International Adventure Travel Blog

5 Photography Tips for the Rest of Us

2010-03-09T15:34:00.000-08:00

Trish sent me a link to some tips for photographing people, and while most of the 10 tips provided were great, some were really only meant for people with fancy DSLRs (in my mind all DSLRs are fancy). I decided someone ought to write a list of photography tips for the everyday traveller. Here they are:

Never take a picture of someone or something with the sun in the background unless you want a picture of a silhouette. Silhouette shots can be very pretty, but not ideal if you want a picture of yourself.
If you have a digital point-and-shoot (ie a pocket camera) that cost more than $100, you have a force flash option. You might have to push a few buttons to change your settings from 'automatic' to 'manual' and then choose the option for flash, but it's there. It's sad but true that I've missed out on many potentially fabulous photos because I didn't bother reading my manual.
If you are taking pictures of someone in front of a snowy background, turn on the force flash option. The sunlight will reflect off the snow and make the subject look very dark in comparison if you don't.
Avoid zooming unless your camera has 'optical' zoom (as opposed to 'digital' zoom). Optical means it's actually zooming in on the subject without compromising the quality of the photo whereas digital zoom is the equivalent of zooming in on a digital picture on your computer and cropping out what you want.
Take more than one shot. In the age of digital cameras, it's ok to take a series of pictures and I'd recommend it if you're trying to get a group shot. Someone will inevitably be blinking in the first picture. You can always delete the extras later on. Or, if your super tech savvy, you can Photoshop two group photos together in the event that different people are blinking in two different group shots. This only works if everyone is standing very still inbetween shots though.

Bonus Tip Inspired by Trish (hee hee): If you're filming a video, don't flip your camera on its side as if you're taking a vertical photo. Your camera might not register that it's on its side and you'll end up with a sore neck trying to view your vids.

If you've got a DSLR or a hankering to get one, you might be interested in Craig Fergusons's website that has all sorts of tips for the travel photography enthusiast.

Anny Chih

Another Chance for a New Year

2010-03-02T09:28:00.000-08:00

So you made a few New Years resolutions in January and you might not have kept them all. No biggie, you still have the Thai New Year coming up in April for a re-do!

From April 13 to 15, Thai people around the world will be celebrating Songkran, the Thai New Year. Take part in your own Songkran by immersing yourself in the customs of buying new clothes and doing a bit of Spring cleaning on the 12th.

Celebrate a fresh start on the 13th by wearing your new threads and greeting friends! Now that your home is clean, you can invite them over for dinner.

The 14th is the day when Lord Buddha statues in Thailand are washed with scented water. This tradition has evolved to include scented water fights in the hot April weather in Thailand. Have some fun with your own water fight or take a nice relaxing scented bath as your personal contribution to your New Year. It feels good to be worldly! ;)

The last day of the New Years celebrations are a day to pay homage to ancestors and elders. You’ve done a few things for yourself over the past few days, so its time to do something for others. A kind deed is the perfect ending to a brand new start.

Happy New Year!

Anny Chih

PS If you’d like to celebrate the Thai New Year in a traditional way, BikeHike has a special Thailand Adventure Siam trip departing April 10th, 2010. The adventure will follow the regular itinerary but will also incorporate Thai New Years traditions throughout the journey: http://www.bikehike.com/thailand/thailand_trip01.html

Photo Credit: Thai Blogs

Behind the Scenes in the International Broadcasting Center

2010-02-23T09:58:00.000-08:00

Each of us at BikeHike gets a day off to enjoy the 2010 Winter Olympic events here in Vancouver. Meg is on her Olympic day today, and I (Anny) had mine yesterday.

I had the opportunity to take a private tour of the International Broadcasting Center (IBC) where CTV, NBC and all the international television stations are filming their 2010 Olympic coverage.

The IBC is just one big building of impressive! At first when you walk into the large open hall it feels like any other corporate building with wide walkways, information and accreditation booths, and a set of flat panel screens showing all the current Olympic coverage. Then you begin to notice the little things like how the walls are made of intricately woven wooden blocks that conceal doors to massive ballrooms and storage areas, and that every Winter Olympic flag from 1924 to 2010 have been hung from the ceilings that are a good four or five meters high.

Look outside the floor-to-ceiling windows towards the white sails of Canada Place, and you’ll notice a barrier of logs floating in the water surrounding the IBC. There’s a little grey boat patrolling the area no bigger than a tin can from where you’re standing. It’s the diving team patrolling the area for uninvited guests looking to crash the Olympic party. I wonder if they’ve ever caught anyone?

CTV

Up the escalators, you’ll find the CTV floor. Over a thousand workers are busy taping, reviewing footage, editing, and eating between shifts. You walk past the front desk with your temporary guest pass and wonder if anyone will stop you. Nah, you’re standing next to a guy with Norwegian curling pants. Between the glances and the “cool pants” comments, nobody notices you or checks your badge. You’re cool.

You walk through a narrow corridor with large makeshift cubicles lining the entire side. There are about six to a dozen seats and computers in each large cubicle station, and it’s obvious people are here to work. The temporary walls are covered in notices, schedules, highlighted segment lists, and Olympic paraphernalia. It’s crazy to think that all of this was put up just for the Olympics and all of it will be gone by the end of March.

One lonely desk sits at the end of the cubicles for the girl who distributes pins. It looks like they’re all gone now, and she turns to see who you are. A long list of names is hung beside her computer with all the workers who need to exchange their CTV jackets for larger or smaller sizes. The list has grown so long she’s taped several sheets below it as people continually write and cross off their names once they’ve traded outfits.

It smells like food. You start to see why as you pass the pins girl and walk towards the end of the floor. It’s the Cafeteria and it’s loaded with free food. Outside food is not allowed in the IBC, so they’re providing everyone at CTV with food around the clock including ice cream bars, and all the Coca Cola beverages you can drink. The smell isn’t that great and even though you’re a guest, you’re technically not allowed to consume any Cafeteria food so you turn around and head towards the studios.

On your way down, you pass a long set of tables with dozens of tired workers with their eyes glued to their monitors. They’re the “Loggers.” Their job is to watch everything that goes on in the Olympics and take note of what happened, where it happened, and when it happened. They input the information in codes to the main database so that when a journalist needs to know what time Team Canada scored, they get what they need with a stroke of a key.

You reach another narrow hallway. There are windows in this hall that look into the sets and control rooms. It feels almost like you’re in bizarro world because so many of the sets look identical but with different names above the Olympic rings. CTV. RDS. You take a non-flash picture through a window of a live broadcast. The host notices you and you hope you haven’t annoyed her. You walk away quickly.

There’s a studio open and the guys inside invite you in to take pictures. How awesome! A guy named Pascal offers to pose for you. They’re all super chill between segments and you chat a bit about who’s got dibs on the Olympic set props once they’re done filming.

In the control rooms, the seats are surprisingly empty and the keyboards look intimidating. There are so many buttons! Everyone works in shifts and another one will start soon so most of the workers are grabbing a quick bite in the Cafeteria.

The Basement

The tour of the CTV floor is over and you’re on the longest escalator ride of your life down to the IBC Basement floor where everyone who’s not CTV is working. It really is the longest elevator you’ve ever seen.

You enter through a set of double doors and feel like you’re about to enter a gigantic ballroom. It would be one, except the entire floor space has been taken up by temporary blocks of rooms containing mini sets and production houses from every participating country.

You sneak a peak into the open Korea house. It looks like a student lounge complete with couches, a fridge, and a guy reading a paper. You sneak a peak into the doors to the Russian television stations. A man sits at a desk as if he’s security and looks at you as if to say “what do you want?” The Russian room is sectioned off into smaller rooms all of which are closed so you quickly move on.

The Norwegian room is packed. They’ve flown in some last minute hosts and had to create a mini set within the tight space they’ve been given. It’s hot inside with so many people and you marvel at how warmly they’re dressed. They obviously didn’t get the memo about Vancouver’s warm winter climate.

You turn a corner and find the largest section of them all: NBC. They even have their own security station! You spot the moose that Stephen Colbert rode on his show last week. His production team left it in Vancouver and NBC didn’t know what to do with it so it’s just sitting in the hall without its antlers (they wouldn’t fit through the doors). You ask the security guard if you could please take a picture with it. He says he’s technically not supposed to let anyone except NBC personnel in, but since it’s for the moose he double checks with his boss. They approve. Yay!

The Olympic Flame

Finally it’s time to visit the flame. You walk outside and see the crowds covering the entire glass wall surrounding the viewing area. Thank goodness you don’t have to be part of that mass. Sadly though, spectators have been complaining about how IBC workers were allowed to walk right up to the flame, under and around it while visitors had to stay several meters back and behind a fence. They’ve since erected a short black fence around the flame that keeps IBC workers away from the flame too so your picture isn’t as nice as you had hoped it would be. That’s ok, you got a behind the scenes tour of the IBC. And you even managed to get a picture with CTV Anchor Lisa LaFlamme (even IBC workers don’t get that privilege).

For more pictures and Olympic coverage, visit BikeHike's Flickr page.

Anny Chih

Mittens!! Mittens!! Who Wants Mittens?

2010-02-18T10:03:00.001-08:00

Olympic fever is still going strong and The Bay's online store has already sold out of those red Olympic mittens!
Want a pair? BikeHike is giving away six pairs of Olympic mitts from now until the end of the games. All you have to do to enter is either:

*If you leave a comment, be sure to include your e-mail address so we can let you know if you won!

Each comment, tweet, and message counts as an entry into our random draws. Our first winner will be announced at 11am today! :)

Anny Chih

An Olympic Commute

2010-02-12T10:48:00.000-08:00

Vancouverites have been speculating and worrying for months about what kind of an impact the 2010 Winter Olympics would have on their daily commutes. It wasn’t until today though that we at BikeHike saw a dramatic change in how we got to work. Here are two very different versions of our morning commute:

Anny

I got on the train at Metrotown Station and was surprised to see how many people had their noses buried behind a giant photo of Quachi and “Attack of the Olympics” headline on the free 24Hrs newspaper. Normally there are only one or two readers per train car, but today at least half of the commuters were consumed with snippets of Olympics news.

I got off at Granville Station to catch my bus to Granville Island (where the BikeHike Adventure office is located). As I walked past the new igloo decorations of Pacific Center, I realized that there was no way my bus was going to arrive on time. The streets were teeming with enthusiastic Olympic supporters, proud Canadians, trigger-happy bystanders with cameras, tripods and cell phones, and even some pets decked out in Olympic gear. It was still over half an hour before the Olympic torch was going to go past, and traffic was already at a standstill as people began to spill out onto the streets in hoards.

A team of police officers on horses paraded past, as did the Coca Cola bus, the RBC bus, a bus of people with red mittens waiving enthusiastically through the windows, and finally the torch bearer. There were so many people on the streets, on the sidewalks, and even in the trees that the torch bearer had to pause every once in a while to squeeze past.

I stood on the corner for about 40 minutes before my bus finally arrived, but it felt as if barely a minute had passed. There was so much spirit in the air and just being part of the crowd (as lame as this sounds) was exciting.

I was 10 minutes late for work. :P

Meghan

My experience was the complete opposite to Anny. My commute is from Marpole to South Granville (for those of you who live here). The roads were so quiet and the line-ups that are normally really long for the bus were non-existent. I am not sure where everyone was? I have several theories why my commute was stress free this morning:

All the Vancouver people have fled the city for the Olympics or are on vacation
Everyone was at Stanley Park watching The Terminator run with the Olympic Torch
Everyone was so panicked about the commute that they left for work earlier than normal
People left for work earlier than normal in anticipation of leaving work early to not miss any of the Opening Ceremonies that begins at 6:00pm. After all, we are all curious to see who will be the chosen one to light the Olympic Cauldron!

Regardless, my commute to work was so quick. I felt like I was riding through a ghost town. I wonder what next week will bring?

(Anny: Meg arrived 10 minutes earlier than normal)

Click HERE for more BikeHike Olympic Photos via our Flickr account (bikehiketravel).

Meghan Burton & Anny Chih

Google to the Rescue

2010-02-11T13:52:00.000-08:00

2010 Winter Olympic alpine ski training runs have been cancelled for the day due to weather changes. According to Olympic alpine rules, all athletes must have at least one trial run before competition can begin. Canadians might be secretly hoping that this will give Vancouverite skiers an advantage, but I think everyone will agree it's just a little bit unfair.

Worldwide alpine skiers, fear not! Google is to the rescue with their new Olympics Street View which starting yesterday maps out all the Whistler Mountain ski slopes:

A Sense of the Olympics

2010-02-10T11:54:00.000-08:00

We’re only two days away from the 2010 Winter Olympics and you can really start to feel it in Vancouver! With national houses beginning to open to the public, guest lists for clubs and events quickly filling up, road closures and a swarm of smurfs on the streets (our term of endearment for Olympic volunteers), get ready to overload your senses!

See it
You can’t look around without being exposed to some form of Olympic paraphernalia. From the red Olympics mittens to the patriotic Canadian flags hanging from every building (and the Aussie Boxing Kangaroo too), it’s hard not to feel the pressure to get some gear of your own. But then you’ll arrive at The Bay (the official Olympics clothing suppliers) and see the long lineup of new tourists and think twice about reliving the nightmare of last Boxing Day. Tip: If you want Olympics gear without the lineup, try Zellers (also owned by The Bay Company).

Taste it
Even if you don’t get the gear you can at least experience the national houses and taste all the foods they’re bringing in. The Swiss national house opened last Friday on Granville Island serving cheese, chocolate and raclettes. The Aboriginal Pavilion will open this Friday night and serve aboriginal cuisine (there are rumours of some bison sliders). And even if you don’t make it to the houses, heaps of restaurants and cafes have put together special Olympic menus and dishes for your dining pleasure.

Hear it
Much to the dismay of the sleep deprived Vancouverites living near the new Irish House (normally referred to as Doolin’s Irish Pub), the Olympics are bringing in more sound than many hoped for. Dozens of irritated Vancouverites called the police last night to complain about the loud music blasting from the pub.

Once the games start though, these Vancouverites will hardly have an excuse to stay at home at night. Every night of the Olympics, there will be fabulous not-to-be-missed concerts including Les Cowboys Fringants at Place de la Francophonie (the Francophone House), Feist at the Orpheum, and much much more.

Smell it
This might be the only sense that won’t have a reason to be pleased during the Olympics as it brings in hundreds of smokers to the city and attempts to squish everyone into already congested skytrains and buses. Even smokers won’t be pleased as they realize that there are very few places in the city where smoking is legal.

Ah well, the Olympics doesn’t come around all that often. I heard a good quote the other day about it: It’s like your roommate decided to throw a party you didn’t approve of. You can either sit in your room and sulk about it, or you can go out and enjoy the party.

I hope you enjoy the party!

Anny Chih

Destination of the Month: Panama

2010-02-09T11:41:00.000-08:00

For the lovely month of February, our Destination of the Month is the amazingly diverse country of Panama.
Why Panama?

Apart from being absolutely gorgeous during the dry months of February and March, Panama also offers culture, an abundance of wildlife, and convenience for the adventurous traveller.

Culture

Though Spanish is the country’s official language, you might hear Japanese, Cantonese, Arabic, Panamanian Creole, Kuna, or even Eastern Yiddish along your travels through Panama. The country has an unusual mix of cultures as a result of its turbulent past. Despite Panama’s history, indigenous traditions have thrived throughout the centuries and have in some cases influenced the imported customs from around the world to create the eclectic experience you’ll still remember years later.

Creatures

The name ‘Panama’ means “abundance of fish, trees and butterflies” in indigenous cultures. It’s not difficult to understand how they came to that definition.

As a country with both rainforests and mangroves, bordering two seas and sandwiched between North and South America, Panama is practically the definition of diverse wildlife. The country is home to jaguars, pumas, crocodiles, nearly a thousand species of birds, various swamp creatures, unique neotropical rodents and many more varieties of animals you probably haven’t even heard of!

Convenience

For travellers that hate the idea of losing money through fluctuating exchange rates and fees, Panama is the place to be! The country technically has its own coins, but Panamanians use the American greenback for all paper currency and will accept US coins as well.

Panama has made it so convenient for its friends up North, that many Americans also flock to the country for their medical needs and made it the number one medical tourism destination in 2008 (eTN). With all the experience Panamanians have had treating visiting American visitors, you don’t have to worry about your experience in the event that you need medical attention (knock on wood).

Upcoming BikeHike Adventures in Panama

Rumble in the Jungle – Panama (10 days)
April 15 - 24, 2010 Guided by BikeHike Owner & Founder Trish Sare

This is the ultimate adventure for the adrenaline junkie. In 10 days, you’ll traverse the country from Pacific to Atlantic on your own sweat and steam. You’ll bike along twisted trails in deep fertile valleys, hike and zip-line through lush rainforests teeming with exotic wildlife, bounce down thumping rapids on a frothy world class river, snorkel in translucent seas filled with tropical marine life, and sea kayak amongst twisted mangroves and coral reefs.

Note: Because this trip is guided by Trish, places will fill up faster than normal. To reserve your spot, call 1.888.805.0061 or e-mail info@bikehike.com asap.

Other Interesting Factoids About Panama

The closest living relative to the dinosaur (aka the crocodile) can be found in Panama.
In 1999, Panamanians elected their first female President, Mireya Moscoso.
Panama is one of the world’s top producers of collectors stamps.
The Panama Canal is man-made and was created by Americans in the early 20th century.

Test Your Travel Vocab

2010-02-05T10:36:00.000-08:00

The world is-a-changing and it seems as though our vocabulary is trying desperately to catch up. Over the past few weeks, I've been exposed to some interesting new travel terms and thought I'd share my new found knowledge:

Bragabonding: boasting about travel
He couldn't stop bragabonding about his BikeHike trip to Costa Rica last month.

Deflydrated: descriptive term for dried-up post-flight skin
I need moisturizer - the flight completely made me deflydrated.

Flashpacker: a backpacker who travels in style or with a larger budget than most backpackers
He's staying at a three star hotel; what a flashpacker.

Gastro-tourism: travel undertaken to experience the food and drink of a region
She took a tour of Italy to indulge in gastro-tourism and came back 10 pounds heavier.

Jetiquette: the hospitality / manners of flight and airport staff
My flight attendant had fabulous jetiquette.

Puddle-jumper: a small regional airline
I'm taking a puddle-jumper from Lima.

Shock Tourism: tourism to war zones
BikeHike does not promote shock tourism due to safety concerns.

Sluggage: luggage that comes out of the baggage claim last
I'm sorry I'm late! I had to wait for my sluggage.

What new travel terms have you learned? If you have an interesting new travel term, add it to this post as a comment. :)

Anny Chih

News: Travel with Trish

2010-02-03T14:15:00.000-08:00

In a world where more and more customer service lines are operated by automated pre-recorded responses, it’s hard to fathom the idea that the owner and founder of a well-established travel company would take the time to personally take your phone call and guide you on your escape from the rat race. But, that’s exactly what Trish Sare, Owner and Founder of BikeHike Adventures Inc. is doing!

In April of this year, Trish will be guiding two of BikeHike's most popular Central American adventures:

Rumble in the Jungle – Panama (10 days) April 15 - 24, 2010
This is the ultimate adventure for the adrenaline junkie. In 10 days, you’ll traverse the country from Pacific to Atlantic on your own sweat and steam. You’ll bike along twisted trails in deep fertile valleys, hike and zip-line through lush rainforests teeming with exotic wildlife, bounce down thumping rapids on a frothy world class river, snorkel in translucent seas filled with tropical marine life, and sea kayak amongst twisted mangroves and coral reefs.

Turtles and Trails – Costa Rica (9 days) April 24 - May 2, 2010
This trip is an even combination of adventure, ecotourism and voluntourism. The 9 day adventure begins with whitewater rafting down the Pacuare River, biking, hiking, zip-lining and relaxation in the steamy hot springs of the Arenal Volcano region. After heading East to the Caribbean, you’ll be assisting researchers patrolling the beaches where Leatherback and Green sea turtles lay their eggs. Only 1 in 1000 hatchlings survive to adulthood, so your work patrolling, gathering and relocating these eggs has huge implications for the survival of these species. You’ll come home feeling energized and full of great karma!

If you're thinking about joining Trish on an adventure, call (1 888 805 0061 toll free in North America) or e-mail us (info@bikehike.com) asap! Whenever Trish guides a trip, it sells out *fast*.

Anny Chih

Funcouver: Everything You Wanted to Know About Visiting Vancouver

2010-01-27T13:04:00.000-08:00

We've gotten several new Twitter followers this week (Yay!), and we asked one of them how he found us. He said he was searching for things to do in Vancouver and found the BikeHike site. Well, this got us thinking...

There are a lot of people nowadays looking for information about Vancouver because of the upcoming Winter Olympics. As all travellers know, the best way to find out more about a place is to ask a local. BikeHike is based in Vancouver so we know the place pretty well. Here are some links and info that we think you might find useful if you're thinking about a trip to Vancouver:

Food
If you're searching for a good restaurant, try the Dine Here website. It has a great search option and loads of reviews.

Some of our favourite restaurants:
Bon's Off Broadway - breakfast
Provence Marinaside - brunch
Burgoo - lunch / dinner
Japadog - streetside vendor
The Foundation - vegetarian
The Balkan House - meatatarian
Vij's Rangoli - Indian dinner
Les Faux Bourgeois - French bistro dinner

Music / Concerts
The Georgia Straight (a free indie paper in Vancouver) has a fab listing of concerts around the area. Here's a link to the free concert events happening during the Olympics: http://www.straight.com/vancouver/winter-olympics-calendar-events

For concert listings year-round, check out: http://www.straight.com/timeout/search/music

Night Scene
Club Zone is probably the premier website for club listings in Vancouver.

Some recommendations for the following clubbing categories:
Pub with Live Music: Ceili's, Blarney Stone
The Tried and Tested Clubs: Caprice, Ginger Sixty Two
Hit or Miss (depends on the night and your preferences): Pop Opera, The Cellar
Gay / Lesbian: Celebrities (except on straight nights - phone ahead)

In general, if you're looking to go clubbing in Vancouver head to Granville Street. If you go before 10pm, you can usually ask the bouncers to let you check out the place before paying the entrance fee. Almost all clubs in Vancouver require a valid drivers license for entry - they scan it and keep it in the database in case something happens and the police need to know who was in the club that night. Always bring at least two pieces of valid identification.

Events
If you're visiting Vancouver during the Winter Olympics, this is a great site for free event listings: http://www.citycaucus.com/2010free

Our resident Vancouver blogger is Miss 604 is also a good source for general Vancouver-based events and news.

Other Popular Things To Do

Visit the Vancouver Aquarium - one of the best aquariums in the world; highly educational, fun and interactive
Science World (officially: the Telus World of Science) - fun for the family with lots of brain puzzles and interesting factoids about your body and the world around you
Biking / walking along the sea wall - you'll have lots of company since this is something just about all Vancouverites have done at least once in their lifetime
Visit Stanley Park - it's a beautiful park with views of the ocean and the city; you might even see a seal!
Shopping along 4th Avenue or Robson Street - you'll find the regular chain stores on Robson; 4th Avenue is where all the local designers set up shop
Visit Granville Island - there will be lots of events happening on Granville Island during the Olympics, but it's a great place all year round to enjoy a stroll, eat some freshly baked bread, and have a beer after the theatre with friends
Go hiking - one of the most popular activities amongst Vancouverites

Quirky

Visit the Vancouver Flea Market. The entrance fee is $0.75 and promises an afternoon of "treasure-hunting"
Look for local Vancouverite eccentrics like the Duck Lady around downtown. I haven't seen her in a while, but she is usually found with her duck (real) and a basket of fortunes. She used to charge $2 per fortune (don't know if that has changed).
Wander through Chinatown looking for the cheapest umbrella. Chinatown is filled with small "dollar store" type shops with lots of interesting finds. Chinatown also has Hong Kong style diners that serve an unusual Asian version of British afternoon tea that is more of a full meal than an afternoon snack.

Happy Travels! :)

Anny Chih

Photo Credits:
Japadog http://www.schemamag.ca/archive2/2008/03/japa_dog_perkily_perfect_hotdo.html
Vancouver Club Scene http://vancouverclubsandbars.com/
Vancouver Flea Market http://www.bearspage.info/h/tra/ca/bc/va.html

Canadians Sure Can Sing

2010-01-25T13:14:00.000-08:00

If you're travelling to a new destination, a good way to get to know the people you're about to meet is to listen to their music. Sumi, Quatchi and Miga agree (and Muk Muk too). ;)

The world will be coming to Vancouver for the upcoming 2010 Olympics, so we thought it'd be nice to share a Canadian playlist with you in preparation. Keep in mind, Canada has loads of great artists who have tons of fabulous songs and we couldn't very well list everything. So, this is an assortment of classics, new music, and super Canadian tunes. Enjoy!

Our Ultimate Canadian Playlist
(in no particular order)

Home For a Rest - Spirit of the West (If you're going to a pub that plays live music during the Olympics, learn this song!)
Les Etoiles Filantes - Les Cowboys Fringants (French)
Haven't Met You Yet - Michael Buble
Pinch Me - Barenaked Ladies (in case you didn't know, they're not actual naked - nor are they ladies)
Camilo (The Magician) - Said the Whale (we thought we'd throw in an up-and-coming Vancouver-based band - you heard it here first!)
Heart of Gold - Neil Young
Leaving on a Jet Plane - Chantal Kreviazuk
Free - Jann Arden
I'm Like a Bird - Nelly Furtado
When I'm Up (I Can't Get Down) - Great Big Sea
Hasn't Hit Me Yet - Blue Rodeo
Benediction - The Weakerthans
50 Mission Cap - The Tragically Hip
Building a Mystery - Sarah McLachlan

If you're coming to Canada for the first time, you should also watch this CLASSIC commercial: Molson Canadian's I Am Canadian.

Anny Chih

PS If you're interested in catching some concerts during the Olympics, check out The Straight for free concert listings. A few of the artists in our playlist will also be playing in Vancouver next month!

Shake Hands / Hug / Bow / Kiss Hello?

2010-01-19T13:31:00.000-08:00

I'm about to state the obvious: Different countries have different customs. We all knew that. But how many faux pas are you making unknowingly?

Here are a few cultural blunders I've seen people make lately:

China
When putting chopsticks down, never place them upright in a bowl of food. It makes the chopsticks look like the incense sticks that you use when paying respects to the gods and is considered very rude.

Europe
Take off your gloves before shaking hands unless you are a woman wearing indoor gloves as a fashion statement - it's considered rude not to. I actually made this mistake a few weeks ago when meeting a Russian friend (we were outside and I forgot to take them off). Oops.

Japan
It doesn't matter how sniffly you are, do not blow your nose into a handkerchief. The Japanese call snot "hanakuso" which literally means "nose shit" so the idea of walking around with a cloth full of it is repulsive.

Africa and India
The left hand is considered the dirty hand, so when you eat you should use only your right hand.

India
Though it's polite and customary in North America to thank your host(s) at the end of a meal, it's considered impolite to do so in India. "Thank You" can be seen as a form of payment and may insult your host(s).

Asia in General
Never point your feet or show the soles of your shoes to anyone because feet are considered unclean and to do so is a sign of disrespect.

Have you noticed anyone commit a cultural faux pas lately?

Anny Chih
Picture taken from http://justhungry.com

Posting Pictures on Facebook

2010-01-14T10:11:00.001-08:00

Ahoy Adventurists!

We received an e-mail this morning from one of our fabulous clients asking how to upload photos onto our Facebook Fan page. I logged onto my Facebook account and found that the 'upload photo' option definitely isn't obvious. I think a lot of people don't upload their travel pictures because of this, so I thought I'd shed a bit of light on the matter:

Normally when you upload a photo to your Facebook profile, you click on the Photos tab and either create an album or upload a photo to an existing album.

There is no 'upload' option in the Photos tab of a Facebook Fan page. Fans aren't allowed to upload entire albums (this is all Facebook - if we could, we'd allow easy album uploads).

Instead, to upload an individual picture you have to click on the picture icon underneath the text box where you can write a message on the Fan page wall (see picture below). Once you've uploaded your picture, click 'Share' to post it onto the Fan page. It will automatically appear in the Fan Photos album.

We hope to see more of your travel photos on the BikeHike Adventures Fan page! :)

-Anny Chih

Help Haiti

2010-01-13T15:14:00.000-08:00

Everyone's heard about the massive earthquake in Haiti last night. It's a tragedy that this has happened to a country that has already struggled for so long as the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere.

If you want to help Haiti's people, there are dozens of organizations that are accepting monetary donations on the country's behalf. Some of the quickest ways to send relief right now:

If you live in the US

Donate $10 to the Red Cross relief effort immediately by texting "HAITI" to "90999". You will see the charge on your next cell phone bill.
Click HERE for the American Red Cross' Donation Page. Select 'International Response Fund' to contribute to the Haiti rescue mission.
For a list of other US organizations that are helping out in rescue efforts, click HERE.

If you live outside of the US

To make a donation in Euros or Francs, click HERE for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies' Donation Page.
To make a donation in Canadian dollars, click HERE for the Canadian Red Cross Donation Page or call 1-800-418-1111 (toll free) with your credit card information.
To donate to UNICEF's Earthquake in Haiti relief fund from anywhere in the world in your currency, click HERE. You will be asked to select a specific type of relief effort you would like to contribute to.

During world crises like this, it's sad to think that there are people who might take advantage of the situation for their own gain; but it does happen. Please be wary of smaller unknown organizations claiming to send 100% of all your donations to the relief efforts in Haiti. The best way to make the biggest positive impact is to donate to well-known and established relief organizations like the Red Cross and UNICEF. They are the ones that have the infrastructure in place to make a significant difference right away.

All our best to the people of Haiti,

The Team at BikeHike

Destination of the Month: Belize

2010-01-13T09:56:00.000-08:00

Our feature destination of the month is none other than beautiful Belize!

Why: Belize is a tropical paradise with more than beach life to offer for adventurists. As one of the few destinations that offer entrance to the underworld, 300ft drops into the dark, and swims alongside rare manatees and reef sharks, Belize is a hot (in both senses of the word) destination from December - April.

Upcoming BikeHike Adventures in Belize
The Belize Blast starting every first Saturday of the month until May. You can start a new date with as few as two people.

Highlights of Belize

The Mayan Ruins of Xunantunich (pronounced "shoo-nahn-too-neech")
These ruins are arguably the most popular remnants of the Mayan civilization in Belize. The population in Xunantunich never exceeded 10,000 but they left a lasting impact with their architecture built in the 7th century AD.

Interesting Factoid: The friezes you see today at El Castillo are actually replicas; the originals are kept underneath for safekeeping.

Underwater Cave Systems
These dark caverns house more than stalactites, stalagmites and crytalline formations. The Maya believed that these caves were the homes of important dieties including the rain god, Chac. They would build ceremonial shrines for these gods and sometimes offer human sacrifices.

Interesting Factoid: According to Mayan beliefs, people were first created from corn dough taken from the flesh of the Maize God, the principal deity of creation. Mayans still consider themselves "corn people".

The Black Hole Drop
The abseil down this 300ft sinkhole called the Actun Loch Tunich takes you through forest canopy, past the mouth of a sacred Maya cave and down into a tropical forest paradise.

Interesting Factoid: One of the most popular questions people ask when they get to the bottom is "how do we get out?"

The Barrier Reef
The Belize Barrier Reef is the second longest continuous reef system in the world (the first is Australia's Great Barrier Reef). The reef can be accessed in Ambergris Caye, where rare manatees (aka sea cows) and reef sharks live. No need to worry about the sharks though, they're even more scared of people than we are of them.

Interesting Factoid: In the popular Disney movie Finding Nemo, Nemo's father stays male after his mother dies. In reality, if the head female clownfish dies, the head male clownfish will change its sex to become female.

Other Interesting Factoids About Belize

Although many languages are spoken in Belize, it is the only country in South America where English is the official language.
Over 40% of Belize's land is under legal protection.
Belize's national anthem is "Land of the Free by the Carib Sea".
Belize was known as the "British Honduras" until 1973.

Top 3 Warm and Romantic Destinations

2010-01-12T15:50:00.001-08:00

With Valentines on February 14th and US Presidents Day holiday on the 15th, this is the perfect time to go on that romantic getaway. Here are our top three recommended destinations for that special trip for two:

Belize
The Belize Blast is one of our best selling trips during the winter holidays, and for good reason. The temperature is perfect this time of year, and our 9-day trek includes an even balance of exhilaration and relaxation with rappels down 300ft sinkholes, to snorkeling and manatee watching along the warm and sunny beaches of Ambergris Caye island.
This trip begins on the first Saturday of every month, but we can start a new trip just for you with as few as two people.
Read more about Belize, our Feature Destination of the Month.

Costa Rica
With four Costa Rica multi-sport adventures ranging from easy to challenging, this is one destination that has something for everyone!

Easy
Adventure Playground: Make Costa Rica your playground with 9-days of whitewater rafting, zip lining and sun tanning on the pristine beaches of Manual Antonio National Park. You’ll be reminded of what life was like before work existed.

Easy / Moderate
Costa Rican Adventure: This is one of our more customizable trips where animal lovers rejoice with dolphin watching, horseback riding and canopy tours in addition to whitewater rafting, hiking, and soaking in the calming hot springs of Tabacon.

Moderate
Turtles and Trails: If want to do more for the animals than watch them, this is the trip for you. Combining biking, hiking and white water rafting with voluntourism through the conservation of leatherback and green sea turtles, this adventure will have you coming home with a happy conscience.

Ultimate Adventure Medley: Take an extreme 10-day holiday you won’t forget on this adventure that combines relaxing in a hot spring, whitewater rafting in class 3-4 swells, sea kayaking through gurgling ocean turf, and biking down abandoned whitesand beaches. Come back with more stories than you can remember!

Challenging
Coast to Coast adventure: On this 15-day adrenaline rush, you’ll start on one end of Costa Rica and end up on the other solely by your own muscle-power. This is one of the most challenging and most rewarding expeditions we offer. Free bragging rights included.

Thailand
You’ll find yourself knee-deep in culture on both BikeHike Thailand adventures, Adventure Siam and Adventure with a Heart. Get closer to your special someone by volunteering together at a rural Thai school on Adventure with a Heart, or bond over a mutual appreciation of cultural exploration on the Adventure Siam.

Keeping Your Resolution to Get Fit By Planning a Vacation

2010-01-12T15:48:00.000-08:00

For the same reason you get a sudden burst of energy when your workday is about to end, planning your next vacation gives you something to feel great about and often provides that extra bit of energy you need to get you through the week.

By setting a date for your next holiday and incorporating adventure travel activities like hiking, biking, and kayaking into your itinerary, you give yourself motivation to keep fit and also a timely goal to work towards.

Follow these 5 quick and easy steps to a happier you:

Book your vacation time.
Why do it now? Booking your vacation time before everyone else will ensure that you get the time off that you want. Booking vacations in advance will also ensure that you get the trip that you want at the lowest airline and tour prices.
Make a short list (3-5) of your favourite outdoor activities and why you love to do them.
Why write it down? When you write down why you love to bike / hike / kayak etc, you have something to help you keep your motivation to stay fit on those rainy or sluggish days when you may not feel like going out.
Choose a BikeHike adventure that incorporates at least two of your favourite outdoor activities. If you are unsure of which trips are ideal during your vacation time or which country you would prefer visiting, call or e-mail us at 1-888-805-0061 (toll free in Canada & USA) or info@bikehike.com
Why choose BikeHike? We’re one of the few small companies that will take the time to find you the ideal set of activities, itinerary and destination for you. If we don’t have an existing trip that’s exactly right, we can create a custom itinerary for you at little to no additional cost and book it with as few as two people. All BikeHike adventures are also rated based on recommended fitness levels, so if your new years goal is to increase your level of fitness, we can create a vacation for you based on that goal.
Book your BikeHike adventure.
Our booking process is quick, simple, and can be found HERE.
Write it all down in your calendar or personal organizer.
Why? By keeping your goals, reasons for them, and reminder of your reward handy, you are more likely to follow through with your resolutions and be happy about why you chose them and what’s in it for you in the end.

Happy Travels! :)

Scott Pare Gets a Goat

2010-01-08T10:50:00.001-08:00

Over the holidays, we put together a little contest to raise money for holiday turkeys for the homeless. For every five travel photos posted on our Facebook Fan page, $1 would be donated to a local shelter. As a bonus, contributors were entered to win a goat donation to an African village in his / her name, and a one-year subscription to Outpost Magazine.

Congratulations to Scott Pare! You've won a goat and an Outpost Magazine subscription! :)

Here's one of Scott's winning photos:

Fight the Sleep Monster!

2010-01-07T13:39:00.000-08:00

Just about everyone is getting back into the swing of things at work or school, which can be difficult after the food coma of the holidays.

By now, your few days of post-holiday lethargy sympathy are probably over. So how do you get that boost of energy that you so desperately need to get through these first couple of weeks and adjust back to normal?

Everyone has heard the usual “eat well, sleep lots, drink water, and don’t get stressed”. But, we’ve scoured the web and found some other ways to liberate yourself from fatigue that are a little more fun. Enjoy!

Wear comfy shoes. If your feet are tired, you’ll likely be feeling it too. So why not ditch the heels for some cushy loafers under the desk? Nobody will notice and those that do will just be jealous that they didn’t think of it first!
Close your eyes and place your forehead under a nice warm lamp. Pretend you’re in a far off tropical paradise and let the soothing begin. The heat and light from the lamp is supposed to be both calming and energizing.
Scrub away your worries. After your shower, scrub down your skin with either a rough washcloth or coarse sea salt. Not only will you have done your skin a favour by removing dead cells and toxins, but you’ll feel refreshed and ready to tackle the world with your new glowing complexion.
Brush your teeth. Dental hygiene is always important, and the tingling sensation from the toothpaste does wonders when you’re feeling groggy. The minty freshness is a plus too!
Go for a game of glow in the dark bowling. As Meg (Operations Director) says “who doesn’t love bowling?” ;) Doing something fun with friends lifts your spirits and will give you something to smile about the next morning when you’re stuck in traffic.
Try a detox. Trish (BikeHike founder) noticed that there were a lot more options on the market this week and has just started one today. Follow our tweets at @bikehiketravel to see how it’s going.
Our personal favourite: Plan a vacation! Even if you don’t have any vacation hours coming up, the simple act of planning for a big adventure is rejuvenating and such a great break from pushing paper. Click HERE for some inspiration.
Sing and dance like there’s nobody around! Singing at the top of your lungs while driving to work or dancing and skipping on your walk to the office is guaranteed to cheer you up.
It doesn’t have to be January 1st for you to take a dip in the deep blue. Take a polar bear swim to perk up before or after work. Just remember to bring a towel!
Eat a few guaranas. Each fruit has twice as much caffeine as a coffee bean and is about the same size. Be careful not to overdo it or get addicted though. This is the same fruit found in many energy drinks found on your supermarket shelves.
Avoid fruit (at least in the morning). Didn’t expect that one did you? Fruit has a lot of sugar, which is what you want to avoid in the morning so that you don’t crash before lunch.

If you try any of these, let us know how it goes! You can leave a comment on the blog, tweet us at @bikehiketravel or write on our Facebook Fanpage wall.

Anny Chih

Giving Thanks

2010-01-06T09:12:00.000-08:00

At the start of the new year, most people start thinking about resolutions. At BikeHike Adventures, one of ours is to show more gratitude for the little luxuries in life. Here’s a sample of things – little and big – that we’re thankful for.

Lightweight Down Jackets
We’ve come a long way since 1940 when Eddie Bauer (the man behind the brand) invented the first down jacket called the Skyliner. This incredible discovery of warmth led to years of development and improvement in the field of outerwear to bring us to present day technology where we can find down jackets that scrunch into our daypacks without effort, and are so light we sometimes forget that we packed it.

iPhones
We’re thankful for iPhones and all other 3G phones that allow us to text our adventures from the streets of Vancouver to the tip of Mount Kilimanjaro. Did you know that the first pre-commercial 3G network was launched in 2001?

Waterproof Paper
Oh the things you can forget if you wait until later to write them down! But how did we ever write in the rain before waterproof paper? Nowadays, you can buy a waterproof notebook for your soggy adventures for less than $10. We can’t wait to see what inventor Sally Ramsey will come up with next!

Thermarest Sleeping Pads
Anyone who has ever shelled out the $100+ for a Thermarest sleeping pad will tell you that it was worth every penny. Thank you to Cascade Designs – the makers of Thermarests, MSR and SealLine – for keeping the twigs at bay.

Non-pumping Water Filters
If you’re already tired from your trek through the Amazon, the last thing you want to do is exert more energy pumping drinking water. We’re very thankful for all the inventors who created microbiological water filters.

Heated Ski Boots
Heated footbeds were actually invented in the late ‘80s but they’re new to us so we’re dying to try them out! You too can get your existing boots fitted with battery powered heated footbeds to keep your toes happy on the slopes and avoid taking your boots off and tearing open a new temporary heat pad each time you get too cold.

Wash-In Waterproofers
Have you ever had a waterproof jacket that you love but that lost its ability to shield you from the wet stuff? There’s no need to go through the trials of separation anymore with wash-in waterproofers. For less than $15 per bottle, you can salvage two favourite jackets in the wash and save yourself an extra $300 on a replacement shell!

Underarm Zippers
Who invented the underarm zipper? We don’t know the answer to that one, so we’re going to have to direct our thanks to the inventor of the early interlocking zipper (aka the “hookless fastener”), Swedish born Gideon Sundback. When I was first introduced to underarm zippers, it was on a jacket I had little intention of using during long hikes. I thought it was a silly thing to have. Now though, underarm zippers are almost as essential as layering!

So fellow adventurers, what are you thankful for?

Anny Chih

Do You have a Winning Shot? You Could Be A Winner and You'll Help the Less Fortunate

2009-12-01T08:50:00.000-08:00

Upload your best 5 travel photos to our BikeHike Facebook Fan Page and we'll pick the top photo. We'll donate $1 per image towards purchasing Christmas Turkeys for a local homeless shelter. The deadline is December 20th. Photos can be of a personal trip or even better, a BikeHike Adventure. With each picture you submit, include the location in a caption.

For the winner (besides bragging rights), BikeHike will buy a goat for a village in Africa in your name. A goat helps nourish hungry children and families with healthy milk, cheese, and yogurt. Goats also give a much-needed income boost by providing offspring and extra dairy products for sale at the market. Goats are practical animals - flourishing in harsh climates while producing valuable manure to fertilize crops and vegetable gardens.

The winner will also receive a one year subscription to Outpost Magazine http://www.outpostmagazine.com/

5 Tips for Writing a Travel Journal

2009-11-24T10:29:00.000-08:00

One of the best mementos of a trip is keeping a travel journal. It doesn't have to be elaborate or fancy, just something that will help you remember the little things from your trip you might have otherwise forgotten. I used to write my journal in full sentence form, but found that can be more daunting and time consuming. Now I find the best method is jotting down one line sentences, something that will help trigger my mind back to the event. I was looking over my notes from Costa Rica and had to chuckle over the lines " It's nice if you like Tapirs" and "Little bird". The first referring to a response from a tourist in the Osa Peninsula after seeing a Tapir up-close. I found the statement funny! When would I have ever had the chance to see a Tapir before to know if I liked one? I think it was a special moment and that there was nothing not to like about the experience. She seemed so unimpressed. As for the "little bird", this was our guide's response to most birds we encountered. We would ask him what type of bird it was, and he always said "little bird". I wonder if we asked what the heron was if he would have said "big bird". Anyways, my point being, you don't need to write anything elaborate. You should write it for yourself and your own memories. it doesn't have to be for anyone else's eyes, unless you want it to be. All you need is a sentence or quote to trigger your memory.

Here are some tips for keeping an interesting travel journal:

Take notes with your senses. Try to capture the smells, sounds, views, etc around you. What sounds are coming from the city? (motorbikes, call of prayer, fog horns, etc). What does the market smell like? What did your most memorable meal taste like? How did the orangutans sound coming through the trees?

For example, my last trip to Morocco was really a trip for the senses. I will never forget the taste of the lemon chicken tagine; the sounds of the camels chewing beside my tent; the sunsets and full moon; holding the leathery hand of Fatima; and the smell of the mint tea brewing.

Take notes with your emotions, good or bad. For example, how did you react to your first glimpse of Machu Picchu? How did you feel after riding on a camel that spit all the time? How did you feel after bartering in a market? or after eating something you normally wouldn't (seagull, in my case)?

Take notes on the specifics. This will help you remember what hotels to recommend? Which museums are a must see? What was the name of your guide? Taking notes on the little details gives depth and authenticity to your writing.

Be creative. As I said above, you don't necessarily have to write full sentences to remember your trip. You could write poems, draw pictures, simple blog entries, compile your own top ten lists, etc. I also found it fun to bring some colour pencils, scissors and tape with me to liven up my journal and make it more interesting. I taped in stubs from museums, menus from a restaurant, beer labels, etc.

If you don't feel like it, don't write every day Have fun writing the journal. Write an entry only when you feel like it. If you try to write every day, it could begin to feel more like a chore and then you will avoid it all together. You can leave out all the little, boring details that in 5 years from now you won't care to read. Who wants to read a journal that is a day to day account of what you did? "I woke up at 7:00am in the morning, had breakfast of tea and scones and then took a shower. After that, I got dressed and walked 1/2 an hour to the Tower of London, blah, blah, blah". You get the gist.

So next time you're going on a trip, don't forget to pack a travel journal.
Meg

10 items you should consider packing on your next adventure

2009-11-23T12:21:00.000-08:00

I would have to say my least favourite part of travelling is packing. I find it painful. I always pack at the last minute, generally an hour before I have to leave for the airport. My method seems to work so far, as I have never forgot anything important, and it seems to help keep my luggage a reasonable size. It's always easier to travel light, so next time you find yourself packing consider taking items that have multiple uses. Here is a list of 10 multi-use items you should consider packing next time you are taking off.

1) Shampoo - There is no reason to carry four or five bottles of cleansing liquids such as body wash or shampoo. When you get down to it, it’s all soap. So consolidate by choosing a mild shampoo for all your cleaning needs.

2) Dental Floss - This waxy string is not only great for getting food out of your teeth, it also has other practical uses, such as a clothesline, thread and a knife to cut through cheese, bread, etc.

3) 5-in-1 Survival Tool - Weighing in at just 50 grams, this superlight tool is great in emergencies. It contains the following: Waterproof matchbox, Safety whistle, Compass, Signal Mirror and Fire starter flint.

4) Sarong - Sarongs are meant to be worn, but can also be used as a towel, a privacy curtain, picnic blanket, a sheet, or protection from the intense sun.

5) Swiss Army Knife - This small gadget is a must for travelers. Swiss Army makes pocket knifes that range from extremely simple to a 34-use mega tool. Attachments for travelers include: Corkscrew, Bottle opener, Thermometer, Toothpick, Scissors, Flashlight, etc.

6) Safety Pins - Safety pins are a lifesaver when it comes to holding fabric together. But they have a few other uses as well. For example, after stringing up your dental floss clothesline, hang your socks up to dry with a safety pin. You can also use a safety pin to connect your pack’s zippers for a little added security (if not using a lock).

7) Trailguide Compass Watch -This does more than check the time! Additional features include an alarm, altimeter, thermometer and timer.

8) Rain Poncho -Unless you’re heading to a rainy destination, you might pass up the poncho while packing. However, before you do, think of other ways it can be used. E.g: Picnic Blanket – Lay out the picnic spread over your poncho which will keep things dry and is a breeze to clean. Bag Liner – Empty your bag and line it with your poncho to keep wet clothes from seeping through.

9) Waterproof Pelican Dry Case - Pelican makes a line of cases to keep your valuables from getting wet. Higher end cases are tailor-made for cameras and electronics. Smaller micro cases are great choices for backpackers.

10) Credit Card Survival Tool - The ultimate multipurpose tool, it is the size of a credit card, made of stainless steel, cheap, and has 11 different uses listed (Can opener, Knife edge, Screwdriver, Ruler, 4 position wrench, Butterfly screw wrench, Saw blade, 2 position wrench, Key chain hole, Bottle opener, Direction auxiliary indication).

(List provided by the Matador Network blog)

Happy packing,
BikeHike

Winter's Fast Approaching: Avalanche Safety in the Outdoors

2009-11-19T11:43:00.000-08:00

Winter is almost here! It's one of my favourite times of year. I love the snow, sitting in front of a fire, warm rum drinks, snowshoeing, watching holiday movies, skating, hot chocolate, skiing, wearing toques...What's not to love!

However, like with anything related to the snow and cold, it’s smart to be prepared. Especially if heading outdoors to play in mountainous terrain. Preparation helps you think about and ready yourself for the unexpected. The Canadian Avalanche Centre (http://www.avalanche.ca/) has a comprehensive website with sections on pre-trip planning, gear, events in your area, training courses and a library with research articles.

Below is some trip planning advice to follow when planning your next outdoor adventure. Remember, trip planning is only the first step in avalanche risk management!

• Brush up on rescue skills. Beacon practice, reviewing shoveling techniques and first aid classes are good preparation for the upcoming season.

• Check the weather forecast. Be aware that avalanche hazard can dramatically increase with changes in weather. Remember that limited visibility can make it difficult for you to assess avalanche hazard during your trip.

• Choose routes that are appropriate for the conditions. To do so, you first need to gather information on current and expected avalanche danger to determine what areas are more susceptible to avalanches than others during that particular time period.

• Make it a habit to print out the avalanche bulletin and bring it along. This way you can be sure not to forget any important details.

• Consider who is going on the trip and what their capabilities are. Things to consider include group size, individual experience, fitness levels, and purpose of the trip.

• Always run through an equipment check before departing. Ensure everyone you are traveling with knows how to use their gear.

• Before you go, leave a detailed trip plan with a responsible person

• If you live in BC or Alberta, use the online trip planning tool on the Canadian Avalanche Centre's website: http://www.avalanche.ca/avaluator/

Have fun and remember, stay safe!
BikeHike