We are one month into the new year, and all the buzz is about the Olympics. The big news from January in terms of outdoors and the Olympics was, of course, the lack of snow on our local mountains and the headache this is causing for officials as they prepare courses on Cypress. With only 12 days to go until the big dance, I have to admit I’m getting excited for things to begin. Olympic supporter or not, February will be a month to remember for Metro Vancouver residents.

Looking back at January, here are some of the more popular posts from Outdoor Vancouver:

1. I posted my ‘Bucket List’, and explained how creating your own list can be a source of motivation to accomplish some those things you’ve always wanted to do.
2. We looked at this summer’s inaugural Whistler GranFondo.
3. I compiled a list of outdoor retailers around Metro Vancouver and broke them out geographically.
4. I took some lessons in geocaching and reported back on A Muggle’s Guide to Geocaching. (The same article was published on the BC Geocaching Association’s website thanks to @AnthonyFloyd)

Related Posts:
• August Recap
• Sunday Links
• Things To Do Before I Die

Tags: January Recap
Categories: Monthly Recaps
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2009 is over, and a new decade is here. 2010 promises to be interesting, especially with the Olympics coming just around the corner. The local backcounty will have some limited access this winter, and BC Parks have been suffering from budget cuts recently, but there are still plenty of epic adventures awaiting. Personally, I hope to get outside a lot more than I did in 2009, including learning how to rock climb with my girlfriend.

Whatever your New Year’s resolutions may be, I wish you a terrific 2010 filled with many safe adventures.

Here’s a look back at some of the more popular posts from 2009:

1. My Top 10 Outdoor Activities in Vancouver (written for Tourism Vancouver)
2. A Recap of a Disastrous Holiday Season on the Mountains
3. The Skinny on Nude Outdoor “Wreck”reation in Vancouver
4. The Dirt on DEET & How to Safely Repel Bugs
5. Climate Change: (Why) do you Care?
6. A Comprehensive List of Outdoor Clubs around Vancouver
7. A Look at the Local Mountains, and Olympic Impacts
8. One on One with Olympian Ashleigh McIvor
9. Bicycles coming to MEC, Good or Bad?

Some trail reports:

1. Alice Lake
2. Upper Shannon Falls
3. Crown Mountain
4. Rice Lake

Lastly, here are my favorite videos from Pics & Vids of the Week over the last year:

BASE jumping off Whistler’s Peak 2 Peak Gondola:

A great wingsuiting montage:

wingsuit base jumping from Ali on Vimeo.

Natalija Gros climbing vid:

Natalija Gros from Jure Breceljnik on Vimeo.

Steph Davis climbing Castleton and jumping off:

Steph Davis- Climbing Castleton, and Jumping Off of it from Andrew on Vimeo.

Tyler Bradt’s kayak waterfall world record:

A hilarious extreme kayaking spoof:

The “Outsider Sport” of cross-country snowboarding:

Simply one of the funniest local news reports ever:

Helmet cam view of getting buried in an avalanche:

Avalanche Skier POV Helmet Cam Burial & Rescue in Haines, Alaska from Chappy on Vimeo.

And of course that wicked storm that rolled through in July:

Related Posts:
• Pics & Clips Of The Week 24/04/2009
• Pics & Clips Of The Week 07/03/09
• Pics & Vids Of The Week 05/12/2009

Tags: 2009 Review
Categories: Monthly Recaps
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Photo by Tawcan in the Outdoor Vancouver Flickr pool.

What! It’s December 5 already?! Ooops.

Ok, so I’m a bit late getting to my recap of November, but better late than never.

In the lower mainland we drowned in the torrent of rain that hit us. But it translated into good news for the mountains with lots of snow, and Whistler setting a November snowfall record!

Here’s a look back at some of my favorite posts for November:

1. The big news from November was that all the local mountains opened up for the winter season. I have a post re-caping all the opening dates, and also looking at how each mountain will be impacted by the Olympics.
2. It’s not too late to check out the Banff Mountain Film Festival.
3. There are some great videos to watch with this year’s MEC Sweet Spots video contest winners.
4. A quick look at some of the backcountry access restrictions that will be in place during the Olympics.
5. I took a trip to Maplewood Flats Conservation Area in North Vancouver.

Related Posts:
• MEC Sweet Spots Winners
• MEC Sweet Spots
• It’s Snow Time!

Categories: Monthly Recaps
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Photo by TylerIngram in the Outdoor Vancouver Flickr pool.

Today is Halloween and another month has passed. Rain, rain, perpetual rain is here, but luckily this has been translating into the accumulation of bit of snow for our local mountains. There were also some good events this month like the MEC Gear Swap, Vancouver Snow Show, and the Cold Water Classic Surfing Competition which ends today.

Here’s a look back at some of my favorite posts for October:

1. To prepare for the upcoming winter season I provided some resources that will help you Get to Your Destination Safely in the Winter.
2. October 15 was Blog Action Day, and I asked (Why) Do you Care about Climate Change?
3. You can now get Free Print-ready Topographical Maps of Canada.
4. There is a great worth-while campaign running called Save the ‘Bou (Woodland Caribou).
5. I compiled a list of Outdoor Clubs and Associations around Vancouver.

And this video from Pics & Vids of the Week made me laugh so hard I thought I’d share it again!

Happy Halloween!

Related Posts:
• Featured Website: EarthDetails – 3D Maps
• September Recap
• 2009 Turkey Sale & Swap

Categories: Monthly Recaps
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Well, we saw the summer extended a few weeks and had some unseasonably great and hot weather. Then fall hit like a ton of bricks. On days where the rain holds off, however, this is an great time of year to get in some last hikes of the season. The bugs are gone, the trails are entirely clear of snow (for now) at high elevations, and there’s the ‘fall atmosphere’ in the mountains.

Winter isn’t too far away though, as the North Shore mountains also saw a little taste of what’s to come getting a very modest snowfall the other day. Yup, its time to start thinking about skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, and all those winter activities. Whatever the season, there’s never a shortage of outdoor activities in this city

Anyways, here’s a recap of my favorite posts for September:

1. How you can, and why you should, Leave No Trace.
2. Where can you find the best hikes wherever you go?
3. There is an exciting new trail being built the entire length of Vancouver Island.
4. We featured local blog Pure Outside.
5. The Vancouver Dirt Jump Coalition had a big win with a new dirt jump track approval.
6. The Sea to Sky Trail launched a new website.

Related Posts:
• Leave No Trace
• November Recap
• 2009 In Review

Categories: Monthly Recaps
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