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2 weeks ago | 
explore-mag.com | Sylvia Dekker
The heart of BC’s beautiful Nelson Kootenay Lake region is on two wheels. Put an ear down in the area and you’ll discover its heartbeat is a rhythmic combination of outdoor adventure followed by relaxation in the water and on land. Here’s how to best enjoy this epic adventure destination in the southern interior of British Columbia. Affectionately known as “the Kootenays,” this area is a friendly, gorgeous setting for unwinding in nature and getting your adrenaline pumping in the Great Outdoors.
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2 months ago | 
explore-mag.com | Sylvia Dekker
Early in the morning of December 31, 2024, Mary Borrowman looked out of her window and saw a huge orange glow in the sky. Telegraph Cove, the heartbeat of North Vancouver Island, was on fire.
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Jan 7, 2025 | 
explore-mag.com | Sylvia Dekker
Those first flakes floating past the window are a pivotal moment in the year, sparking exclamations of wonder and excitement at the change of the season. Snow has so much potential: rosy-cheeked fun activities and the muffled, sparkling beauty of a blank canvas that can transform into a wildlife fairy tale or paint palette with paw-printed tracks and yawning streaks of a colourful sunset.
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Jan 2, 2025 | 
explore-mag.com | Sylvia Dekker
Winter is a stunning season, providing plenty of thrilling opportunities for outdoor exploration. Skiing, snowshoeing, sledding, skating, snowboarding, cross country skiing, building snowmen, having snowball fights, making snow angels… the list goes on. However, winter’s chilly nature has a bad reputation. “It’s too cold to go outside: you’ll get sick!” Sound familiar?
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Dec 24, 2024 | 
explore-mag.com | Sylvia Dekker
If you’re using a YETI cooler on your adventures, you know you’ve got a quality gear item that’ll do its job—and do it well. Still, there are several ways to help your cooler keep things cool and maximize ice retention. No amount of insulation, innovative design or impressive technology that YETI brings to the (camping) table can undo the natural trajectory of ice melt. This is where your knowledge and skillset can improve your outdoor experience.
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Nov 22, 2024 | 
explore-mag.com | Sylvia Dekker
If you live somewhere that turns white in the winter—and you’re not someone who likes to let the weather dictate your adventures—putting reliable winter tires on your vehicle for the season is a no-brainer because the only sliding we want to be doing this winter is on skis, a snowboard or a toboggan—after safely arriving at the hill.
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Nov 19, 2024 | 
explore-mag.com | Sylvia Dekker
As flurries fly and temperatures dip, I crave two things: the sun kissing my pasty skin and tasty food. Once winter hits, I know I can’t be the only one. For Canadians hankering to trade shivering and shoveling for melting in a friendly tropical embrace, South Padre Island, Texas is a welcome cocktail of warmth and relaxation. Picture this: the Gulf of Mexico lapping soothingly at 34 miles of sun-soaked sand, tropical nature and delicious dining experiences.
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Nov 8, 2024 | 
explore-mag.com | Sylvia Dekker
Camping is not something most of us would choose to do during a thunderstorm, and for good reason. Dramatic claps of thunder that jolt you awake and leave you burrowing into your sleeping bag while lightning streaks across the sky and the wind picks up are all best enjoyed safely at home. Avoiding outdoor activities during a thunderstorm is the smartest option, so watch the sky and forecast to help make the call on going camping, leaving the campsite or staying if you’re already set up.
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Sep 18, 2024 | 
explore-mag.com | Sylvia Dekker
Looking back at all our forest service road excursions, road trips and truck camping trips, we’ve never been fully prepared for inevitable downed trees, deep holes and other fun surprises waiting for us along the dirt track. Looking ahead to more road and camping trips, that gaping hole needs filling. We’re usually well-prepared in first-aid supplies, water and shelter, but this is about items we normally leave behind in the garden shed. An axe. A shovel.
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Sep 9, 2024 | 
explore-mag.com | Sylvia Dekker
But for some—often those we leave at home—our off-grid adventures don’t offer peace of mind. In a recent Instagram trend, hikers in their 30’s and 40’s mimicked calling their parents to let them know they’d finished their hike safely. In a world where connectivity is possible and saves lives, it seems irresponsible not to have some way to reach out should something go wrong. And go wrong it has.
