“To stick your hands into the rivers is to feel the cords that bind the earth together in one piece.”
~ Barry Lopez ~

There is so much beauty in winter. It is the season of quiet and peace. A kind of tranquility that allows for a reminder to take it slow, think about where you are and where you are headed; consider if this path you are currently on will take you where you want to be. Should you explore a different path, follow your inclination to consider different choices, perhaps an ultimately different you. Or maybe just be still and present, in the moment and let your spirit free to wander in white wintery bliss.

This winter camping experience allowed me to challenge my notions of fear, that held me back before. Fear of the cold, wet socks, freezing frostbite, sleeping on cold hard ground, frozen snot inside my nose. Fear of not being enough, fear of judgment while camping with people I had only met, moments before the trip, fear of losing control. Stuck in the past worried about my future.

But there in the mountain crispness and fresh forest air, I found these people to be kind. They warmed away my worries. We shared and laughed and accepted each other. My leggings got wet and I learned how to dry them using my body heat. I didn’t get frostbite because my guide had provided me with tips on how to warm my hands up while needing the dexterity of my hands and fingers. I adapted to the heat because my guide kept a close eye on my health and how I was feeling, I learned to adjust my layering and use my clothing to keep myself warm. She checked in” to provide the support and guidance I might need at any given time. I learned a lot about confidence by being around such a conscious, empowering and wise leader.

In among the forest stood a lodge pole pine. It was spindly but standing tall, like a wise giant, “that had been through stuff”. The stories it could tell you if it could speak. A tree surviving climate change, and I thought about that as, my guide, shared with us, it’s uniqueness. She told us about how all the trees were different. It changed the way I looked at them.

We took some snowshoe treks through a forest of trees in the shape of alters, and sleeping elves with snow caps as pointed tuques. So many beautiful things to see and take in. Creeks and rivers that had pushed and shifted rocks and mountains. I just wanted to paint all the different shades of green, all the shapes, and lines in the rock. There in front of me was the truth I needed. A beautiful wintery gift. The gift of wonder, of letting go, to explore. We followed a creek to a cave and waterfall.

I usually dip my hands or feet in every stream I pass that leads to the ocean. It’s just a usual part of my hiking experience, it’s something I’m drawn towards, like drawing or making music. We found a sleepy river, and as my hands touched the freezing water, I let the fear go. I felt connected to something far larger than myself. Water still runs underneath the ice, with a force that could pull you under, as it pushes and cuts through rocks. Perseverance can shape and mold your fear into strength, with a little hope and some courage. The longer you keep at something, the more you lose the fear. All of this happens in my heart, and I didn’t have words yet to describe it, because I was having so much fun.

“All the strength you need is already inside you. You will know when to tap into it when you need it” Jenna (the best guide ever), told me, at times when I started to doubt myself. “no judgement here” and “go ahead lead” as she gave us the chance to safely get lost in the trees, and in doing so, my imagination was free. We were liberated, ladies. I could connect to nature in my own way, explore the simple sleeping winter beauty of the Bow Valley. My heart filled up, my spirit was emancipated. I learned that wild women have the most fun! It’s funny how hard it seemed before when all I could see was my doubt and excuses. I was having actual fun being brave, there with my guide and my new musical camping colleague.

Somehow in all the laughter and exploration, my worries melted away with the snow. We were inchworms in mummy sleeping bags and waterfall cave explorers. We were three women getting outside! We were all healers of humans, all shared adoration for nature and we survived camping in a tent, despite the wintery challenges. I will keep my lessons together with my memories of a weekend outside, us three brave women connecting to the interconnected beauty of the wild Canadian Rockies ❤️

Trying a new sport or activity can be both exciting and expensive if you’re starting from square one. There are some key staples you need when embarking upon a season of backcountry hiking and/or camping as well as a number of odds and ends that will make your trip just that much more efficient. Gearing up doesn’t have to break the bank.

Luckily, there are tons of ways to seek out second-hand gear that will meet your needs. Shopping second hand is a good idea for many reasons. For one, it saves money. In addition, taking unwanted gear off someone else’s hands keeps it out of the landfill and does good for mother nature. Cutting on spending while being environmentally conscious? We’d call that a win-win! Here’s what you need to know:

Things to Keep in Mind When Buying Second-Hand Gear

There are two things to keep in mind when purchasing used hiking gear: the price and the condition.

Ensure You Purchase Gear in Good Condition

When buying used gear, you need to make sure it’s still functional and in tip-top shape. For example, if you’re buying a used pack or tent, be sure to check the seams and zippers to make sure there are no tears and everything is in working condition. If possible, set up the tent to make sure all parts are together and working. If you can’t actually handle the gear yourself before purchase, ask for photos or videos of all angles including close-ups.

Run a Personal Price Check

It is possible to get awesome deals when shopping second hand, especially when it comes to lightly used gear. That said, it’s important to check out the original sale price of an item to confirm you are getting a deal for buying it used. Visit the maker’s website, shop around a bit, and negotiate or look for another sale if you feel the price is too close to the original.

Not sure where to look for your used gear? Here are some gold mines we’d suggest checking out:

MECs Used Gear Site

Hop online and check out Mountain Equipment Co-op’s used gear site. This can be found right on their homepage and will give you access to items across Canada. If you’re looking for something specific, you can likely find it here! Because MEC gear is of excellent quality, their used gear is just the same.

Switching Gear in Canmore

Switching Gear is an athletic clothing and gear consignment shop in Canmore. They have a wide range of gear, from packs to paddle boards, and you’re sure to find what you’re looking for here. Because many locals update their gear frequently, the quality and price are typically great and the staff is incredibly helpful. It’s also a bonus to be able to view and try out the gear in person before making a purchase.

Facebook Marketplace

If you’re on the hunt for used gear, the Facebook Marketplace is always a good option. Try Bow Valley Gear Loft, Canmore Buy and Sell, and other local groups. These sales are all independent, but because of the small community, you can often go and take a look for yourself before committing to purchase.

Scouts Canada in Calgary

If you’re ever in the city, Scouts Canada in Calgary has a wide selection of used gear for you to browse. You can find camping equipment, outdoor gear, and more. Visit the site and located the store closest to you. If you can’t make it to Calgary, you can also shop online.

Hop online or head to your local hot-spot to save money on amazing gear.

We’ll see you outside!

​Dress in layers so you can smoothly adapt to all weather conditions. For example, we like to layer up with a long-sleeve base layer, soft-shell jacket, puffy jacket, and a rain jacket. This offers the layering systems to deal with cold, warm, rainy, and everything in between. Wahoo!

Custom Day Hikes

We’re here for you! Want to explore the mountains for a day and leave the crowds behind? Are you travelling? Have family visiting? Looking for something fun or different for a corporate event or club get-together? How about an annual night with friends?


Look no further! We offer fully customized hikes, workshops, and courses for all levels of experience. If you can dream it, we can make it happen!

Plan your custom hike with us today.



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If you want to explore outside, we want to make it happen! We could not be more excited for a summer filled with exploration, connection, growth, and a whole lot of laughter. Can’t wait to meet you!

Giant Smiles,
​the Get Outside Team

The great outdoors are wild, but they sure aren’t free. Get Outside Adventures has started a award aimed at helping women get outside and learn the skills they need to be independent in the backcountry. All contributions will go directly towards sending a woman, who wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford it, on Get Outside’s Women’s Intro to Backpacking course.

We believe that everyone has the right to learn and experience the wonders of the outdoors. As the award grows the number of women sent on experiences will directly increase. What do you say we grow this thing together? Here are a few ways we believe this award can impact women.

1. Help Women Discover New Passions

It is difficult to uncover one’s passion for backpacking if the activity is inaccessible for whatever reason. There are countless sports, adventures, and activities that someone can really identify with, but may never have the chance to experience due to financial or leadership roadblocks. Our programming at Get Outside aims to break all barriers between women and the wilderness. Let’s work together to help more badass women get outside and discover their passions.

2. Get More Women in Outdoor Leadership Roles

There is nothing we love more than women inspiring women. Igniting someone’s passion for the outdoors is simply the very first step in what may become a life-long hobby, career, or lifestyle. As such, the more women we enable to get their foot in the door, the more potential we create for women in outdoor leadership roles. Seems simple, right? That’s because it is!

3. More Women Exploring and Inspiring Others to Do the Same

We are firm believers that seeing individuals like yourself doing something makes it feel more accessible for others to do the same. If women in your community of all ages and abilities are seizing the opportunity to explore and learn in the backcountry, others will be more likely to do the same!

4. More Remarkable Experiences Had by Women

This one’s simple. We want to enable women to experience the remarkable, do things they’ve never done, and step outside their comfort zones. An intro to backpacking may seem insignificant to some, but to others, it is utterly life-changing. Empowering and enabling an individual to experience the backcountry is a pretty powerful experience. One that has the ability to transfer over into others aspect of their life, encouraging them to charge after their goals.

5. Further Expand the Community of Badass Women in the Backcountry

The community of women in the backcountry is indescribably inspiring. Women are constantly doing new things, pushing boundaries, pushing themselves, and supporting one another along the way. Our aim is to support this ever-evolving community by getting as many women involved as possible.

Want to Apply?

If you’d like to apply for our Women’s Award, we want to hear from you! The primary criteria is financial need. Submit your letter describing why you are the best applicant for the scholarship. The letter will be reviewed by Get Outside.
Applications are due by mid-June each year. Successful applicants will be chosen by Get Outside and notified by the end of June. The applicant will then be able to apply the award to any of the Women's Intro to Backpacking courses that season.

If you know someone who is the perfect candidate, please forward this along!

Want to Contribute?

We can’t express how greatly appreciated your contribution is. Click here to contribute.

Happy International Women’s Day! Let’s celebrate the badass women in our lives, today and every day.

What started out as a 2-day hike with a group of women, a seemingly benign physical activity in the safe company of like-minded nature lovers,  turned into a gentle but stormy and completely unexpected discovery into my own heart.
 
I had been meaning to learn how to backpack and hike solo for a long time. When I walked into a hiking/camping gear shop one day I was met with a wonderfully joyous and confident face, a lovely young woman, who was offering exactly what I had been searching for; a guided 2-day, women-only hike with lessons on how to pack your gear, set up a tent, store food in the wilderness, prepare meals, and much more. On top of it all, we'd learn how to do in an ecologically friendly way. A dream come true. I went home with the brochure and pondered the opportunity for a few weeks. Ultimately myself and a friend signed up.
 
The night before the hike was the orientation night which was a lot of fun, of course. This is the part where I got to meet my travel mates, and we learned how to pack our bags properly. After the initial night of packing our bags, l was apprehensive but excited. It had started to rain and I wondered how everything would turn out.
 
Next morning it was still raining hard. In the solitude and safety of my hotel room, I gazed out the window at the puddles of water forming on the asphalt parking lot. I hadn't slept well, which wasn't unusual. I was going through a separation and an imminent divorce. The wounds weren't just fresh, I was still right in the middle of my battle. New wounds forming every moment.
 
After a quick breakfast, my friend and I headed over to our group meeting point. It wasn't raining quite as hard anymore. I wished for clear skies. My wish would come true over the course of the day.
 
After another brief orientation and chat, we started hiking. The first thirty minutes of the hike were fine, but I started to question my stamina. I questioned my strength. I questioned my decision to do this hike; this was all on easy terrain. Then came our first tiny climb. After about 15 steps I gave up. I told Jenna that I was ready to go home.
 
Jenna gently assured me that I could do it and that she'd be there behind me to support me all the way to our destination. I believed her during the second part... but not the first. She would have to reassure me several more times over the course of the two days.
 
I'm not sure what I was expecting, but what I received was patience, encouragement, and kindness from Jenna and my hiking friends. I couldn't understand it.
 
In these beautiful natural surroundings, with the breathtaking mountains around me, the crisp fresh air, the sound of the carefree birds, and the company of a group of wonderful women, everyone with their own challenges and battles, somehow I felt calmer. When I accepted my vulnerability, I no longer felt alone.
 
I have realized this over the years; when you are truly left alone, you aren't able to see yourself.  I've mistakenly thought I'm impermeable in those times. When you open yourself up to the unexpected, whatever it may be for you... kindness, beauty... the moment you think there is support behind you, that you may be accepted and appreciated just for who you are, that it's okay to be where you are in your life (despite your resistance to it), that's when the real test begins - facing your own unraveling. And, truly, showing up is half the battle.
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So, show up to your fears, to your bucket lists, to your vulnerabilities, to the rewards, to peace, to the joy that's still within you, to the kindness inside that you need to show to yourself at last, to the core of who you are. Rumi said, "The wound is where the light enters." Be willing to be healed. 
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This post was written by ​Milada "The awesome"

Serves 1

​Wow, what a spectacular place! It blew my mind away to stand within the ruins and feel the energy. My mind struggled to imagine what it would have taken to build these magnificent structures; the amount of sweat, strength, and cooperation required. Intricate carvings covered the walls, pillars, and pretty much any exposed rock surface. I can’t begin to fathom the number of hours and the dedication that went into creating this place, wow!!!

The temples of the Angkor area number over one thousand, ranging in scale from piles of brick rubble scattered through rice fields to the Angkor Wat. Some of the other temples include, but not limited to, Bayon, Angkor Thom, Ta Prohm, and Banteay Srei.

Unaccustomed to the 35deg temperatures, our patience dwindled as we worked our way through the hordes of tourists. That’s when the creative juices started flowing!

With the help of some locals we created our own tour! Was it ever worth it! ​

Renting bikes for 7$/day we set out from our hostel to make the 6km journey to Angkor Wat. Cruising along, enjoying the coolness of the self-created breeze, we were stopped at the checkpoint. We had assumed we could buy our tickets at the checkpoint. We were incorrect. In fact, to buy the tickets we had to backtrack 5km…oops! It’s good we were enjoying the cool breeze that came from cycling! HA!!

Okay, take two!

We successfully found the ticket office and reached the west gate of Angkor Wat. Locking the bikes up we crossed the 7m deep moat that is guarded by 7 snakes with 7 heads…do you see a theme? (no, we can’t walk on water, there is a floating dock). Here we hired a tour guide ($20USD) and learned a ton from him, he also took awesome photos, but I swear it was his knowledge that I appreciated.

Recognizing, that we had reached our limit we retreated from the heat of the day with the goal of setting out to see the rest of the temples the following day. 

Take three!!

Waking at 5am. We set out on our bikes, darkness surrounding us, cars and scooters flying by. Who doesn’t love a sun rise? OK, yes, there are many people who would rather be tucked in bed rather than watch the sun come up, but I am not one of those people. Watching the sun rise gives me such energy, such optimism, I simply love it. What a better way to witness this daily ritual than to see the sun rise over Angkor Wat? Thousands of people also had the same intention. Crowded around the pond, everyone was trying to get the most spectacular photo reflecting on the water’s surface. But, I had a secret weapon hidden up my sleeve…or, standing next to me. My partner, happens to be 6’3”. No better place to take a photo than perched on his shoulders! HA!

Craving some quiet, we hopped back on our bikes and started our adventure! Biking towards Bayon, the home of the smiling stone faces, we left the crowds behind. Immediately crossing the moat and passing underneath the arch we turned left following a sandy trail. What a surprise! This trail took us up onto the wall surrounding Bayon and Angkor Thom. Looking down at the moat we took in the calmness, trying to remember it all as we cruised along. Seeing only the occasional local we had the place to ourselves! Following the wall, we eventually popped out at the west entrance to Angkor Thom. It was so cool to see the crumbling smiling faces. Away from the crowds, less restorative work had been completed, leaving more of reality stared back at us. I can’t express how cool it was to see this. 

We worked our way through the various structures. Stopping along the way we took time to rub noses with the smiling faces, get sketched out on very steep stairs, and meditate in the cool shade. We eventually left Angkor Thom through the north gate, following the main road towards Preah Khan. This is where my spirit soared! Before Preah Khan there is a 90deg left hand turn. At the apex of this turn is a random trail that heads off into the jungle. After checking out the sights at the temple we doubled back to see where this trail would take us. My heart loved the excitement as we rushed through the jungle! Random, pure fun! Eventually we popped out at a southern view point for Neak Pean. It was worth stopping here as we took in the impressive vastness. 

From here we headed south, taking us across a random suspension bridge, and popping out at Ta Nei, a small stone temple that is often overlooked by most tourists. It was a great place to explore, with limited restoration. 

Our ‘off the beaten path’ tour had come to an end. Back on the main road we made our final stop at Ta Prohm, also known as Tomb Raider Temple. This was by far the most crowded temple, attracting those who wanted a glimpse of trees that grew out of the stone. If you are excited to see this particular temple I highly recommend seeing it earlier in your day. I struggled to appreciate it as I wrestled with fatigue and being surrounded by people. 

Taking in all that we witnessed we hopped back on our bikes and made the 12km bike ride home. All in all, our ‘tour’ was approximately 35km and took us all day! It was a great way to see the sights, experience our own adventure, and leave the crowds behind. We valued the freedom that came from creating our own adventure, but hey, biking 35km in 35deg temps isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. If you fall into this category you can always hire a tuk tuk for the day and enjoy the breeze as you get driven around. Get Outside and explore! Love to move!

The next morning, we started on the trail around 9 am in sub-zero temperatures. This created a bit of a dicey experience as we had to hike under a cascading waterfall. The normally easily navigated trail became a skating rink. It was certainly beautiful, but man, it was slippery! Make sure to take the time to appreciate the amazing views of the gorge!

We made it to Tina’s Guesthouse by 11:30am. Here, we bought tickets for the bus ride home and continued hiking to the bottom of the gorge. Following a twisting and turning trail down to the bottom we enjoyed the place to ourselves. I love hiking during the off season exactly for this reason! Taking lots of time to explore and take pictures we returned to Tina’s by way of the sky ladder. Arriving by 1:30 we enjoyed a delicious lunch and too the opportunity to start planning the next part of our trip!