EXPERT PANEL CHAT: Backcountry Camping Q&A on May 23 at the Calgary store!

The moment we've all been waiting for is (almost) here: It's backcountry camping season in Alberta! Is there a better way to jump into the season than to host an evening full of great conversations with a panel of experts?

Backpacking AKA multi-day hiking AKA backcountry camping... no matter what you call it, we're here to answer your questions about it. On Thursday, May 23 from 6-7pm at the Calgary Breathe Outdoors location, we'll be joined by 3 local experts to answer all your questions about backcountry camping!

HAVE A QUESTION YOU'D LIKE ANSWERED BY OUR PANELISTS? PLEASE

• TIM RICCI, Director of Operations at Yamnuska Mountain Adventures in Canmore.
  Fully certified Mountain Guide, CAA level 3, and SPRAT Level 3 Rope Access Technician certified.

Tim moved to the mountain over 20 years ago and has not looked back since. With a deep passion for skiing and climbing you can find him out in the hills most days. He spent 14 seasons working as a ski patroller and avalanche forecaster at several Rockies ski resorts and works as an ITP instructor for the Canadian Avalanche Association. Tim has worked in multiple sectors including recreational guiding, industrial avalanche work and as a rope access technician taking him to several exciting work locations all over the world. Tim joined Yamnuska full-time in September of 2018 as one of Yamnuska’s Program Directors and is currently the Director of Operations. We're very excited to have Tim join our panel and he will be a wealth of knowledge for most of your backcountry camping questions!

• JOHN OUELLETTE, Outdoor Industry Veteran & Account Manager at Onward Up in Canmore.
  Brand Rep for Patagonia, Petzl, Nemo, Oboz, and Zoleo and others. ACMG Member and Certified Climbing Instructor.

John has lived in Banff for over 20 years where he embraces an adventurous outdoor lifestyle with his family. He's been an avid backpacker, climber and backcountry skier for most of his life and is also passionate about fly fishing and mountain biking. John is an expert in specialty outdoor equipment and will bring a wealth of knowledge into the panel with any questions related to brands and products! He currently reps some of the top brands in the outdoor industry, such as Patagonia, Nemo, Oboz, and Petzl as well as emergency communication device, Zoleo. Have a question about waterproofing or sustainably-created ultralight gear? John is your guy.

• DR. LEAH SARTISON, DC, MS, BPE. Chiropractor and owner of Movement First Physio & Chiro in Edmonton.

Leah is an Edmonton-based expert fascinated with human movement and optimizing function. She graduated from the U of A with a Bachelors of Physical Education and then went on to complete her Doctor of Chiropractic and Masters in Science of Sports Medicine. Leah is most fascinated with faults of the feet, breathing, and bracing and specializes in Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (DNS). She has a full body approach to medicine that considers nervous, muscular, lymphatic, skeletal, vascular systems, and mental stressors when developing plans with her patients. Leah is an avid outdoor enthusiast who can be found biking, climbing, running, snowboarding, and exploring the Canadian Rockies. She's also a mother and is excited to answer questions related to women-specific ergonomics, post-partum activities, and more. Have questions related to physical conditioning, injury prevention, or pain reduction? Ask Leah!

• CARRIE MALIN, Marketing Specialist. Backcountry panel chat facilitator, connector and event planner at Breathe Outdoors.

Carrie has been at Breathe Outdoors since July of 2021, where her love of the outdoors overcame her passion for medical microbiology and she switched into a new career in marketing. She's passionate about all things outdoors and can be found climbing, backcountry camping, paddling, and hiking in the Canadian Rockies with her 9 year old son. Carrie will be facilitating the panel chat and will encourage a considerate and welcoming discussion. She's also open to sharing her experiences with backcountry camping, gear and products, photography, adventuring with kids, and experiencing the outdoors during and after a serious illness, so ask away!

HAVE A QUESTION YOU'D LIKE ANSWERED BY OUR PANELISTS? PLEASE

Join us in-store at the Calgary location from 6-7pm to listen, learn, and discuss some of the community's top questions related to backcountry camping! The event will have no specific structure and topics of discussion will be decided by you. We will have a select number of seating arranged for attendees, but please be advised there will not be enough seating for everyone at this event, so it's best to arrive on time to snag a seated spot.

Some potential topics of discussion may include:

• Animal awareness & safety
• Fire safety
• Emergency preparedness: first-aid, offline communication, navigation, and emergency situations
• Trip planning: length, duration, & difficulty
• Backcountry logistics: campsite zones in Alberta, park and campsite permits, campsite amenities and rules, etc.
• Backcountry etiquette, Leave no Trace, and more
• Weather considerations in the backcountry
• Physical conditioning, injury prevention, and pain management
• Backcountry camping gear: backpacks, sleep systems, food & cooking, apparel, footwear, and more
• Packing your gear, proper packing of your backpack
• Your adventure style: expert-guided adventures, solo trips, group backpacking, backcountry camping as a family, adventuring with dogs, etc.
• Elevating your backcountry adventure: heli-adventures, backcountry huts (ACC huts), backcountry glamping lodges, bikepacking, and more
• Mythbusters & common misconceptions
• Feeling held back: fears, worries, and phobias
• Personal experiences, gaining confidence in the backcountry, fails & best learning experiences

Please be advised that we may not have the time to discuss all of the topics above and we may not get to every question. We will try and balance questions between panelists, topics, and between in-person, livestream, and pre-submitted questions.

This expert panel chat was organized to give backcountry enthusiasts a chance to ask questions and gain knowledge in a judgement-free and inclusive setting. Some questions may appear as common knowledge to some, but may be new information to others. Please be considerate of people's questions; any disrespectful or verbally abusive behavours will not be tolerated. Our panelists and the staff at Breathe Outdoors reserve the right to ask an attendee to leave the event if such behaviour occurs. Our panelists are also avid outdoor enthusiasts and are happy to share their personal experiences. However, a panelist reserves the right to decline to answer any question he/she feels uncomfortable with.
If there was an incident during the panel chat that you would like to bring to the attention of the event staff, please contact Carrie Malin at [email protected].

HAVE A QUESTION YOU'D LIKE ANSWERED BY OUR PANELISTS? PLEASE

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Breathe Outdoors (Formerly Campers Village), 7208 Macleod Trail Southeast, Calgary, Canada