Finding the gear you want may not always be the easiest task on your list (we found this out trying to find a winter tent in January). After you’ve researched the brands and found the features you desire, now try to find the gear. Online, you can find almost anything from any brand, but often you want to touch and feel to make sure your decision is right. Here is a list of gear shops we found that were well-stocked and ready for business. We’ve even added our AdventureFrik recommendations!

Eastern and Northern Ontario Gear Shops

(excluding Toronto, bounded Hwy. 400 and East, alphabetical by city)

Algonquin Outfitters         **Adventurefrik recommended**
RR 1. Oxtongue Lake
Dwight, ON, (705) 635-2243

Trailhead
272 Princess St, Kingston, (613) 546-4757
1960 Scott St, Ottawa, (613) 722-4229

Bigwood Sporting Goods
139 Worthington Street
North Bay, ON, (705) 474-7425

Lefebvre’s Outdoor Sports
122 Main St West
North Bay, ON, (705) 474-5920

Bushtukah         **Adventurefrik recommended**
203 Richmond Road
Ottawa, ON, 1-888-993-9947

The Expedition Shoppe
43 York Street, (613) 241-8397
369 Richmond Rd, (613) 722-0166
Ottawa, ON

GearHeads         **Adventurefrik recommended**
3025 Petawawa Blvd
Petawawa, ON, (613) 687-4624

Wild Rock Outfitters
169 Charlotte Street
Peterborough, ON, (705) 745-9133

Ramakko’s
125 Loach’s Road
Sudbury, ON, (705) 522-8889

The Outside Store
2041 Long Lake Road
Sudbury, ON, (705) 522-1755

Gear Up For Outdoors
894 Alloy Place
Thunder Bay, ON, (807) 345-0001

Wilderness Supply
244 Pearl St.
Thunder Bay, ON, (807) 684-9555

Happy Shopping and let me know any favorites you have to add to the list!!

My first week at school was spent at the Wilderness Tours off-campus Training Facility learning the very basics of canoeing and whitewater raft guiding, surfing and flipping. We spent our time learning and challenging the river and ourselves as we stretched our comfort zone and learned many new skills. The week was an awesome time to bond with fellow students and have a wild time on the Ottawa River’s famous rapids.

What I can tell you about Whitewater Rafting so far is if you want to learn how to guide a raft, just like any new acquired skill, you need to take multiple trips down the same river to get yourself comfortable with the twists, turns and currents of the river – build the knowledge and your confidence. Experience the ride as a rower and then advance to the drivers seat. Once you feel the control of the boat and the pull of the river, the adrenaline pumps into high gear. Learn it, feel it, master it!

Each week I will add some new topics we are studying that you can use as a basic resource as we take this journey together … stay tuned next time for a talk on basic clothing qualities.