Blog on a Log
Friday, May 3, 2013
How to Clean and Repair your Gear for Spring
How should I prepare for the spring camping season?
With spring weather finally on its way we're all excited to get out and enjoy the great weather. Before you get too ahead of yourself, it's a good idea to check your gear over to make sure it's up to the challenge. With regular maintenance, outdoor gear can keep performing at a high level for years to come.
1: Set up and air out your gear
Take an opportunity to pull out all the gear and clothing that's been stored away for the winter months. This gives packed away items the chance to shake off any musty smell, and is the perfect opportunity to remind yourself of any repairs that weren't completed last year.
Set up your tent
No one wants to arrive for the first camping trip of the season only to remember the pole that broke at the end of last fall! Set up your tent in a yard or large room and check it over for any rips or damage. Count the tent pegs and make sure none are missing. If possible, leave the tent standing for a day to allow it the chance to air out.
Fluff out your sleeping bag
It is best to store sleeping bags hanging so their insulation does not become compressed. However if your bag has been packed down, now is the perfect time to take it out and regain some of the loft. Shake the bag out and allow it to rest somewhere where it will not get crushed. If your bag has become particularly compacted, running it through an 'air fluff' dryer setting with no heat can also help regain loft.
2: Clean and re-finish your gear
As you are setting up and airing out your gear, you may notice some dirt or unpleasant smells left over from last season. Be careful not to use regular detergents on technical gear - most sleeping bags, tents and jackets require special washing to maintain their technical qualities.
How to Wash Sleeping Bags
Many bags simply require a day of airing to remove any musty smells. However if things are getting particularly funky, it may be time for a full wash. DO NOT use regular detergents on sleeping bags. Detergents coats the insulating fibers (both down and synthetic) causing them to clump together and loose their loft. Always use a down wash on down-filled bags and a tech wash on synthetic bags to maintain your bag's warmth.
How to Wash Rain Jackets
Waterproof breathable rainwear only works when water vapour can escape out through the garment's pores. When these pores become clogged with dirt, dust and skin oils they lose their breathability. Regular detergents can leave deposits that get trapped in these pores, making the problem even worse. To regain your rainwear's breathable properties, wash items with tech wash to clear out the pores.
If your rain gear has begun to loose its water repellancy, it may require refinishing. After first cleaning it, use a waterproofing treatment to improve repellancy.
How to Clean a Camp Stove
A clean stove produces a cleaner and hotter flame, allowing you to cook meals more efficiently and conserve fuel. White gas burns cleaner than most fuels, and requires less maintenance, but even white gas stoves can benefit from regular maintenance. While still at home, take off any removable parts to your stove and clean all areas with dish soap and warm water. Leave to dry overnight, reassemble, and oil all moving parts (such as the fuel pump). Test your stove outdoors in a safe area with no wind.
If your stove is clogged, disassembling may be necessary to clean any stuck parts. Specific disassembly instructions will vary by stove, but may be available from the manufacturer or by visiting us in store.
How to Clean Tents, Backpacks, Thermarests, and other Large Items
For items too large to fit in a washing machine, spot clean any dirty areas with tech wash and a soft cloth. Waterproof items too big for the washing machine (like some rain flys) can be refinished using a spray-on treatment.
3. Repair your Gear
Cleaning your gear before each season gives you a great opportunity to search for any repairs that need to be made. Most small repairs can be made yourself without having to purchase entirely new gear.
Waterproof Patches
Patches can be used to fix rips or tears in waterproof materials. Though not a permanent fix, these are great to take with you as a temporary solution, and in a pinch can extend the life of your gear for some time.
Seam Sealer
Aquaseal provides a flexible, permanent seal perfect for reenforceing leaky tent seams. It's also the industry standard choice for repairs on wetsuits, dry suits, or any items used in or around the water.
Air Mattress Repair
Leaky air mattresses can be made as good as new with a basic Thermarest repair kit. The kit allows for fast and permanent repairs to any air mattress, and is easy enough to use right in the field.
Regular maintenance will make your gear will last longer and better so you can keep chasing your adventures in comfort.
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
2013 Manitoba Park Passes Now Available at Wilderness Supply
Manitoba Park Pass Vehicle Permits Required Starting
May 1st, 2013
Manitoba Park Passes must be displayed year-round in vehicles starting May 1st for entry into Manitoba provincial parks.
An annual vehicle permit costs $40 and is valid until April 30th, 2014. Casual (3-day) and daily passes are also available.
Where to Buy a Manitoba Park Passes in Winnipeg
Park passes are now available for purchase at both Winnipeg Wilderness Supply locations, 623 Ferry Road and 42 Speers Road. The park pass is transferable between vehicles and gives you entry into any provincial park from May 1, 2013 to April 31, 2014.
So don't wait! Manitoba parks passes are now available at all Winnipeg Wilderness Supply locations. Get the gear you need to get out this year, plus the passes to take you to your playground of choice.
Free Park Entry Weekends
Entry into Manitoba Parks is free three weekends out of the year:
Family Fishing Weekend - June 7, 8 & 9
Canada's Parks Day - July 20 (free entry on July 19, 20 & 21)
September Long Weekend - August 30 - September 2
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Learn to Whitewater Canoe and Kayak in Winnipeg
Want to learn to canoe or kayak in whitewater?
If you've always wanted to master the skills you need to paddle in moving water, this is your year! Wilderness Supply and WAV Paddling are offering beginner and intermediate whitewater canoe and kayak courses all spring and summer in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Canoe and kayak courses also make great gifts, and discounts are available for group bookings! Check out the great whitewater courses now available for registration:
| Beginner River Kayaking | June 14-16, July 12-14 | |
| Introduction to Rolling | June 17, June 26, July 3, July 22, August 7, August 21 | View Info |
| Intermediate River Kayaking | June 21-23, July 19-21 | View Info |
| Introduction to Whitewater Tandem Canoe Skills | June 22-23, July 6-7 | View Info |
View all WAV Paddling Courses...
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
The Sounds of Spring: The Best Climber Podcasts
The Dirtbag Diaries
The Dirtbag Diaries is mostly made up of "Shorts", listener-submitted, and narrated, stories about unique adventures related to an outdoor lifestyle. If you like to live vicariously though others, this is the podcast for you. Be prepared for stories that range from extremely inspiring to heart wrenching.
"A Successful Life"
Aimee Brown gets a dream job as a writer at National Geographic, (spoiler alert!) and then quits, because Washington D.C. doesn't compare to their mountain-lifestyle friendly home in the Pacific Northwest
"Three Eighths to Eternity"
Christian Beamish embarks on a solo sailing/surfing trip in a homemade boat down the length of Baja
"Datos Insuficientes"
A paddling trip through the Abysmo section of the Apurimac river, with no real information about the class V water that lies ahead.
The Enormocast
The premise of this podcast is simple. The host, Chris Kalous, sits down with other climbers (some famous, some not so famous), and spends about an hour interviewing them and just chatting about climbing. While it's obviously aimed at climbers, anybody that likes outdoor adventure interviews will enjoy this one.
Craig Demartino, amputee climber
Brendan Leonard, and his dirtbag climber lifestyle
Alex Honnold, who needs no real introduction
Addendum, added 26/04/13:
ClimbTalk
ClimbTalk is the world's only climbing radio show. Broadcasted out of Boulder, Colorado, on Radio 1190, they interview young up-and-comers, and old legends that paved the way for future generations.
The hosts are Mike Brooks and Dave McAllister. Dave is an accomplished writer who pens articles for Rock and Ice magazine, as well as other publications. Mike has been climbing literally forever.
Listen every Friday at 9pm MST on Radio 1190 http://www.radio1190.org/
And download here:
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Mantario Hiking Trail Maps now available at Wilderness Supply
If you're wondering where to buy a Mantario Hiking Trail map in Winnipeg, maps are now back in stock at both Winnipeg Wilderness Supply locations, 623 Ferry Road and 42 Speers Road. The $10.99 waterproof map is the go-to resource for any Mantario hiker, showing the topography of the 63-km trail plus all ten designated campsites with distances and estimated hiking times between.
Hikers will have to use the maps for planning purposes for the time being, however, as a large wind and snowstorm late last year has left the trail nearly impassible. The photo below, taken by a Wilderness Supply staff member a few days after the storm, shows a sample of the damage to most of the southern half of the trail.
Manitoba Conservation has officially closed the trail, stating:
The Mantario Trail is closed due to severe snow damage that occurred October 4, 2012. The trail has trees blocking various portions of the trail, therefore making trail conditions unsafe for hiking.
The Mantario Hiking Trail is approximately 60kms long and is a difficult challenge to even the most experienced hiker. Access to the damaged area to clean-up will be very difficult and with winter weather fast approaching, clean-up efforts will have to be postponed until the Spring of 2013.
The Mantario Trail will be surveyed in the spring of 2013 to further assess damage. Clean-up efforts will be scheduled to start as soon as trail conditions are safe for staff to conduct the clean-up (Spring 2013).
Updates will be posted to the Manitoba Conservation website once cleanup has begun.
More information: Manitoba Parks - Hiking