Trip Report - Packenham Junior

Last weekend, we took a short hike up a largely unheralded minor peak known as Packenham Junior. Total elevation gain was only 630m, and it was supposed to be a fairly straight forward hike, with little technical scrambling required. But between the ridiculously steep 2nd half of the way up (see the photos), and the several spots where we sort of lost the faint trail and ended up scrambling up some sketchy loose rock walls, I would say this one isn't quite as 'easy' as Nugara's book rates it. Also, ticks. EVERYWHERE. It's apparently that time of the year, so check yo'self.


Anita does a bit of scrambling as we near the summit. Yes, the route was actually that steep for the last half of the way up.






We got a little off trail, and ended up scrambling up a steep loose wall.


She generally only sticks her tongue out like this when it gets relentlessly steep.














At the summit, Anita looks at neighbouring Grizzly Peak, which happens to be the first mountain I ever scrambled up.


Summit beer: Oast House Brewers Barn Raiser Country Ale.


On the descent, we encountered a few of these cliff bands we had to navigate around.

YYC Bike Rave

Look ma! I joined a biker gang last night! Except, by 'biker gang', I really mean a ragtag group of cyclists out for YYC Bike Rave in Crescent Heights. We be terrorizing residential neighbourhoods with our flashing LEDs and glow sticks, and bluetooth speakers pumping out random jams at slightly nuisance volume. #totalboss

I hadn't ridden my bike in 8 years, so discovered a few quirks last night. The front tire had a slow leak that barely held up for the duration of the ride, the derailleur was messed up so I couldn't access my top gears, and my seat hurts my bum. #notsoboss


My ride, a classic Cannondale, posing in Crescent Heights overlooking the skyline.


Kristina holds up my bike for a shot. I need to get a kickstand.








Kristina's bike decked out with 6 dollars worth of glow sticks.






There were a lot of confused looks by drivers on the road as our group rode by.

Trip Report: The Rimwall

Jas and I took a short scramble up the Rimwall this weekend. For a couple of old farts, we gained 975m of elevation in a decent time of 3 hours, with only a few minor injuries and a bit of loud swearing along the way to the summit. Okay, maybe there was more swearing than I'd care to admit, but whatever, we were alone most of the way up, so it's not like we were destroying someone's serene day in the mountains. There was a bit of mud and melting snow that made for some slick conditions near the top, but overall, it was a pretty good day for a workout.

Mind you, after 1 day in the mountains, I drank 7 beers and ate a like a porker the rest of the weekend, so... gains wasted.


From the summit of Rimwall.


Just a slightly airy drop off over Rimwall's Northeast Face.












Windtower and Lougheed in the background.












The prominent shapes of the Little Sister and Middle Sister behind Jas.




Summit Beer: Hells Basement Mango Milkshake IPA.




Only a couple minor battle scars from the day.

_sneeze your way to having a six pack_

Have you noticed how you've recently been sneezing non stop, uncharacteristically? Yeah, that's because blossom season (aka allergy season) snuck up on you like a ninja, and Mother Nature is making you her bitch. But hey, on the bright side, you might just sneeze your way to having a six pack... so there's that. #theallergyabworkout

These photos were taken tonight, minutes before the storm clouds rolled in to hide the sun. Does anyone know if these are actual cherry blossoms, or are they just some other pretty pink flowers?

YYC >> YOW >> YYZ >> YXE: A Week of Gluttony and Alcoholism

Gluttonate George here, reporting back on the past 12 days of travel damage to my stomach and liver. I went from Calgary to Ottawa to Toronto to Saskatoon, for a mix of work and pleasure, and came back with unfettered diabetes and liver cirrhosis. At last count, I had tried 22+ craft brews, and ate more fatty foods than my cholesterol levels would deem safe. Pork Belly, Lamb Belly, Beef Belly... all of that got in my belly! There was also some figure drawing (noods!) to be had in YOW, a brewery tour in Hamilton, a pseudo celebrity chef sighting in S'toon, and lastly, one of the weirdest beers I've encountered yet (brewed with lentils). So what follows is just going to be a big dump of random photos... hehe, I said 'big dump'. #maturity #fatguystuckinaskinnybody


Pork belly burger from Beertown Public House in Burlington.


Flight of brews from Beertown.


Vietnamese Ice Coffee and Hong Kong Milk Tea ice cream flavours from Mooshu Ice Cream and Kitchen in Ottawa.




I liked the look of this building's front facade. Ottawa.


Grilled cheese sandwich for dinner? Hell yes. Flora Hall, Ottawa.










You had me at gin.


Pint of Velocipede IPA at Chez Lucien, Ottawa.






Flight of beers from Merit Brewing, Hamilton.






Collective Arts Brewing, Hamilton. One of my favourite breweries that popped up a few years ago.


Looks like orange juice, but was actually an IPA. Fresh tapped that morning.


These are the cans waiting to be filled for above said IPA.


Collective Arts has some of the nicest artwork on their labels, and they change every six months.






Pelletized hops... ALL OF THE FLAVOUR!


Mixing things up with some wine at a dinner party.


Hangover cure at brunch, Harper's Landing, Oakville.




I haven't seen 'Beef Belly' on a menu very often. Ayden restaurant, Saskatoon.


Fried lamb belly. GET IN MY BELLY.




Side stripe prawns at Little Grouse on the Prairie, Saskatoon.


Duo of lamb (rack and shoulder). Little Grouse.


Black Bridge Milk Stout.


And the prize for strangest brew goes to...


Figure drawing at Sandy Hill Community Centre, Ottawa.




These charcoal on canvas sketches were done by a super talented dude at figure drawing. I wanted to hide mine as soon as I saw his.


Had this beer after an evening of figure drawing. Fitting.