Episode Contents: 0:16 What is the Vestergaard LifeStraw Water Filter? 0:30 How does the LifeStraw Water Filter Work? 0:33 Why do you have to soak the LifeStraw before using it? 0:46 How do you flush the LifeStraw when clogged? 0:55 Using a LifeStraw in a lake or river? 1:28 The LifeStraw as a great emergency […]

In movies and documentaries, you see bears, moose, deer, wolves and coyotes up close in Canada and the United States. When in the wilderness, I find it’s hit and miss whether one sees these animals and when. Join me for a trail run in back-country and discussion about seeing these amazing animals. What wildlife do […]

Are black bears dangerous?  Yes, potentially, but with good habits and bear knowledge, most black bear encounters will be safe ones.  This is the Better Preparedness approach to being outdoors in bear country across most of Canada and much of the USA.  Be bear smart and safer.  Bears can be a hazard and present a […]

Many of us enjoy running, cycling, paddling or cross-country skiing sporting events, and I want to talk about a shared responsibility between event organizers and the participants.  When it comes to our safety, while acknowledging that both organizers and participants share significant responsibilities, we (the participants) hold the ultimate responsibility and interest for our safety.  […]

My family has lived on and off for years in East Africa, North Africa and presently live in Southern Africa.  We’ve road tripped tens of thousands of kilometers and camped with our kids extensively throughout a dozen countries.  Snakes have been everywhere we’ve been, and I’ve always wanted to know more and hopefully reduce our […]

If you get separated from your group, you have a crisis, you are lost, or you need help from anyone nearby, an emergency or survival whistle is one of my favourite items. It’s a rugged, small and amazingly loud whistle, and will never run out of batteries or network! I highly recommend you buy them in bulk and have them throughout your life. While many crises are avoidable, they can still occur, and a whistle is an amazing device to reach out to those around you. Remember, three whistle blasts if you need help and one blast as a reply or if you are searching for someone. Read on for everything you need to know!

You want to go hiking or trail running in South Africa’s amazing Drakensberg Mountains. But where? I’ll show you how! Join me for the best short trail in 2.5 years of testing and exploring this country. We’ll see an amazing loop in the Royal Natal National Park from Mahai Campsite via Tiger Falls and back […]

This is a different type of race review and I’m excited to share it with you to help prepare your sporting events towards success.  If you analyze why many of your races go well and especially why they don’t go well, you can identify opportunities to make events go better more often. I will look […]

How do you pack for an ultramarathon event?  I’m here to help you answer that question.  What to bring? Let’s look at the dilemmas, the many considerations, and finally I will provide you my full packing list from a recent ultramarathon trail event. Doing an ultramarathon event either on foot, bicycle, boat or whatever is […]

A mylar rescue blanket is a cheap emergency heat reflective blanket to help protect from the sun, cold, wind, rain, or snow, and hopefully help lessen a bad situation.  It can buy you time in a situation where you were completely caught off guard by unforeseen weather changes and can greatly help an injured person […]