Below are two examples of why its way safer to just stay at home and watch Wheel of Fortune on your sofa. Nature is just dangerous these days.

This guy just got away with his life when the top of a tree blew off while he was camping and crashed through the windshield.

You can see the complete damage here. Thanks to Andrew for passing the link along.

Next time you are out beware of the land shark lest you get bitten.

Image credit: failblog.org

Ultralight weight campers out there are going to be happy that Scott Tissue is testing cardboard tube free toilet paper in Walmarts and Sam's Clubs across the Northeast United States.

Anybody who has tried to pull out the tube on a full roll of toilet paper will know it pretty much destroys the roll. If you are not a ultralight camper and have no idea what I’m talking about, that’s ok. Removing the cardboard tube on a roll makes it a whole lot more compact when you are shoving it back in your backpack or canoe pack.

I think it’s a great idea as there are 17 billion tubes produced annually in the United States, accounting for 160 million pounds of trash.

If it sells well then they are going to roll it out everywhere.

More info USA Today [Via: Gizmodo]

Looking for new camping gear to add to your Christmas list? Why settle for what every other kid in the campground has when you can express your uniqueness in "style".

To do that; shimmy up to your computer desk and type on over to thinkgeek.com where you will find all the stuff you need to fill your camping nerd needs.


Sushi Pillow
Anybody is tries to tell you that a balled up t-shirt or fleece is the only way to go obviously has never camped in their life. Show nature that you care about it so much that you only eat it raw with the Sushi Pillow. Choose either shrimp nigiri, delicious salmon or even the tasty edamame. (More info - $44.99 - $59.99)

Boulder, Colorado-based Trek Light Gear has added to its line of "hammock-lifestyle" products with the launch of the VersaTrek multi-use gear hammock and swing and the Trek Flight Pocket Flyer, a portable, compact flying disc. After successfully selling its unique brand of portable and lightweight hammocks for over five years, Trek Light Gear added the VersaTrek and Trek Flight to its line of popular products as a way of enhancing the Trek Light Lifestyle that has become a growing phenomenon among outdoor lovers and hammock fans around the country.

Kayak Sunset from the Flickr photo group, Sea Kayak Canada. Photo credit: ArmyRugby

Taken in the Haida Gwaii, BC; this bear gets to close for comfort for me.

From the Sea Kayak Canada Photo Pool. Credit: ah zut (Chris de Rham)

This past Friday I had the pleasure of being interviewed for CBC Radio. For those not following along I was asked to speak on the controversy of wifi being rolled out in National Parks across Canada. I’m for it and you can read my reasoning here.

For those not familiar with the "behind the veil" workings of CBC Radio, the syndication department researches and finds people to be interviewed. They then provide a window of time for any show in the CBC world who might be interested in interviewing that person. In my case, I had to be available between 3:00 and 6:00pm and could be interviewed by up to 12 different shows.

I just got asked to be on CBC Radio tomorrow (July 30). They contacted me earlier today about coming in and getting interviewed about the recent news article about Parks Ontario testing wifi in some parks. I guess they found my recent article on the issue and want me to come and chat about it.

Right now I don’t know any details I need to show up at the CBC studio prepared to talk from 3:00-6:00pm. From what I can tell I will be talking to the local stations across Canada.

Should be fun. Last time I did something big I was interviewed for the TechTV show, “Call for Help” with Leo Laporte. At the time I was only a big gaga of Leo; not like I would be now if I had to do the interview again. That super nerd is super awesome.

There was an announcement today that Parks Ontario will be test piloting Wifi in some of the Ontario Parks this summer. Currently the plan is to test it in Pinary Provincial Park then potentially roll it out to some other parks next year based on the reaction from park visitors.

Of course this has some Canadian's all up in arms over the fact that their wilderness experience will be completely ruined with the presence of the internet.

Live in Toronto and don’t own a car but looking to get out of the city? There is a brand new service called Park Bus which provides express service out of Toronto. For about $84 return, they will provide transportation from various pick-up points in the city and drop you off in beautiful Algonquin Park.

To keep things simple (especially for beginners) they have several different planning options depending on what you want to do. You can find info on how to plan your trip logistics based if you want to backpack, canoe, or camp in a campsite. If you don’t have any gear, they also provide all-inclusive trips to make things even easier.