Local Motion - New Brunswick

Welcome to Local Motion where we celebrate hiking, biking, camping, paddling, skiing, and exploring in Southern New Brunswick.

January 30, 2009

Fundy Biosphere Reserve Sustainable Tourism Conference

The Fundy Biosphere Reserve Sustainable Tourism Conference

This conference is coming up in two weeks (Feb 16-17) in Moncton. I think it could be quite interesting to see where this group is aiming with sustainable tourism. I would also like to be there to represent low-impact activities that get people moving and breathing outside.

Check it out

http://www.fundy-biosphere.ca/STC_e.html

January 25, 2009

Hot White Ice


Hats off to the heat! After hiking across the crusty snow and biting wind of the Kennebecasis my circulatory system doesn't know how to handle this sudden heat wave. I reach the base of the ice wall and tear off layers until I hit my woolly long johns. Steam rises off my knees and arms. I get off easy this time, sweat that could have kept me cold all day is sucked up by the cold dry air and I'm left thinking how great it is to be warm on a cold January day.

We're here to ice climb in New Brunswick's backyard wilderness. Mount Misery, as it's called, is an ice climbing area that despite its proximity to Saint John, remained unused until last year. A young energetic climber exploring the shores of the Kennebecasis discovered it near his home last winter. It's an impressive find- two tiers of cliffs covered in steep white ice hold 20 some routes. And at its sheltered base in the forest I spend the day sucking up sun and smashing at ice with the regular crew of local climbers - stoked as always that they have so much ice to climb and find.

I Couldn't think of a place I'd rather be.


Laurent, Thanks for the Photographs!

January 7, 2009

Running on Fumes

It's not the most popular tour route in Saint John but at 7:30 pm on a January night it gives you a lot to think about. Some time the best tours are the ones you'd avoid if you knew any better. But I didn't, just moved to the city, itching to climb at the gym I thought it would be just a regular jog out to the edge of town.

Across the causeway, along cold water, and cracked sidewalks I ran towards the Community College. The road became less busy, the street lights farther apart, and the sidewalk disappeared. The snow painted black and the air striped with creosote farts. In the night unseen hums churn from the twinkling distillation towers. The dirty secret that warms us as we sleep and drives us to work is actually ... pretty. Lit up like a big Christmas tree the sea of lights give texture to the black sky.

Maybe the fumes aren't the best to breath when exercising in cold air- but this monstrosity of invention and money is pretty damn fundamental to how we live as consumers. In my thermal long underwear and wicking layers, I'm swimming in the belly of the beast. Crunching along the gravelly shoulder, my footsteps pay my respects to this despised piece of land.

Out of the dark I smile at passing drivers hoping to furl brows and ignite curiosity. "What the hell is he doing out here?", " You can jog in the winter?", "Idiot."

I arrive at the climbing gym, in the Community College, to a small group of stoked climbers. It feels great to be among climbers after months of separation. The wall is a good training wall for experienced climbers- even has a couple overhanging sport routes. While out west last summer, the New Brunswick climbing scene percolated in my head. I was anxious to come back and be part of it.

It's hard not to be excited for what's happening here but it's not like this everywhere. This scene is unique and I intend to spend my time getting to know what makes it different.