Tips for Sustaining Your Outdoor Adventure Spirit in the Off-Season

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Feeling a bit squirrelly in the off-season and can't wait to get back canoeing, camping, and hiking again? Don't worry! I've gathered a list of activities to embrace the off-season with open arms and keep you busy in preparation for upcoming outdoor adventures. From gear checklists to fitness routines and cooking experiments, this blog post is your checklist to maintaining your outdoor adventure spirit during the winter months.

Winter may be outside, but adventure knows no season!

1. Gear Check and Maintenance:

Take inventory of your camping, hiking, and canoeing gear. Inspect equipment for wear and tear any make any repairs.

2. Knot-Tying Practice:

Improve your knot-tying skills by practicing various knots used in camping and outdoor activities. This knowledge comes in handy for securing gear, making bear hangs, setting up shelters, and more.

3. Research New Trails and Campsites:

Spend time researching and planning for future outdoor adventures. I'm guilty of going back to my favourite spots but I'd like to make a conscious effort to step outside my comfort zone and try new spots. Explore new hiking trails, camping sites, and canoe routes to try in the spring/summer/fall months.

4. Indoor Climbing or Bouldering:

Head to a local climbing gym or bouldering facility to maintain and improve your climbing skills. It's a great indoor cross-training activity that will keep your body in shape and ready to lift those heavy packs or canoes!

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5. Fitness and Strength Training:

Indoor workouts that focus on cardio, strength, and flexibility are a great way to keep in shape for strenuous outdoor adventures such as long hikes or portages. My favourites are yoga, winter running and circuit training gym classes. I also recently tried a Lagree Fitness style class (focuses on slow, controlled motion) at Framework Ottawa and it burns so good!

6. Navigation Skills Practice:

Dust off your old maps and compass, and brush up on your navigation skills. Admittedly, I've become too dependent on modern technology. Knowing how to use a map and compass could save your life if technology fails. If you’re really keen, you can also look into any local orienteering clubs to receive training, further hone your skills or participate in competitions.

7. Cooking and Meal Planning:

Experiment with outdoor-friendly recipes or dehydrating/rehydrating your own food! This is something I've been meaning to try out as dehydrated meals are expensive to buy off the shelf. You could try whole meals or making snacks such as fruit leathers or beef/tofu jerky.

8. First Aid and Emergency Preparedness:

Refresh your knowledge of wilderness first aid and emergency preparedness. Ensure your first aid kit is well-stocked and organized. Practice making slings or splints on a friend!

9. Wildlife Identification and Ecology:

Learn about the local flora and fauna in the areas you plan to explore. Understanding nature is fun and you may opt to learn about which plants are edible or not. Chris McCandless would agree it's a good idea.

10. Outdoor Photography Skills:

Practice your photography skills. Learn more about your camera, photography styles and composition, and experiment with your plants, pets, friends or winter landscapes.

11. Attend Outdoor Workshops or Webinars:

Explore online workshops or webinars related to outdoor activities. These sessions can provide insights, tips, and updates on the latest outdoor gear and techniques. And you might make friends!

12. Read Outdoor Adventure Books:

Head to the library or book store and grab a outdoor adventure related book or magazine to inspire a trip or learn from someone else’s experiences. Some classics and books that I've loved include:

Into Thin Air - Jon Krakauer

Tracks - Robyn Davidson

Into the Wild - Jon Krakauer

In Patagonia - Bruce Chatwin

The Golden Spruce - John Vaillant

Wild - Cheryl Strayed

12. Watch Documentaries or YouTube videos:

If you are looking for a cozy night in, open up your preferred streaming platform and see if there are any inspiring or interesting documentaries that can scratch your adventure itch or give you ideas for your next trip. We recently started watching ‘Patagoinia: Life on the Edge of the World’ documentary series on Prime Video to get us pumped up as we plan our trip there next year.

Youtube is also a fantastic resource for travel planning inspo, camping tutorials and gear reviews.

Do you have any questions, comments or want to share how you maintain your outdoor adventure spirit during the winter months? Comment below!