Wild Tech: I'm not certain that Google gets "Google Glass"

Google Glass:  the wearable device that gives you a heads up display of your life, and allows you real-time positionally and contextually aware information to be superimposed over your view of the world.

This is pure nerd coolness.  The applications are very broad.  You can have directions appear without taking your eyes off the road.  You can locate your friends in a crowd.  You can even display a virtual representation of a new building in its context, and walk around to see how it looks from different locations.  The possibilities are endless.

And, oh yeah, it has a camera.

But to see the promotions coming out of Google, you'd think that was all it had.  The first crop of early adopters are currently playing with their ridiculously expensive prototype "explorer edition" versions of Glass, and while some people are doing some very cool things (like linking tesla car's OS to glass to make a HUD), most seem to be just using it to take and share POV (point of view) videos.  The GoPro cameras have been around for a while, and they do that just fine.  In fact, the videos coming out of Google itself seem to focus on the fact that if you are really cool, and do cool things like fly a plane, or work at a circus, or go up in a hot air balloon, you can allow the less cool people that you know to feel what it would be like to be you.

This focus has led people to assume that if they encounter someone wearing Google Glass, they are being filmed. Not just filmed, but streamed out into the internet in real time.  This kind of assumed assault on the privacy of people has led to the term "Glasshole".

So here is my message to the "Explorers" of Google glass.  Here's an experiment:  Cover the camera.  Have your buddy with a 3d printer whip up a lens cover in bright red plastic that shows the world that you are not streaming it live to Youtube.  The directions, email, etc, will all still work, and you can always reach up and flip up the lens cover when you do want to take a pic.  Sure the augmented reality concepts require a camera to work, but those apps don't exist yet, so you're not losing anything.

It is the display that makes Glass cool, but it's the camera that people don't like.  Don't believe me?  Strap a GoPro camera to your glasses.  I bet you won't look cool, and people will be unconfortable around you.

Aannnd... We're back.

It's been nearly three months since the conclusion of Expedition 2013.  We've been using that time to rest and relax, of course, but we've also been putting the pieces together to begin planning Expedition 2014.  To that end, we've assembled a larger team (five of us right now), and identified some possible destinations for this year's big event. 

On Nov 23rd, Nerds In The Wild met to discuss Expedition 2014 for the first time.  To see some highlights of that meeting (along with our BRAND NEW INTRO SEQUENCE!), check out the video below:

We were able to narrow our discussion down to two possible routes:

• Phillips Ridge to the Golden Hinde.  Hiking to the top of the highest peak on Vancouver Island
• The Hoh Rainforest.  Hiking from rainforest to alpine meadow to glacier in the Olympic National Park in Washington State.

As you can see, we're moving away from coastal hiking and into the mountains this year.  This will no doubt involve some new equipment, techniques, and training.  I can't wait to can't see what new toys we'll need, so keep an eye out for some more "Gear Guide" blog posts.  Also, with a larger group, there will be more opportunities for group training, which should make for some fun "Expedition Update" and "Adventure Report" entries.

Watch for more updates as we ramp up our training and planning towards Expedition 2014!

Commute to Commune: Connecting with Nature on a Busy Workday

There have been a couple of changes since I last wrote.  Autumn has arrived with its array of colors and banks of fog (no rain yet, strangely).  Also, I have a new job in a new city, and that means something in my days that I was lacking previously:  a commute.

Which is not to say that I did not need to drive to work previously.  But my old job took me into the city of Victoria, whereas my new job is in Duncan, which means my commute now contains what is probably one of the most beautiful sections of highway in North America:  The Malahat Drive.

As I've settled into my new routine over the last few weeks, I've begun to notice changes in the scenery as autumn begins to come on strong: leaves changing and falling; sun being lower in the sky each day; etc.  And as I noticed these things, I realized that my commute, of all things, was connecting me to nature and the outdoors more than anything else in my workday.

It seems odd, until you realize that being in a car is often the closest thing people get in a workday to being outside.  And although many people hate commuting for the time it eats up, I no longer do.  It only took a change of perspective:  I don't have an hour-long commute.  I get an hour-long drive through the country every day.

So embrace your commute!  Even the densest urban jungle has nature coming in through the cracks and out of the sky.  Notice it.  Connect with it.  It's probably going to be your only chance all day.

So...Now what?

The videos are up, the gear is put away, the thank yous are sent, and the pain of the experience is fading as the stories grow.  The time has come to put away Expedition 2013 and look to the future.

So, what do I want out of the next year of Nerds in the Wild?  Where will we go from here?  It's a question I've been giving some thought, and I'd like to share some ideas.

First off, there will be an Expedition 2014.  A major outdoors event that culminates a year of planning and training.  It may be bigger or smaller than 2013.  The goal is to do something interesting and somewhat epic, but not necessarily grueling.  It will probably be grueling, mind you, but that's not the point of the endeavor. (Exactly what the point of the endeavor is, I'm still working on.) I have several ideas regarding the expedition's route and destination, but nothing far enough along to share.

Secondly, the team may change.  George has committed for a second year, but I'm considering adding some additional members to our team this year.  Again, it's too early to announce anything, but Team Lentement might be replaced by a new team, name TBD.

Thirdly, we need to amp up the nerd. George and I are hardcore nerds, who work in software companies, play a lot of video games, and discuss whether Rytlock Brimstone could beat Urdnot Wrex in a fight. (If you don't get this reference, don't worry.  It just means you haven't discovered Mass Effect and/or Guild Wars 2)  While our focus last year was to show the amazing epic of the West Coast Trail, our nerdiness was somewhat in the background.  I'm working on several things that will highlight this a bit more without boring those more interested in the "wild" part of "Nerds in the Wild".

Urdnot Wrex

Rytlock Brimstone

Finally, I plan to improve the videos.  This is ongoing obviously, but there are some things that I'm planning specifically.  I'll be playing with new video editing software, possibly investing in an HD camcorder, and working on new graphics.  While I can't promise epic improvements, hopefully there will be a gradual improvement in my filming and editing skills.

Thank you to all who followed me over the last year, and welcome to those who are newly joined.  I'll try to keep things interesting.

West Coast Trail: Thank Yous

I'm home.  The pack is hung up.  The boots are scrubbed and airing out.  The gear is cleaned at stored for the winter.  My feet are slowly becoming less tender. The vids are edited and posted. It was the biggest and most challenging adventure of my life so far.

And so, it's time to send out the thank yous notes to those people and organizations that made this expedition a success.

To George: For saying "we're doing this" consistently, thank you.

To Owl Magazine:  For running an article on the West Coast Trail that I read when I was 12 and thought "I want to do that", thank you.

To Uncle John:  For both having done the trail when I was a teenager, thus proving that it was real and possible, and for loaning me your pack for as long as I want/need it, thank you.

To Rick McCall: For proving that that a desk job is not a valid obstacle to fitness, and for the use of the Gators (which saved me about a million times), thank you.

To Darren Carlyle:  For agreeing to drive us to the trailhead, despite the excessive wear and tear on your van, thank you.

To Marcos Bernal:  For tirelessly encouraging me to video everything, thank you.

And finally, to Cascade Designs, makers of MSR gear:

Dear Sir/Madame,

I have just completed Canada's West Coast Trail as the first major expedition for the Geek/Outdoor blog "Nerds in the Wild" (http://nerdsinthewild.blogspot.com).  Partly as a coincidence, and partly due to availability through the local MEC store here in Victoria BC, our team was equipped with MSR Hubba tents, MSR PocketRocket stoves, and a MSR Sweetwater water filter for our expedition.

I'm writing to you today to thank you profusely for the quality of this equipment.  The tents were light, warm, rugged, waterproof, easy to assemble and disassemble, and the easily fit back in the provided tent bag day after day on the trail.  The stoves were simplicity and durability in a whisperlight package, and cooked our meals quickly and evenly.  And the water filter proved up to our video-game-weakened digestive systems' rather high standards for water quality.

All in all, our gear worked flawlessly, and when we realized it was all MSR gear, we knew we had found a quality line of products.  We will be using MSR gear whenever possible in the future.

Thank you again for helping to make our expedition such a success,
James Wilson
Nerds In the Wild.

Adventure Report: West Coast Trail Day 6

Team Lentement sprints to the finish!

Here's the exciting finale!

Adventure Report: West Coast Trail Day 5

Team Lentement is beginning to really live up to its name as fatigue continues to build.

View on!

Adventure Report: West Coast Trail Day 4

By day 4, fatigue was beginning to show. But we got to eat breakfast at this amazing little restaurant right on the beach:  Chez Monique's!

Enjoy!

Adventure Report: West Coast Trail Day 3

Our journey continues!  This was our longest day, beginning at Tsusiat Falls (km 25) and ending at Cribs Creek (km 42)

And on with the tale!

Adventure Report: West Coast Trail Day 2

Team Lentement continues its journey along the West Coast Trail, beginning at Darling River (km 14) and ending at Tsusiat Falls (km 25)

Here is our tale:

Adventure Report: West Coast Trail Day 1

Here begins my tale:

We christened our team of intrepid hikers "Team Lentement" after the blistering pace we intended to achieve across the muddy, lush, muddy, remote, muddy, inaccessible, and muddy terrain.

Here is the video of the expedition's day 1.

Wild Nerds - The Astronauts are Wrong

I have always wanted to be an astronaut.  I have applied to be one in Canada, the US, and Europe, as well as three private companies and four contests.  There is very little I would not give up to become an astronaut, and they are my heroes.

Scott McCloud: Space Angel. Back when losing an eye didn't mean a flight surgeon downcheck

There is, however, one line that they always seem to use in their public speaking that I have come to disagree with.  The exact wording differs a little, but there is almost always some mention of how

"Mankind is driven to explore.  It is in the very nature of humans to stand upon a hill only to look beyond it to the next one."

Baloney.  If that was true, there would be no need for that speech.  It would be a given.  Also, we would have long since explored the moon, mars, and most of the rest of the planets and moons of our solar system, along with the bottom of the ocean, and every square centimeter of the planet.

In my experience, most people have no such drive.  They are content to live a comfortable life, stay reasonably safe, and have a little fun now and then.  While they might admire explorers, and watch their exploits on Discovery Channel or Nat Geo, they have no desire to go out into the wild themselves and experience those exploits firsthand.

The new 100inch 3d HD tv.  Feel like you're there, without being cold, wet, tired, or hungry

I do feel however, that there is a small but important percentage of the human population that is driven to explore.  Most, I think, stare wistfully at maps, looking for blank spots and dreaming of of a time when iron men commanded wooden ships on journeys beyond the horizon.  Some, like myself, have found some satisfaction in travelling to the edges, where only a small number of people have been before.  A very, very, lucky few get to be astronauts, cave explorers, and National GeoGraphic photographers. Real explorers, in other words.

It's important for the explorers to realize that the majority of people do not share their strange compulsion.  I know that most people can't understand why I would want to trek the West Coast Trail, and that's just a week of backpacking through rough and wild country, with the coast guard never more than a few hours away.  Some people think I'm crazy.  Some admire the journey, but would never join me. And some just want to watch the video on YouTube.

Astronauts are surrounded by the exploration elite, and I think that they forget that most people would rather do just about anything to avoid being strapped to a ten-storey tall tank of rocket fuel which is then exposed to open flame, all to travel to a place that will kill you a hundred different ways in an instant, and seems to filled with absolutely nothing of interest. If they remembered, I think their speeches would be better. Not to mention their fundraising.  The history of government funded exploration can be summed up with "Find the (insert X trade route, Y new land, or Z border) before our enemies do"  Nearly all true blue exploration has been privately funded. Even Columbus had to sweet talk Isabella into providing venture capital.

Next Week on Dragon's Den:  Chris convinces the Dragons to go west to look for the east

So if you want to be an explorer, don't listen to the astronauts.  Instead remember these two basic truths:
1. Most people will think you're crazy, and
2. don't expect taxpayers to foot the bill.

Expedition Update: Sept 3 2013. Ready to Go

Last post before the trip.

Just for fun: What should the purpose of the expedition be?

Today I had to decline a birthday invite from a friend of mine, as his party fell in the middle of the upcoming expedition.  Since we are both nerds and value creativity on facebook, I glibly replied that I was "leading an expedition to search for sasquatch and spirit bear chimeras"  This has gotten me thinking, though.  What should the purported purpose of this expedition actually be?  I've come up with some ideas:

• To investigate rumors of a community of octopus-people living along the coast
• To search for flotsam from part of an ancient city that floated from the arctic in an iceberg and melted off the coast.
• To look for glowing bento boxes carried across the ocean after the Fukushima Tsunami
• To survey the coast and claim it for the Austro-Hungarian Empire
• To find evidence of Hawaiian occupation of Vancouver Island that predates European discovery
• To find the Island of Misfit Toys
• To search for giant atomic robot warriors (using a metal detector)
• To find the entrance to the underground empire of Zork
• To find the wreckage of the TCS Concordia
• To find Captain Jack Sparrow's Compass
• To investigate reports of a dimensional rift
• To find a rumored alien crash site
• To secure a treaty with the forest elf kingdom

Let me know what you think in comments or on Facebook.

Expedition Update: August 27th 2013

I'm back!

I took a couple weeks to spend some family vacation time. I went to Whistler, where I hiked and biked and climbed and had a great time.  I also took in the International Federation of Sport Climbers Youth World Championships, which was here on Vancouver Island this year.  Great times.  But, the departure date for this year's expedition is fast approaching, and it's time to get serious.

I spent Sunday morning purchasing all of the camp fuel and freeze-dried dinners that I will need for the trip.  I still need a little food, namely some more oatmeal for breakfasts, and lunches (which will be comprised mainly of Jerky, trail mix, and chocolate).

I still don't have a good hat.  The weather is cooling, however, so I may just pack a ball cap.

Speaking of weather...it's looking iffy.  I new from the beginning that rain was almost certainly going to fall during my hike, but the weather this summer has been spectacularly good, and I was kind of hoping that it would extend into the fall.  Recently there has been a cooling trend, however, and some showers.  Nothing too terribly worrying, and in any case I'm going even if it pours the whole time, but enough that I'm keeping a close eye on it as departure date approaches.

Transportation to and from the trail has been settled.  George and I are positioning his car at the southern end of the trail the day before we leave, Saturday Sept 8 (we're also doing the trail orientation that day so we don't have to wait for it on departure date) and our friend Darren Carlyle has agreed to drive us up to the Bamfield end of the trail on the 9th, for which we are very grateful.

My training is plateaued for the moment.  I'm continuing to swim for the next week, ending Thursday Sept 5.  Climbing is probably off, mainly because camp food is expensive.

The next week will see the darwinian process of packing:  assembling all my stuff, weighing it, and then seeing what I can get rid of to make it weigh less.  Ideally, I'd like a pack weight of 35 pounds, but we'll see how much it ends up weighing.  Unfortunately, encumbrance in the real world doesn't work like Skyrim, where you're fine right up to your max weight, and then you can't run any more.

All in all, getting really stoked for the expedition:  I can't wait!

Expedition Update: July 31, 2013

For the past week, I've been pretty much consumed by a number of household tasks - such as painting my deck - that needed to be finished before I head out on my family vacation on Friday.  So I have pretty much nothing to report on the front of preparing for the upcoming big hike.  I'm continuing to break in my boots, but everything else, including my training schedule, is being put on hold until I get back in a week and a half.  I should have some good footage from adventures in Whistler then.  Stay Tuned!

VLOG Fridays: North Pole Lakes

A little late, but here's Friday's vid:

Expedition Update: July 24, 2013

This week's expedition update is in video blog format, because it was late, and I was tired:

Enjoy!

Gear Guide: myfitnesspal.com

If you've been following my video blog, or know me in person, it should be fairly obvious that I have reached the age at which my body no longer maintains the fitness level of an Olympic Gymnast without effort while I consume endless quantities of cheeseburgers, onion rings, and milkshakes.  In fact, if you have known me for any length of time, you will have probably known this a lot longer than I have, since I spent close to half a decade in denial of this fact.  During that five year span, I continued to eat the cheeseburgers, onion rings, and milkshakes, which caused me to gain quite a bit of weight.  I also didn't do any serious exercise, which didn't help.

I tried several times to "lose weight" using methods varying from Weight Watchers to a basic guideline of "just eat less".  As is common in this situation, I had some short-term success, followed by long term failure.

I decided to look at the problem differently.  I didn't need to "lose weight".  I needed to "balance my calories" the same way I "balance my chequebook" (not that I have a chequebook.  I have a spreadsheet for my finances, but you get the idea.)  I would try not to overspend my calories, and if I did, I'd have to cut back to "get out of calorie debt", and lose the weight that is the result.  The other thing I learned in my researches is that bodies don't like to lose weight, so the trick is, like any good manager, to spend all of your budget, but not go over.  For my own body, there's only about a 10% window of calorie intake where I lose weight.  Too much, and I gain.  Too little, and my body goes into "starvation mode" and hangs onto its fat for the lean days it thinks are ahead, and I stay the same.

So, with this new mindset, I started using a free online tool called MyFitnessPal.

MyFitnessPal is a free online tool that allows you to quickly and easily record your food intake.  The interface is clean, and the database is excellent.  When you eat something, a quick search will find the food, and a click will fill on all the calories, fat, and other food information.  Should a food not be in the search, something that has only happened once or twice in the several years I've now been using the product, you or any other user can update the database, for the benefit of everyone.

The system also has a large database of cardiovascular exercise.  If you do exercise, you earn more calories, which I often spend on cheeseburgers.  Other features include social networking (which I don't use much).

The product also has a number of apps (iPhone, iPad, Android), and integrations with wearable smart-devices including the FitBit (space-age super pedometer).

Whether you are trying to lose wait or manage calories, I recommend MyFitnessPal as a tool to keep track of your caloric activities.

Bonus Vlog! Fixing the scooter's kickstarter

This vid's a little rough, as I am experimenting with different styles of video blogging.  This one is a "roving camera" approach with some "on location" shooting.  Sorry for the framing.  Here I am unsticking the kickstarter on my Honda Ruckus Scooter.

For reference, here are some pics and diagrams of the mechanism I was working on:

Enjoy!

In the video, I mention the VlogBrothers and Ze Frank.  You can find their videos here:
Vlogbrothers
Crashcourse by the Vlogbrothers
Ze Frank

VLOG Fridays: What is adventure?

This week's video blog entry:  the lure -and definition- of adventure:

Expedition Update July 17, 2013

Expedition Prep

As the expedition prep enters its last weeks, most of the prep work is completed.  A few minor purchases of equipment remain, as does the purchasing of the consumables (food and fuel).  The focus this week was getting into the training routine for the final push to the finish.  It is my goal to focus on stamina, swimming and/or climbing a minimum of 4 hours a week, with some hiking to hit any muscle groups missed by the other training.  I'm not pushing super hard (earlier this year I was training 7-8 hours a week) because 1- I want to avoid injury, and 2- it's summer, and my weekends are filled with family fun and outings.

Gear Purchases

I did get to MEC on the weekend, but made no purchases there, as my budget for the week was used up on the purchase of new boots.  My new boots are pretty much identical to the old boots (except the new ones are black).  Normally, I would avoid a pair of $29.99 Walmart hiking boots, but their predecessors proved their worth, and I don't feel the need to change things up.  The new boots aren't greeting my feet like old friends like my old ones do, but I'm wearing them constantly to get them worn in in time.  I haven't thrown out the old boots, so if for some reason I can't wear in the new ones in time, I'll take the old ones.

The new ones are black, but otherwise exactly like these

Training Schedule

Sticking to the swimming and climbing. Here are some pics from last week's climb:

• Tuesday: Swimming (Masters Swim club, 1 hour)
• Tuesday:  Climbing (2 hours)
• Thursday: Swimming (Masters Swim club, 1 hour)

Gear Guide - What to pack on an overnight hike (of any length)

By request!  A multimedia guide to the contents of your pack for overnight hikes.




Note this is for summer hiking.  Winter is a different ballgame.  Also, this is for west-coast hikes.  Different climates and environments have different needs.  For example, I don't need bug spray, but I would in Ontario.

Vlog Fridays: Why would I ever leave the basement?

Friday's installation is in the form of a vlog.  Enjoy.

Expedition Update - July 10, 2013

Expedition Prep

This week I mainly cleaned and maintained my gear following the Bear beach hike July 1st.  Gear was unpacked, cleaned, and put away for the next hike.  I did put my tent up on Saturday.  Primarily this was because it was extremely hot, and sleeping outside was preferable to my bedroom, which at midnight was sitting at 27 degrees C (81 F).  I took the opportunity to snap a few pics for the Gear Guide, and also to patch the fly with a silicone "paint".  The worn spot on the fly was small, but it was also at the top of the fly, and I was concerned I would be dripped on in heavy rain.  Problem solved now.

Gear Purchases

I had planned to go to Mountain Equipment Co-op on the weekend, but ended up staying home (it was very, very hot, as I mentioned), so I have not yet had a chance to pick up a few odds and ends:

• Socks:  I lack a really good pair of hiking socks.  A couple of pairs are a must-buy before the big expedition.
• Hat:  I had a touch of sunstroke at Bear beach.  I want to invest in a light, sun-shade type of hat.  Personally, I think that this design
  
  offers the best combination of sun protection, cool fabric, and "stuff into pack when not needed"-ability. Off the trail, however, it is of limited use, so I'm also considering something along these lines:
  
  For pure nerd-awesome, I'm also considering this 
  
   or this,
  
  
  but I'd have to order them in, and as cool as they are, I don't know how much actual sun protection they offer.
• Sleep Mat:  The sleep mat I have is awesome.  But it is also very heavy (5+ lbs).  I am investigating alternatives.

Boots - Fix or Replace?

I was dismayed to discover that I have nearly worn smooth the tread on my hiking boots.  I have worn these boots in for several years, and the leather is in good shape.  However, the rubber is worn nearly smooth.  I can try to deepen the tread with a dremel tool, since the rubber is thick in the sole.  If that doesn't work, though, I need to get new boots quickly and start wearing them in.

Training Schedule

Getting back to my normal routine this week, or close to it.  Monday climbing hasn't been consistent since the start of summer, so I may need to do something else on Mondays, but the rest is fairly consistent:

• Monday:  Climbing (2 hours) Cancelled this week
• Tuesday:  Swimming (Masters Swim club, 1 hour)
• Wednesday: Climbing (2 hours)
• Thursdays: Swimming (Masters Swim club, 1 hour)

It's my Anniversary on Friday, so no training that day (although a nice dinner is planned).  Saturday, I'm going to see the new Pacific Rim movie, and Sunday I'm attending the Rock the Shores concert.  So I don't expect much serious training over the weekend.

Gear Guide: MSR Hubba Tent

Backpacking on the west coast calls for a fairly specialized tent.  It has to be light -everything in backpacking has to be light, but also fairly sturdy.  Waterproofing is a must: the weather on the west coast is more often about fog, rain, drizzle and other damp words than it is about blue skies and sunny days.  Rounding out the equation is comfort.  This tent is going to be your sole consistent source of shelter while you are on a backpacking expedition, so it should be a place that you won't go crazy spending many waking hours in, in addition to the sleeping.

For this year, George and I have both chosen the MSR Hubba tent.  Actually George chose it first, and I liked it so much I bought one for myself to replace my aging and heavy 3-man dome.  (George and I both like our privacy, so we went with two single tents rather than a double, even though the double would have been lighter overall).

The Hubba is a fairly lightweight tent.  Weighing in at 1.36 kg (3 lbs), carrying a Hubba means that the tent is not the heaviest thing in your pack.  It comes in a sturdy, slightly oversized stuffsack, which I have not had difficulty getting the tent back into even when wet.  With MSR's single-pole system, the tent is very simple to put up and take down, as you can see here in an MSR video for the Hubba Hubba, which is basically a double-wide version of the Hubba:

While the tent is strong and well built, the fabrics, by the nature of their lightweight construction, do not stand up to abrasion well.  My fly was worn through by a few seconds of abrasion against bare, smooth rock when a gust of wind dragged the tent earlier this summer.  Some silicone patch goo fixed it right up, but it is something to be aware of.

The first thing you notice when you get into a Hubba tent is that it is very warm.  The screen and fly combination trap heat very effectively and I have not been cold once while using it.  A friend of mine actually took a hubba series tent winter camping (even though it is rated as a three season tent) and reported being quite comfortable.  However that same effect of trapping warm air has a side effect: condensation. I have yet to wake up to a fly that was not covered in condensation on the inside.  It hasn't affected my comfort at all, but it has meant putting the tent away wet most of the time. MSR's YouTube channel recommends opening the flaps on the fly for increased air flow, but I've found this to be of only limited help.  The flip side of this is that the Hubba is extremely waterproof.  With the fly on, I have trouble imagining the storm that could overcome the fly's waterproofing.

On the comfort side, the tent is actually quite roomy for a single-man tent.  The base is longer than my mattress, allowing some small storage at my feet or head, and it's slighly wider than the mattress as well.  The tent is designed to allow a person to sit comfortably, and my 5 foot 10 inch frame has plenty of clearance over its head when sitting up.  I have only turned around once in the tent without opening the screen and that did require yoga-like flexibility, but by opening up the screen and using the vestibule, it is much easier.  The inner tent is mainly screen, and that adds quite a bit to the impression of roominess.

At a $280 price-point, the Hubba is a bit expensive for anything other than a backpacker's tent.  You can definitely trade price for weight if you don't plan to carry the tent everywhere you go.  For a backpacker without a bunk-mate, however, I recommend the Hubba for the rugged rainforests of the North American west coast.

Adventure Report: Bear beach, on the Juan de Fuca Trail. June 30-July 1

My friend George Payer and I set out to hike to Bear beach, along the Juan de Fuca trail near Sooke, BC, and back as the second of three training hikes we've scheduled before our big hike along the West Coast Trail in September.  The purpose of this hike is not to train so much as it is to test our gear and discover what works, what doesn't and what we're still missing.

George and I set out from my house in Victoria at 9am, and by 10:30 we were on the trail.  The first section of the trail is well maintained although muddy, and the bridges were sturdy and well built:

Once we passed Mystic Beach, however, the trail became rougher.  Cliffs line the coast, preventing beach hiking, and various streams have carved the landscape into deep valleys.  The trail descends into these valleys in order to cross the streams, and then climbs back out before descending into the next one.  The bridges varied from well constructed bridges with railings, to bridges carved from fallen trees, to a couple of boards strung across the gap:

As we approached Bear beach we descended yet again into a steep valley, this one walled on the far side by a sandstone cliff.  We followed the stream to a waterfall just above the beach, then descended beside it by switchback onto the beach itself.

Just after we arrived at the beach, we crossed the waterfall again, this time stepping over the stream as it flowed into the sea.

We set up camp on the beach proper.  I wanted to test out a theory that I had.  I was betting that sand was extremely comfortable to have as a tent bed.  It turns out that it is.

Our evening's entertainment was primarily people-watching.  There were all told perhaps 20 people camping at Bear beach by 8pm.  A particularly high tide, however, made us the target of the people watching, as our beach-bed campsite turned out to be slightly perilous.

After 30 minutes, we erred on the side of caution, and moved George's tent to slightly higher ground.

Dinner was a freeze dried affair, with me having potatoes and gravy in a bag, and George having macaroni in a bag.  As a special treat, I brought along some Creme Brulee in a bag, which was a novel experience:

As it got dark, George and I headed to bed early.  As I dozed off, I had a magnificent view of a parade of cruise ships headed through the Georgia straight, headed for open ocean.

The next day, George and I packed up, had a simple breakfast and headed back to the car.  Fog had settled in overnight, and everything was wet, including the trail.  This made the trail a bit tricky in places:

Still we were back at the car by 11:30, and home by 1pm.  A great start to Canada Day.

Introductions and Confessions

Hello.  My name is James Wilson, and I am a nerd.

I fall into most of the nerd stereotypes:  I like Star Wars and Star Trek.  I am a Software Development Professional.  I play more video games than is likely healthy, and I have a parade of "collectible" action figures on my desk.

I am also an outdoors enthusiast.  I love backpacking, mountain biking, and rock climbing.  Most of the people I do these activities with are also nerds, and this has led to several interesting, if not hilarious, moments. After the umpteenth time hearing someone say "we should write this down" I'm going to write that down.

At the moment, my focus is an upcoming 75 km, 5-7 day hike along the west coast of Vancouver Island, Canada.  Alternating between rocky beach and mountainous rainforest, the West Coast Trail is one of the most challenging hikes in Canada.  I will be tackling this hike in early September with my friend George.

So, sit back and enjoy anecdotes of adventure, tip and tricks, gear guides, and comparisons of reality and various mediums of fantasy (books, movies, video games, etc).