"Danger in the Backcountry"

I just came across this article on the Winnipeg Free Press website. It's a good read for anyone planning to spend any time in the Whiteshell.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/danger-in-the-backcountry-127182898.html

-Alex

Gear Review #1: Primus Classic Trail LPG Stove

Price: $24

Purchased From: Mountain Equipment Co-op

I purchased this stove over a year ago now. It's been with me on two summer trips, one fall trip and one winter trip.

Like most items the stove has it's shortcomings but considering the price it does the job well. In the right temperatures it can boil water in about five minutes and a small canister of fuel will last you about 2 to 3 days (excluding lunch on the trail). A large canister will last you about 4 to 5 days. My main issue with this stove is that the burner screws in to the top of the cansiter without a hose. The resulting height of the unit leaves it somewhat unstable on uneven ground. If you're using it on a rocky surface be careful not to spill the boiling water on yourself. My only other issue is that it was nearly impossible to boil water on our winter trip. This stove is not meant for below-zero temperatures.

Overall it's a pretty good piece of gear and I don't regret my purchase. That being said, if it were lost or stolen I don't think I would buy another one based only on the fact that you can get better stoves for under $100. If you're just getting in to hiking and you aren't sure if you're going to stick with it, or you just need a small portable stove for weekend use, this is the stove for you.

Mantario Map

I have recently received questions on how to obtain a map of the Mantario trail. For anyone looking for a map, there is two options. You can either order the map from Maps Canada for $9.95 plus shipping, or print off a great quality map from Pemmican.org, which is free. I'm not sure how the free version compares to the legitimate copy of the map but it has worked well enough for me. It provides a great indicator of the time and distance between campsites, as well as some basic topographical features.
Here are the links:

http://www.canadamapsales.com/en/catalogue/books/backcountry/p17252692.html

http://pemmican.tannerpages.com/wiki/Mantario_Hiking_Trail#Maps

Mantario Trip. June 21-24, 2011.

Here are some picture from our Mantario Hike in June. The trail was gorgeous and in great condition, minus a couple parts. I've never seen the water levels as low as they were.

We did the trail over 4 days going from South to North.

Here are a few pictures taken by one of our friends. She used a crazy weird camera so they look pretty cool.

Mantario Hike September 2010

Here are some pictures from when we did the Mantario trail from the 23-26 of September last year.

Yes, we ate all of that food.

Welcome

Welcome to the Backcountry Hiking Manitoba Blog. I created this blog because I found that I needed a more constructive archive of the hiking trips me and my fellow hikers frequent than a social networking site. This also provides me with the incentive to actually take pictures and video from the trips into the Canadian Shield and elsewhere. This should also be a place where all outdoor enthusiasts can come together, whether they be beginners or experts, to share knowledge and experiences from their travels. Hopefully this blog could inspire people to get outdoors, and to become more aware of the excellent trails we have in Manitoba.
Cheers,
Jeff