If you're here, reading and scrolling, welcome! I've been looking for a creative outlet for some time now, and recently I've had my passion for all things camping and outdoors reignited. So here I've landed, starting this blog with two main goals; to satisfy my creative itch and to encourage others to explore outside. What I don't want to do is make it seem like getting outdoors means some grand adventure every time. I grew up in a family whose idea of camping was loading a pick-up truck so full we could barely close the tailgate and driving out to Guelph Lake for the weekend. We'd fish, ride our bikes, throw a ball around and sleep on massive inflatable mattresses. Until I was in my teens, this was the only camping I really knew, and it was awesome! As corny as it may sound, there really is something for everyone to enjoy outdoors. My hope is that through these posts, you can find inspiration to find your "thing". Not only is it incredibly enjoyable, but it's SO good for you. Dr. Sarita Robinson, who is the Deputy Head of Psychology at UCLan, speaks about the physical and mental benefits of life outdoors on Paul Kirtley's podcast (see the link below), if you don't believe me.
But I don't want this space to be one that projects perfection or mastery of some sort. As my interest in the wild and lesser-traveled areas has grown, I've had my fair share of blunders. I've led trips that have gone completely awry, been lost for nearly 24 hours in the backcountry (and airlifted out, a story for another time), and ended up in the wrong lake more than once. I want to share honest stories that show what time spent outdoors is really like. So much of it is trial and error, which is half the fun!
As I've continued to fall in love with being outdoors, it's these challenges that I find I really enjoy. It started slow, with most of my early trips just being a weekend with youth groups or at camp. Eventually, I ended up being a trip leader for kids and showing them how great it was to paddle the backcountry. I've transitioned from dreading a long day on the water to itching for a 10-hour paddle. It's come to a place where I need my fix of the outdoors, by any means necessary, even if thats winter camping with very little of the appropriate gear or hiking into the closest forest to cook over a fire on a random Saturday. Thats where the title for this whole thing took shape, the mentality that no matter what you enjoy, you can be outside, and push your own boundaries to grow while you do it.
By Any Means Outdoors - both a name and a mantra in a way.
Now, throughout these blogs, you'll hear and see lots about my wonderful wife, Sierra. I'm pretty sure that she's had a paddle in her hands since she could hold one. Her father is a certified wilderness survival instructor, so it's practically in her DNA. We've been learning how to get outdoors and practice new skills together.
Our dog, Teddy, is slowly getting acquainted with life in the woods and I'm excited to bring you along with us on that journey. As proof by the photo below, he's full of... spunk? I'm not sure what an apt description would be for his energy but he's a lot of fun. I'm hoping that Teddy can be comfortable in a canoe this summer. It may be an ambitious goal, one that may leave me in the water more often than I'd care for, but I think we're up for the challenge.
So, I believe that introduces me and this project? In all honesty, it's been a while since I've done any sort of writing that wasn't an email or a caption for Instagram. I'm really excited to share my experiences with you and hopefully hear what you're doing out there!
Comments