightly wrapped shape cover a lot of the face—plus, removable side shields block rays from sneaking in the sides. The polarized and scratch-resistant lenses protect the eyes and filter out…

Humanality is one of those rock climbs that’s hard to forget. It ascends the surreal limestone of Tonsai Beach for five pitches. Characteristic of the karst landscape of southern Thailand’s Krabi province, it’s a steep but moderate 5.10d with pocket handholds, jugs and improbable tufas, stalactite-like rock features that seem to drip from the wall, just where you need them. And when you’re finished descending, the final rappel practically plonks you onto a bar stool at a thatched-roof reggae café for a waiting frosty Singha beer. If you asked someone to design their ideal winter rock climbing destination, you could hardly do better. The quality of the rock and the quantity of climbs in a paradisiacal subtropical beach setting with flip-flop approaches coupled with delicious and cheap curries is why…

Ortovox 120 COOL TEC MTN CUT T-SHIRT $110; ortovox.com The 120 COOL TEC MTN CUT T-SHIRT from Ortovox is ideal for intense mountain activities. Its blend of merino and plant-based fibers keeps you cool and dry, while CORESPUN TECHNOLOGY enhances stability. Inspired by nature, perfected for mountain sports. Available in men’s and women’s. PackTalk Outdoor $330; cardosystems.com Don’t get left behind on the ski slopes. Now you can easily talk to your friends and family and share your excitement as you carve down the mountain—hands-free, without internet or cellular connection. Packtalk Outdoor is the world’s best sports communicator, offering the smoothest communication experience on the market. Versatile mounting options allow installation on any helmet or outdoor gear; it’s also durable and IP67 waterproof. YETI Roadie 48 Hard Cooler $600; yeti.ca…

A student’s life can feel like walking on a tightrope. The persistent dread of drowning in deadlines, papers and exams can seem endless at times. But students don’t have to live this high-stakes existence. Imagine if, instead of a challenging balancing act, their path resembled a serene, forested trail. The biggest decision to make is whether to turn left or right at a fork in the road, transforming the academic journey into an exploration of possibilities rather than a constant battle against the fear of failing. The call for incorporating nature into an educational journey is not just a nostalgic yearning for the bygone days of carefree, childish outdoor exploration. It is rooted in a growing body of research that shows positive correlations between students’ health and taking time to…

As sun rays danced on the surface of Eagle Lake in California’s Lake Tahoe area, gentle waves of emotion bubbled up within me. I paused before imposing granite peaks, which towered behind lines of sun-dappled evergreens. With each step to reach this point, I repeated the words “Om Namah Śivāya Om Namah Śivāya,” from a Hindu meditation chant. Tears trickled down my sweat-soaked cheeks as I stared into the vastness of the lake. I was moved not because this was a particularly difficult hike, nor because of the magical scenery, but because I had stood in this very spot more than three years ago, and so much had changed. In January 2020, I went on an impromptu road trip to Lake Tahoe after spending a month at an ashram in…

I didn’t know it on the summit of Mt. Savage (name changed, as it’s self-incriminating), but I was in the midst of committing multiple crimes against unbending natural laws. Ignorance of these laws never buys a reduction in sentence, and the sentences are often biblical: stoning, entombment and lightning strikes straight from the heavens. But I was yet unaware of what my sentence would be. My late friend and noted American alpinist, Jeff Lowe, once wrote roughly, “This planet is perfectly designed as a classroom for humans. The dimensions and living architecture of the mountains, polar ice caps, rivers, oceans, jungles and forests are perfect for extracting every last ounce of effort and creativity from us. As individuals we learn the most by an intimate acquaintance with all of its…

Canyoneering is the sport of exploring a steep canyon using scrambling, rappelling and swimming skills. It’s popular in the southwestern U.S. and Europe but hasn’t taken off in Canada. François-Xavier Gagnon wants to change that. The veteran mountain guide started West Coast Canyoning and applied for permits to run trips on two creeks near Vancouver, British Columbia. That was more than five years ago. He’s still waiting for the provincial government to grant him tenure, which gives him official permission to guide on the rivers. “There are no other tenures in the area,” he says. “The delay really doesn’t make sense.” But it is not surprising to Gagnon or anyone else involved in adventure tourism in BC or the rest of Canada. From coast-to-coast, nature- and outdoor-focused guiding businesses face…

The moment the river current first took hold of the bow of my canoe and began dragging me along with it, I was completely hooked. Canoe tripping down a wild river is completely different from paddling a chain of lakes. A river takes you on a journey, gently floating you on its back one minute and then thrashing like an unbridled horse the next. Running whitewater in a canoe can be tricky and it’s not something you simply jump into. Skills need to be gathered, confidence gained and, more importantly, you need to have the know-how to get out of the canoe and have a look at what lies ahead before running down the rapids. Thankfully, I’ve learned from my past misadventures. Gone are the days when I blindly rounded…

The sun beats down on Tofino, British Columbia’s Chesterman Beach as a dozen or so local groms, clad in thick winter wetsuits, gloves and booties, huddle around the officials table with eyes on Shandy Kariatsumari. Friendly, knee-high waves roll in with a rising tide. Dogs romp across the cold sand. Parents exchange pleasantries, nodding in agreement that conditions couldn’t be better for this kids’ contest training day. “Make sure to wait for the bigger set waves,” Kariatsumari instructs while handing out red, yellow, white and blue competition jerseys. Then the first round of stoked youngsters trot down to the sea, awkwardly clutching their surfboards, eager to conquer the day. As Surf Canada’s education program manager, Kariatsumari orchestrates these development days so Canada’s up-and-coming surf stars can begin to understand the…

In a city surrounded by mountains and outdoor adventure opportunities, one might assume that accessing Vancouver, British Columbia’s wild surroundings is easy. However, for teenagers like Mace Carnahan, navigating access to certain outdoor experiences can prove to be a challenge. Enter Outward Bound Canada (OBC), a charitable organization on a mission to empower youth through experiential adventures in nature. In pursuit of eliminating barriers that prevent youth from accessing quality outdoor activities and education, OBC helps bridge the gap for young people who, like Mace, are hungry for time spent outdoors. In fact, the organization’s commitment to breaking down barriers and providing funded programs for youth underserved with outdoor education is the core of its mission. OBC’s inclusive ethos played a pivotal role in enabling Mace to secure the RBC…

Climber Bea Dres grips her way up “Acid Test,” a 5.12a sport climb in Skaha Bluffs Provincial Park—one of British Columbia’s premier climbing areas, located on the outskirts of Penticton. Of all the routes in Skaha, photographer Cody Shimizu chose to shoot on Acid Test because of the, “overlapping crack system that traverses the wall—making for a really cool, bouldery climb.” And just think—there are 66 crags and 1,000 more climbs in Skaha Bluffs Provincial Park, all waiting to be explored. DETAILS MODEL Nikon D7500 LENS 16-80 mm f/2.8-4.0 SHUTTER SPEED 1/1250 APERTURE f/3.3 ISO 400 FOCAL LENGTH 32 mm…