Few sunscreen companies seem to concoct any winning combination for my liking. Greasy lotions cause other skin issues, name brand varieties often drip away with any sweat or water and the thought of rubbing harmful-if-swallowed chemicals onto skin seems rather counterproductive. But after testing a few Kiss My Face sunscreens, my attitude towards skin protection companies is changing for the better.

Face Factor SPF 30 Sunscreen by Kiss My Face

Kiss My Face is a natural skin care company that uses as many pure and organic ingredients as possible. An entire line of products for men and women lathers, moisturizes, hydrates and protects your hide from the daily pollutants we expose it to. From hiking in the arid canyons of Bryce to biking at 8,000 feet in Park City, I put two types of Kiss My Face sunscreens to the fair-skinned test: SPF 50 Sport Spray and SPF 30 Face Factor. Both sunscreens did what they’re meant to do (no sunburns for this redhead!), but it was what I didn’t expect them to do that turned me into a Kiss My Face advocate.

The Sport Spray and Face Factor sunscreens share a few benefits, namely by putting up a wall of defense against skin-damaging UVA and UVB rays. Both sunscreens are water resistant and, thus, sweat resistant – perfect for when the last thing on your mind during a mid-day hike is reapplying sunscreen. In fact, even after splashing in the water for 40 minutes, both sunscreens retain their SPF qualities. They’re also free of questionable parabens, animal byproducts and artificial colors and fragrances. Natural ingredients aren’t just ideal for sensitive skin types: they’re an obvious choice for anyone who cares what goes in (and on) their bodies.

A glimpse at the Face Factor’s list of ingredients (available in SPF 30 and 50) includes a healthy dose of minerals and antioxidants to help fight skin damage and reduce wrinkles. Cucumber extract, green tea extract, peptides and licorice extract work together to fight off free radicals, stimulate collagen production and, ultimately, smooth out that weathered and leathered look. I can’t vouch for the reduction of wrinkles, and I couldn’t tell you if my skin felt any smoother than it did before, but I am certain that this stuff rocks. During a particularly hot hike, there was no burning if it trickled into my eyes, no typical sunscreen smell and no crusty residue when it dried.

Sports Spray SPF 50 Sunscreen by Kiss My Face

My choice of SPF 50 might be on the high side for some people, but even with a generous coating of the Sport Spray on my limbs, my skin took on a healthy tan with no sunburn aftermath. Good-for-you ingredients like vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin A, cucumber extract, aloe vera, chamomile extract and even mushroom extract, which contains antioxidants that are believed to protect against free radicals and toxins, have all sorts of beneficial properties that soothe skin irritations from too much sun and prevent burns from even happening in the first place. You still need to rub in the spray lotion, but the fine layer of mist, which has a light coconut fragrance, absorbs evenly and easily for good coverage.

And unlike overpriced sundries that are actually good for you, you won’t be paying more for a tube of natural sunscreen. Kiss My Face products are widely available at Whole Foods and other holistic stores. Face Factor SPF 30 retails for $12.95 for a 2-oz tube, and Sport Spray SPF 50 retails for $16.99 for an 8-oz bottle. Visit kissmyface.com for more information.

AYG 365 Women's V-Neck T-Shirt

The super soft and cozy cotton is actually a high-tech version of the natural fiber called XTRDRY. This moisture wicking XTRDRY has all the highly breathable properties of cotton, but pulls sweat and moisture away from your skin and evaporates quickly to help you stay dry and maintain an ideal body temperature (cool in the summer and warm in the winter). And if you’re outfitted in the right layering system, the AYG 365 technologies do their part to help sweaty vapors escape to your second, insulating layer and evaporate when it hits the outside air.

I recently put a few AYG 365 shirts and underwear to the test in southern Utah on a weeklong camping trip that involved sweaty hikes and long mountain bike rides. The
AYG 365 base layers definitely lived up to its name. Built for year-round use, the lightweight shirts, camisoles and underwear adapt to sudden changes in climate, as noted by the unexpected springtime weather in the desert. Hot, cold, dry, humid – it didn’t really matter. I was a dry, comfortable and happy camper no matter where we explored.

AYG 365 Women's Boyshorts

Within a few minutes of hiking past a trailhead, for instance, my V-neck t-shirt was already hard at work, pulling sweat away from my skin and keeping me noticeably dry while the shirt itself became increasingly damp. Even when wet, its stretchy four-way cotton retained its shape and provided enough mobility to continue the journey up and down without awkwardly clinging to my skin or – god forbid – chafing.

Maybe the greatest part of the V-neck t-shirt, though, is the UV protection it provides. A sunburn through your clothing might not happen very often, but when it does, it’s uncomfortable and annoying. Worn on its own, the white shirt I received provided UPF 50-rated defense against the intense sun even when sweat had absorbed through the fabric. UPF clothing may not be a deciding factor in buying AYG 365 gear, but it’s one less issue to think about when you’re at the mercy of Mother Nature for a few days.

AYG 365 Men's Short Sleeve Crew T-shirt

Especially when fresh clothes are few and far between, the Acclimate Fresh anti-microbial treatment that’s impregnated into both the shirts and underwear was a welcome feature. AYG 365 promises “moisture management and improved personal hygiene” – technologies that are worth your while in performance underwear. After multiple days of high activity and just a few pair of undies, the odor-eating treatment went above and beyond its duties. (By fighting off smelly bacteria, I managed to leave the desert with friendships still intact.) The cotton undies, which come in briefs, boy shorts and thongs for women and boxers and boxer briefs for men, provided the same moisture wicking technologies as the V-neck and were downright comfy even after a long hike.

It’s not often that I vouch for cotton active wear anymore, but with AYG 365, I’m making an exception. Long live (performance) cotton!

For more information on AYG 365, visit http://aygunderwear.com/.

The local weather, though a part of its mystery, can prove unpredictable, particularly when local mist descends without warning, so caution is always advised when venturing away from the main roads. Appropriate clothing, whistle, compass and a good map are essential.

This bleak, beautiful and isolated landscape creates a truly natural spectacle with weather conditions that can change in minutes. The vast majority of the Dartmoor National Park lies over a granite plateau – 600mtrs above sea level – and includes some of Devon’s beautiful surrounding countryside.

The rich fertile lands to the north and south of the moor – the Hams – contrast sharply with the upland granite’s stark landscape. Once you have ventured away from its gentle rolling hills and picturesque villages, such as Ashburton, Widecombe-on-the moor and Buckland you find yourself in a heather strewn landscape of granite outcrops and mysterious Neolithic monuments – a rugged landscape etched by centuries of frost, wind and rain.

Despite its changeable weather, Dartmoor offers a wide range of walks from gentle strolls to fully fledged hikes. As mentioned, caution is always advised, as well as being honest about your own fitness levels. Being well prepared is the most important requirement. Even the sunniest of days can quickly turn into an orienteering challenge, and while walks and hikes on this stunning granite landscape are something to be enjoyed, the right equipment is vital.

The Dartmoor National Park Authority organises a number of walks from various locations each year, ranging from easy going strolls of up to two hours at a gentle pace – ideal for everyone including the less mobile, to those for the more experienced and fittest. These walks cover longer distances over open moorland and take in some rough and steep terrain. Even with these walks, you need to be aware of your own abilities. All are taken at the pace of the slowest walker and the guides will always take into account the weather and the ability range of the group.

For details and bookings call 01822-890414.

Natural beauty, no matter how stunning, is not the only attraction in this sprawling National Park. For history enthusiasts, The National Trust and English Heritage have many properties throughout the area, including the Finch Foundry, Castle Drogo and the dramatic Lydford Gorge. Princetown, in the very centre of the moor, is home to Dartmoor’s most famous, and possibly most photographed building – the imposing, grey edifice of Dartmoor Prison.

At the National Park’s centre is the village of Postbridge, a natural starting and finishing point for the countless ramblers who visit the area. The village has the county’s finest example of a clapper bridge built in the 1780′s, which straddles the East Dart river. The bridge is constructed from four large granite slabs, weighing more than eight tons each, supported by three granite piers. Clapper bridges are a unique feature of Dartmoor and were built and used by medieval farmers and tin workers to cross the region’s many small rivers. A total of thirty were constructed on Dartmoor in the 13th and 14th centuries.

Dartmoor has plenty of delightful self catering accommodation to suit all tastes, but with an emphasis on the unusual, try Devon Yurt. The company provides two hand crafted Mongolian yurts for four to six people. Set on beautiful farmland, overlooking Brentor and western Dartmoor, the yurt is spacious and restful with carpeted floors, overlaid with vibrant rugs and sheepskins.

A log burner provides warmth and the yurt has a kitchen area with a gas burner, all cutlery and crockery. Outside there is a seating area, a BBQ and fire pit, while a separate tent houses a roll top bath heated by a log burner. For full details go to www.devonyurt.co.uk or call 01822-870366.

Dartmoor, a region of contrast, rugged beauty, history and a hint of the unusual. Ideal ingredients for a destination with a difference. For more information, go to www.devon-online.com.

Carry a Thermal Bar whenever you're chasing life's golden star

Consider this warming nutrition, a secret formula of “warming spices that help keep you warm in cold conditions stacked between natural grains, healthy nutrients, anti-oxidants, and omega fatty acids.” On the trails in summer, acclimation now fully engaged, those midnight treks get awfully cool and chilled.

Rainstorms in the endurance mountains or coastal shores accompanied by Mr. Cool Breeze appear suddenly and often without forecast, all with the intent to freeze you out, break your spirit, enhance the “F” word: failure. Keep the Thermal Bar in your pack ready at a moment’s notice to stoke your natural furnace, the internal infernal, allowing that traveling home-fire warming inside your torso to stay lite, while motivation is maintained to reach the all-important destination the next afternoon.

Bob and Don Rose concocted this blended bar of stacked nutrition from experiences spent on winter’s wall of ice and granite, climbing in all conditions and difficulty. Perhaps it was one of those times where chilled-to-the-bone numbness shocks the body into creativity that Bob Rose intuitively knew the answer: a combo of spices that would speed circulation and help create natural warmth. Working with Dr. Danny Chawan, the beautifully packaged and delicious thermos-furnace born was hatched.

Bob Rose has his long-term objective of standing on the peak of Mt. Everest on his 100th birthday, while at that age I’ll be happy just to spell it. Maybe there are other benefits to eating heat besides its warming value, benefits relating to ingredients like apple, almond butter, dates, almonds, rolled oats, ground cinnamon and flax seeds.

Whatever the reason it performs like it does, the Thermal Bar can allow us to climb those daily mountains of life, all because of a new-age energy bar.

The bars wrapped in warm packaging even look like portable heat. Buy now, popularly priced at $2.57 each, from this link: http://www.thermalbar.com/buy-now/.

The company has struck gold again with another winning entry into the ongoing “foot-stakes” war of attrition for that coveted outdoors crown, the Ambler light hiking shoe.

The Ambler is the third KEEN shoe/boot offering I’ve tried, and it continues the developing tradition of leaving me thoroughly impressed. When the worst criticism you can muster up about a shoe is its colour, you know you’re on to something good – although it’s difficult to not dwell on the colour.

My pair of Amblers came in a flashy, if not gaudy, colour scheme called Bombay Brown and Wren. Translation: they’re a dullish orange with brown trim. No offence, KEEN… but eeeewwww, and orange is one of my favourite colours.

However, I was quick to note something demographically significant. While men universally disliked the orange, women loved it… so maybe the company is on to something there. In fact, I had to wrestle them away from my wife long enough to write this review… thank God we wear somewhat different sizes, although we’re close enough that I think she’ll be appropriating them in the near future for an extended try-out.

Anyway, when it comes to walking/hiking shoes, I have a mental checklist of what I want and need in the footwear. Comfort, grip, durability and fit are my top criteria, and KEEN has done a wonderful job of over-producing them in this shoe. It’s almost obscenely comfortable, grips like glue, and fits well. I found the shoe ran a trifle long in the toes, but that’s just me being picky.

It’s too soon to tell about their durability, but I have little concern about that when I look at their overall construction.

KEEN is a true gift to me, since I’m very hard to fit properly. I wear, depending on the brand, a Men’s 9 2E or even a 4E, with a high forefoot and arch and a disproportionately narrow heel. I think KEEN had me in mind with their shoes, since width and height has never been a problem. And that’s coming from someone who once drove a shoe-store clerk to distraction after a two-hour marathon to find a light hiking shoe that fit properly.

The Amblers are simply awesome walking shoes, no matter the terrain. I’ve taken them from the Bruce Trail to rail trails to the concrete canyon and jungle of downtown Toronto without even a hint of a problem. That’s impressive to find a shoe that adapts that well to such diverse conditions.

They’re extremely light as well, always a plus, and do well in wet conditions, although I wouldn’t call them a true amphibious shoe in the genre of the KEEN Cimmaron set I also own.

I truly think that, depending on your needs, you just can’t go wrong with these shoes. Now get out there and give me five – miles, that is.

For more information on the KEEN Amblers, click here. To purchase the Amblers for men, click here, and for women, click here.

The first Met Con Blue race will be held Saturday, June 2 in Ontario’s Blue Mountains. Spokesperson Jenn Nichol said “Met Con Blue started with a team of locals getting together, thinking that Blue Mountain looked like the perfect venue for this type of adventure racing. It has phenomenal terrain and astonishing views.”

“Met Con Blue will take you up, across and down the hills of Ontario’s largest mountain resort. Running, walking and crawling through five kilometres of grueling terrain, with 13 hardcore obstacles standing in the way of the finish. Obstacles like Hamburger Hill, Cargo Kong, and Cold Plunge. Obstacles that have been designed to make your victory feel that much sweeter when you cross the finish.”

Nichol said the organizing team has also provided some additional star power for the race in the form of Trish Stratus, a seven–time WWE Women’s Champion and fitness icon, who has signed on as the face of Met Con Blue.

In a media release, Stratus stated “this race has everything I loved about competing with WWE – participants of the race will be challenged to their physical limits with the obstacle course and even better will be the sense of accomplishment they will get once they complete it.”

Nichol said “Met Con Blue is a grueling five kilometres with 13 hardcore obstacles strategically placed throughout the course which takes place at Ontario’s largest mountain resort.”

“Participants can choose to take part in the regular timed race with age brackets, Met Con Blue’s signature Hunt or be Hunted Race or the Heroes Race which features a chance to run the race alongside brave soldiers who sacrifice their lives for us.”

Half of the proceeds from this race will go to a Canadian Forces Solider On Fund, she added.

“The members of Soldier On appreciate the support and generosity of Met Con Blue. Donations such as theirs help us to continue to provide additional resources and opportunities for ill and injured military members to adopt an active and healthy lifestyle through participation in physical, recreational and sporting activities,” said Major Jay Feyko, Senior Officer with Soldier On.

Teens aged 12-17 can take part in the Teen Core Challenge, and for children under the age of 12, there will be a free children’s obstacle course set up in the Blue Mountain Resort Village. Supporting events such as vendor area, beer garden, live bands and after parties will be taking place throughout the event.

To register, visit www.metconblue.com or call 705-444-0500.

For quite a few years, I’ve been looking for the perfect – or at least tolerable – paddle boot.

Ontario’s Georgian Bay and its surrounding waterways are where I do all my paddling. The bay is renowned for its cold, cold water. Even on the hottest, most humid summer days, the bay’s temperature is unlikely to be much over 60 F in most spots – except for the shallowest, sun-drenched beach areas. And even there, all you have to do is drop below the sun-kissed first foot or two or water before you hit what seems like glacial cold.

That means if you want to be comfortable, especially in early-season paddling, you have to have the proper equipment. And that starts with the feet.

I’ve tried various footwear over the years, striving to find that perfect blend of comfort and practicality, with only moderate success. I’m a bit of a minimalist when it comes to equipment, so I’ve steered way from anything too hi-tech.

When the weather’s warmer, I’ve had some luck with the so-called off-road or hiking Crocs, a model which has never really seemed to catch on here in Ontario. The grip is good on them, the comfort is acceptable, and the durability is not bad. But I’m not in any hurry to use them in genuine cold weather situations.

However, the last two years I’ve had much better luck with KEEN’s Cimarron amphibious shoes. The grip is awesome, the support is perfect for almost all situations and styles of walking, and comfort level is generally very good as well. The only two criticisms I would offer is that these shoes tend to rub on my Achilles tendons after only moderate use, and they don’t dry as quickly as they could.

So I was quite interested in trying out a pair of the KEEN Gorge boots, specifically designed for paddling. Without exaggeration, these boots have been a Godsend.

Made primarily of neoprene, the boots are light as a feather and fit like a second skin. They’re perfectly comfortable without socks on, and just as suitable with socks. The support is superb, the grip is awesome, and they handle water like a duck’s back.

That’s not to say, though, that they’re waterproof per se. You’ll be mistaking the purpose of the boots if you expect that. Some water will penetrate the boots – mostly if you step in over high-ankle height – but not a lot. Neoprene repels almost all of the water, while keeping your body heat in. What water does penetrate is warmed by your body heat to maintain comfortable – and then some – temperatures for your feet.

I’ve been so impressed with these boots I’ve taken to using them as everyday footwear as well. The longest I’ve walked in them was five miles along a local rail trail on a warm day. Wet conditions were intermittent on the trail, and the boots handled them with aplomb. The only problem – such as it was – was my feet quickly grew very, very warm in them. It was nothing a quick wade through some puddles couldn’t handle for a periodic cool-down.

I’ve had no problems with traction, support, or discomfort in the Gorge boots.

The first few days I tried them out was during our March heat wave when the snow disappeared like an illusion conjured by Harry Houdini. Even the worst sloppiest, coldest snow melt couldn’t touch these boots or detract from my enjoyment.

As for actual water conditions, well I can only say ‘Wow’. I ordinarily don’t take my kayak out until sometime in May when the weather and water conditions improve, but the Gorge boots mean I don’t have to wait anymore. They will also help extend my season into the fall.

I have had absolutely no problem with the boots while paddling so far. Instead, they almost feel luxurious and possibly a little decadent. I’m looking forward to trying them out while doing a little wading and fishing in the next few weeks.

I’m also looking forward to trying them out for snorkeling – they seem ideal for treading around something like a coral reef.

I seriously doubt any outdoorsy person – whether beginner, recreation or adrenaline junkie – could find much to complain about with these boots.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, there’s a soggy piece of trail calling my name!

For more information on the KEEN Gorge boots, click here. To purchase the Gorge boots, click here.

The first article in this series introduced the center and explained that the facility was set to welcome the public on April 16. Not surprisingly, it opened with a bang and already boasts more than a thousand members. Once you learn more about the ingenious intricacies and thought-out conveniences of the Colorado Center for Health and Wellness, you’ll understand why people are traveling from afar and pawning their most-coveted snowshoes to get a spot at this state-of-the-art facility.

Upon entering, visitors are met with bright colors and ample light from tall windows, which aligns with the facility’s goal of becoming Gold LEED-certified, the highest level of energy efficiency certification. The facility’s unique design features are practical and aesthetically pleasing. A huge screen display promotes health and wellness by showcasing cooking classes, featuring discussions with the center’s executive director and sharing the facility’s latest news. When you’re not mesmerized by the flashing screen, check out the hydroponic herb garden, which is so stunning you may think it is decorative, but in reality, the fresh herbs are used in the onsite kitchens.

The center is home to three kitchens, each serving a distinct purpose. The demo kitchen is open to the public, so anyone interested in healthy cuisine can pop in and watch a cooking class from the on-staff chef or witness one of the Denver-metro area’s prized chefs preparing the healthiest recipe from their local restaurant. The center offers a number of “recipe rehab” presentations, where chefs prepare decadent dishes in a healthier, yet still delicious, way.

Bistro Elaia serves drool-worthy healthy breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack options. You can place your order at the kiosk, which will then print your food’s nutritional content. Enticing you with egg-white creations, double-fiber bread, chef-inspired salads and fresh smoothies, the bistro strikes a balance between health-nut menu and scrumptious flavors. The chefs are quite creative at stealthily hiding nutrient-rich ingredients in tasty combinations (spinach in smoothies, black beans in omelets). If you’re watching calories, you’re in luck because each menu item features its corresponding calorie count. There are no surprises – except the shock at how amazing good-for-you food can taste.

The metabolic kitchen is for research purposes, and to most people, it looks more like a laboratory. Nutritionists can prepare cuisine for any kind of special diet, from low-salt to high fiber, and determine the meal’s exact nutritional make-up. How we metabolize energy is critical, so scientists can study how different foods affect different people.

Now that you’ve been fed, it’s time to start exercising. The primary workout area is expansive, modern and bright, with sunshine streaming in and snow-capped mountaintops beckoning from beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows. The facility’s equipment partner, TechnoGym, has an impressive smart-key kiosk system. You plug your USB-style key into the piece of equipment you are using, and they key tracks your seat height, weight used, number of repetitions and range of motion. Training staff can analyze reports and then create and monitor a program for your specific needs. After working out somewhere other than the gym, say after a long trail run or cross-country ski excursion, simply log in from home and input your data.

The equipment in the gym works to keep you engaged and entertained because you will likely exercise longer if you are not bored and focused on each step you take. While on the cardio machines, you can watch television, surf the Internet, check your email and even play games against others in the gym.

Group exercise encourages hard work, camaraderie and new skill development. Get your heart pumping in group cycling, Zumba, Barre and internal training classes that are more scientific and really empower you to work out at your maximum ability.

A sports-specific training center offers advanced equipment, including a kinesis system, which provides 360-degree range of motion. This section of the facility focuses on special programs for elite athletes who are accompanied by professional trainers. If you’re not a competitive athlete with access to the sports-training room, you can enjoy running on the indoor track, where 10 laps equal a mile, or you can use the secluded circuit-training area.

In addition to nutrition and fitness amenities, the center has a clinic that provides alternative therapies such as acupuncture, massage and bio-feedback, and cosmetic services from aestheticians and dermatologists. The clinic’s lab will do blood draws and muscle biopsies as well. Scientists believe that if you control your mind first, your body will follow.

The facility’s innovative Green Roof, donated by the Nu Sigma Nu medical fraternity, offers aromatic plants, fresh produce, cool shade and spectacular mountain views. Your mind and body can leave the indoor facility and come up on the roof to rejuvenate and relax. You can even participate in instructor-led sunrise yoga or meditation.

Aquatic facilities entice you with an exquisite warm-water exercise pool, great for water walking or group exercise and a deep-water jogging pool, where exercisers can use aqua-jogger belts. Equated to being in the womb, Watsu is a warm-water massage-therapy service that supports your head and back while you do a series of range-of-motion exercises. The pool area has high cleanliness standards and is even safe for asthma patients because it uses ultraviolet filtration, which means fewer chemicals.

Wind down or gear up in the locker room, which is akin to a lavish spa. Enjoy a relaxing lounge, high-tech lockers, individual showers, a steam room, a sauna and all of the shower amenities you could desire, including lotions, shampoos and deodorants.

A truly comprehensive mind-body fitness experience, the Colorado Center for Health and Wellness is cutting-edge and determined to affect the quality of life and health in Colorado, the nation and the world. If the luxury amenities, innovative technology and industry-leading minds at this facility don’t inspire you to get moving and start improving, well, you may need a whey protein booster shot from the center’s healthy bistro.

The St. John River has it headwaters in the province of Quebec and flows the entire length of the province of New Brunswick, a distance of almost 420 miles, in parts forming the border with Maine. It is nicknamed the Rhine of North America, but I prefer the local aboriginal name. The Maliseet call this the Woolastoq, which means Good and Beautiful River, which it undoubtedly is.

As you can imagine, with a river system this large there is an almost infinite number of snowshoe outings available. For the history and science buff, maybe the best is one is a short jaunt of about four miles.

Working your way through the ice fishing shacks near the popular summer swimming beach at Dominion Park on the city’s west side you head up the river and around Green Head Island. After about one mile there are some very obvious fossils of stromatolites on the rocks. These are some of the oldest fossils in the world and the first stromatolites to be recorded in a scientific journal.

A little farther around Green Head Island brings you to Greenhead Cove, the site of an old abandoned limestone quarry. It was from here that the lime for the brick mortar was quarried to rebuild the city after it was almost completely destroyed by fire in 1877. Another half mile or so brings you to the turnaround at Swiftpoint Lighthouse. This is one of a series of lighthouses that dot the St. John River. These lighthouses date from the late 1800s and were used for navigation by the riverboats that used to ply the river in that era.

Some great day trips are to explore by snowshoe the many islands along the river that are accessible only by boat for most of the year. I like exploring Long Island, a 2,190 acre island straight out from the town of Rothesay, one of Saint John’s eastern suburbs. Now uninhabited with the exception of a few summer camps, this island was permanently settled in 1785 by Loyalists fleeing New England for Canada to stay loyal to the British Crown.

As you approach the island’s prominent cliff face called Minister’s Face don’t be surprised to come across a group of ice climbers. Walk onto the island to the right or the left of Minister’s Face (there are paths) and work your way to the old road that bisects the island. You can follow this road to the top of Minister’s Face for a panoramic view across the river to Rothesay and for miles up and down the river. You can also still see where the farms and orchards used to be.

And for those with a lot of time on their hands and looking for a much more extreme adventure you might try retracing the route of 104^th Regiment of Foot during the War of 1812. In the winter of 1813 the 104^th, who were based upriver in Fredericton, New Brunswick, were ordered to Kingston, Ontario to help defend against the expected attack by the Americans.

With the rivers frozen at this time of year the only route was overland. Leaving Fredericton on February 16^th the 554 men began the march up the St. John River, then overland to the St. Lawrence River and along that to Kingston, arriving on April 12 after marching over 730 miles. Their longest single day march was an astounding 55 miles. And they did this wearing heavy wool uniforms, carrying their rifles and pulling loaded toboggans, all while wearing wooden snowshoes and suffering through temperatures of -25F. This is truly an impressive march.

Winter in Saint John is a great time to don your snowshoes and explore all the coves, coastline and islands of this impressive river and its many tributaries. It is an almost magical feeling to be alone, in the middle of this great river and be able to see for miles upstream.

Scenery near Lake O'Hara via the fire road, photo credit Rob Dykeman

Traveling to Banff National Park for a snowshoe destination is a great experience for the whole family – even for Rover! Banff offers a wide variety of pet-friendly accommodations ranging from rustic cabins to luxury rooms and an excellent selection of trails that will leave you and your dog tired and happy and the end of the day.

Banff

One of Canada’s premier destinations, Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, welcomes up to two pets in a room at a rate of $25 per day and offers a food dish and water bowl as well as snacks. Your pet will enjoy the historic building and fantastic views…okay, maybe not, but you certainly will while your pet sniffs the extensive grounds.

On a more modern note The Juniper Hotel and Bistro offers plush pet beds, food dish and water bowls, towel for your pet, organic cookies, pet-friendly maps and clean up baggies at a rate of $25 per pet per day. The Juniper also donates 5 percent of all pet charges to Friends of Banff National Park for wildlife education and interpretive programs. Even dogs can make a difference! The Juniper overlooks the town of Banff and has green space for your pet.

For budget travelers like me who think that anything more than a tent is luxury Best Western Siding 29 Lodge offers good value with pets costing $10 per night. The kids will enjoy the indoor pool and everyone will enjoy the complimentary breakfast and underground parking. A small lawn around the building allows for pet pit stops.

Popular pet-friendly trails in the Banff area:
-Bow Falls to Hoodoos Trail: 5.1 km one way with 60 m elevation gain
-Sundance Trail: 3.7 km one way with 50 m elevation gain
-Fenland Trail: 2.5 km loop with no elevation gain
-Stoney Squaw Summit Trail: 2.1 km, 182 m elevation gain
-Healy Creek Trail, which ties into the Sundance Trail and the Brewster Creek Trail and are all dog friendly

On the marsh near Sundance and Fenland Trails, photo credit Rob Dykeman

Castle Junction

The log cabins at Castle Mountain Chalets, located halfway between Lake Louise and Banff with a short 25-minute drive to either town, have rustic charm with wood-burning stoves or fireplaces. Pets get welcome treats and clean-up bags and cost is $25 per pet daily. This is an excellent location for the whole family with nothing but green space and fantastic views as well as excellent wildlife viewing.

Popular pet-friendly trails in the Castle Junction area:
-Protection Mountain campground to Baker Creek Mountain Resort: 4 km return
-Vermillion Pass offers backcountry snowshoeing with no designated trails
-Moose Meadows to Ink Pots: 5.3 km one way, 220 m elevation gain

Vermillion Pass backcountry snowshoeing

Lake Louise

In the Lake Louise area, Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise is pet-friendly and a similar experience to Banff Springs with the added bonus of a luxurious dog bed, the latest issue of The Bark magazine and an information sheet on pet activities. The cost is $35 daily for your pet. Various trails in the area provide various snowshoeing experiences from flat to steeper climbs.

And down in the village, Lake Louise Inn offers a variety of pet-friendly choices from economy twin rooms to superior studio suites with a $50 cost for your pet per stay. A heated indoor pool, whirlpool, steam room and fitness centre will keep everyone busy in the evening while Rover snores away after a big workout in the deep snow and fresh mountain air.

Popular pet-friendly trails in the Lake Louise area:
-Lake O’Hara fire road: 11 km one way, 430 m elevation gain (Yoho Nat’l Park)
-Takakkaw Falls road to switchbacks: 7 km, moderate elevation gain (Yoho Nat’l Park)
-Highline Trail: 9 km return, 60 m elevation gain
-Pipestone loops: a dog-friendly cross-country ski area with various loops
-Lake Louise lakeshore: 4 km return, no elevation gain
-Louise Creek: 5.6 km return, 195 m elevation gain
-Mirror Lake: 5.4 km return, 295 m elevation gain
-Fairview Lookout: 2 km return, 100 m elevation gain

Takakkaw Falls road

For more pet-friendly accommodations in Banff follow this link. Stop in at the Lake Louise Visitor Centre or the Banff Information Centre to pick up maps and get information on many more pet-friendly trails in Banff National Park and which trails to avoid as some trails are sensitive wildlife corridors and do not allow dogs.