My husband and I had a fantastic Christmas filled with outdoor gear surprises. I think the biggest surprise for the both of us was a Tregurtha Frost River canoe pack for my husband. He desperately needed a new one, and had his eye on this company’s traditional canvas canoe packs for quite a few months. They’re expensive but will last a lifetime.

I desperately needed a new paddle, and much to my surprise I received “the Badger Tripper” paddle from Badger Paddles. We’re Peterborough, Ontario natives, so B was able to purchase it from Wild Rock Outfitters.

I’m so happy it came with the paddle sock!

Some other great gear that we received is pictured below.

New PFD and stool

All kinds of goodies.

MEC base camp pillow and another dry pack

This great alternative to the Kelly Kettle Hobo Stove attachment.

• New PFD for B and stool;
• Gear ties, duct tape, nylon tent repair;
• Italian liqueur and coffee;
• Kevin Callan’s Wilderness Quest DVD (filmed in Quetico Provincial Park);
• MEC base camp pillow and dry sack; and
• Original wood stove by Emberlit (a great alternative to the Kelly Kettle Hobo Stove attachment).

Over Christmas, I had the opportunity to fire that wood stove up at the waterfall on the farm!  It’s great!  I can’t wait to take it into the backcountry or on the trail for a cook out.

Other great pieces of gear that we’ve accumulated is a phoenix wilderness hat for B, Jeff’s Killarney Map (water and tear proof), a yoke that I had made for my dad’s mammoth aluminium canoe and a Small Forest Axe by Gransfors Bruk  made in Sweden, but purchased from the Canadian Outdoor Equipment Co. in Mississauga, Ontario.

And finally, the access point at Killarney Provincial Park that we’ll be using as we embark on a twelve-day backcountry canoe trip for B’s master’s degree/graduation gift.