The Adventure Forum

Did you know Canada has the longest coastline in the world! At 224 000 kms, it is completely unrivaled. We have ben talking a lot about orienteering and navigation and here in Canada, many of our hikes require a detailed knowledge of Ocean Tides. Some trails are impassible during high tide, and it can be extremely dangerous to be on a trail when the tide comes in. Reading tide chartsis an absolutely necessary skill, so let's dive in... Whether you’re a coastal hiker, fisher or mariner, it’s important to know how to read a tide table for safe navigation. Understanding tide heights and when high or low tides occur can help you decide the best time to explore tide pools, dig for clams, anchor your boat or beachcomb for shells. Knowing how to read tide tables can also help keep you safe. If you’re backpacking on the coast, for example, you need to have a tide table (along with a topographic map) to know what time of day you can safely round a headland that can’t be passed at certain tide levels. What Are Tides and What Causes Them? Tides are the daily rise and fall in surface water levels of bays, gulfs, inlets and oceans and vary depending on the day and location. Tides are big periodic waves that move through the ocean in response to the gravitational attraction of the moon and the sun, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Most coastal areas experience two high tides and two low tides every day and they may not be equal. (In some places, such as the Gulf Coast, you may only get one high and one low tide per day.) The height difference between high tide and low tide is called the tidal range. In some areas, the difference between high and low tides may not be so noticeable. In other areas, it can be quite stark. What Is a Tide Table? A tide table shows the daily predictions for the local time of low and high tides, as well as the height of those tides for a particular coastal area. The tide table is often shared in a tabular format.   NOAA’s Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS) makes tide predictions available for more than 3,000 locations around the U.S. The federal agency is the leading source of tide predictions, and its Tides and Currents website allows users to view and download tide information for up to two years, past and future.   (Note that tide tables are different from tide charts, which typically refer to a series of maps that show hourly water levels throughout a bay or estuary and are only available in a limited number of locations in the U.S.). How to Read a Tide Table Step 1: Look Up Daily Tide Information for Your Location  There are different ways to get information about daily tides for your particular area or location.   • Get free tide information from NOAA’s online tool, Tide Predictions, which provides past and future tide information for 3,000 locations. If you’re using this web-based tool, choose the closest tide station from a list available in your state or use the map-based search function. Once you find the station nearest to your location, click on it to pull up the relevant information and print it out. • Buy a tide table booklet for your specific area. These are often available at bait shops, hardware stores, marinas or sporting goods stores. • Look for tide tables in local newspapers (which sometimes print that information along with weather reports) or ranger stations. • Download a tide app such as Tides Near Me or My Tide Times, among many others.   Step 2: Look Up the Dates You’ll Be Out   Once you find the location of interest, you’ll want to look up the tides for the dates you’ll be hiking, fishing or beachcombing.   For example, let’s say you wanted to do a backpacking trip along the coast of Washington state in mid-October and you need to know when high and low tides are.You may want to know whether you can hike or camp along the beach or whether you can pass a rocky point at certain times of the day.   The tide table information can be viewed in different formats, such as a graph or table. Below shows the tide information for two days: Oct. 12-13, 2019. (The example used is from NOAA, but other sources may provide similar information in different formatting or layout.) Step 3: Make a Note of the Times of High and Low Tide   Make a note of the times and heights of high tides and low tides, and the height difference in between. In this example at Cape Alava, Washington, there are two high tides on Oct. 12: the first high tide at 12:19 a.m. and another that is even higher tide at 12:42 p.m. The first high tide of 7.96 feet means that the water level is 7.96 feet as measured above the average of the lowest low tides. (NOAA uses MLLW, or Mean Lower Low Water, which is the average height of the daily lowest tide observed over a 19-year period. Sometimes tide predictions are referenced to other levels, so it’s good practice to note which one you’re using). There are two low tides, one that is 0.92 feet at 6:30 a.m. and another of 1.02 feet at 6:53 p.m.   Viewing the information in graph form gives you a sense of the rise and fall of water. How to Use Tide Table Information The tide table tells you the height and times of the low and high tides and when the tide is rising or falling. In our example above, you can see that from 6:53 p.m. on Oct. 12 to 12:57 a.m. on Oct. 13, the tide will rise about 7 feet vertically. So, if you are planning to camp on the beach somewhere near Cape Alava that night, you’ll want to make sure you are well above the high tide line so you don’t wake up with waves lapping at your tent door. (Note that a high tide of 7 feet only tells you that the tide will be 7 feet above the reference level of the MLLW; it doesn’t tell you how far up the beach or the coastline that water will reach horizontally.) Still, when camping on the beach, you may be able to figure out the high tide water line by looking for features such as log jams, debris or “wet beach” on the coast, or check with a parks or coastal ranger before heading out. Click the button to watch an informative animation. Likewise, in this example, if you plan to round a headland on the beach on Oct. 12 and your topographic map indicates you need a low tide to pass around it, you’ll need to pay attention to the fact that your low tide options are either early morning (6:30 a.m.) or evening (6:53 p.m.) and plan accordingly. Additional Notes and Tips When Using Tide Tables • A detailed topo map will note certain points on the coastline that may require low tide to pass or list tide levels necessary to round certain headlands. • According to Olympic National Park, it’s best to round headlands within one or two hours before low tide (as tide is receding), and not when a tide is coming in. • Depending on the slope of your beach or coastline, the vertical rise in the tide of 7 feet could vary dramatically. If you’re on a shallow slope, a rise in 7 feet will be very noticeable. If you’re on a high rocky cliff, a rise in 7 feet likely won’t make a big difference. Click the button to watch an informative animation. • Tide predictions are only astronomical predictions. The actual tides along a coastline can be influenced by other factors such as weather and wind patterns, an area’s topography or river runoff. Tide predictions are very useful in locations where the water levels follow the tide, but there are some places where tide predictions won’t necessarily be representative of what you’re actually going to see on the water. • Even if the tide heights aren’t accurate, you can still learn a lot from a tide table, particularly the timing of the rise and fall of tides. Even though water levels may not match tide predictions, you still know that the oscillations (up and down) are cyclical. • If you’re going to be in an area for a while, you can also look at conditions during these tides and make a mental note of the changes during high and low tides. A tree’s roots or rocks may be visible at low tide but covered with water at a higher tide. • It’s always good to check the water levels for a particular area. NOAA, the U.S. Geological Survey, state agencies and other entities provide this information. • People beachcombing for shells, sea glass, agate or other treasures may want to time their outings during the time between high and low tide when lower water levels reveal exposed beach. Those digging for clams will have the most luck in the lowest tides when water levels recede to reveal clam beds. (The state of Oregon, for example, says the most worthwhile clamming adventure happens at so-called “negative tides” or “minus tides,” when tides are below the MLLW.) Featured on REI Expert Advice N.A.C. NEWS (Sunday, September 1, 2024) Good Morning, Today is September 1st, which means we are only 15 days away from boarding our flight to Deer Lake, Newfoundland where we will begin an incredible 9 day expedition through some of the most amazing wilderness in Canada. Unlike past expeditions, there are no trail markers in Gros Morne. We will be relying on our navigational skills to complete a 6 day trek from one end of the park to our finish point some 65kms away. Along the way we will be wading through rivers, climbing steep mountains, drudging through swamps and battling through dense brush. But it will all be worth it for the experinece and views in this remarkable National Park. Gros Morne National Park is unlike any other National Park in Canada.   For all our Adventure Pass Holders, we have obtained a new partner! Have you heard of Niagara Rowing School? Either had we until a recent event in Jordan Harbour! Niagara Rowing School offers Youth Summer Camps, Rowing Courses, and Rentals. Yes, rentals including Kayaks, Tandem Kayaks, Canoes and SUPs. Located in Jordan Harbour Conservation Area, you can find Niagara Rowing School in the NPCA building. Call ahead to reserve your rentals and upon arrival, make sure to show the staff your Niagara Adventure Club Adventure Pass for a $10 discount on all rentals! Be sure to get your Adventure Pass for access to the many benefits offered by NAC and our partners and help support a local club!   We have no events planned for the next few weeks as we are very busy getting ready for our upcoming trip, but be sure to check out the NAC Events page for our upcoming events. Currently we have another fun and challenging day of Indoor rock climbing at Climber's Rock planned for the end of September, and many more events will be posted soon. That's all the news for this week. Remember, the adventure never ends, it's just a change of location!   Lenny Burch Niagara Adventure Club 

Knowing how to read a topo map and use a compass to navigate the backcountry is absolutely vital in wilderness expeditions. However in the last 20 years or so, Handheld GPS units have become very popular and in the last 5 years many have come to rely on smart phones for navigation. (NAC never, ever recommends relying on a smart phone for backcountry navigation!) Neither of these are a replacement for a map and compass. All backcountry travellers need to always carry a proper map for the area they are in, and an appropriate baseplate compass. Handheld GPS units are designed for the rigors of the backcountry and, with proper topographic maps loaded, are a great accessory to have if you know how to use it. It can make your backcountry experience much safer and much more enjoyable. So let's take a deeper dive into the world of Handheld GPS Units. Once revolutionary, GPS technology is in everything from drones to dog collars now. Nonetheless, a handheld GPS receiver remains a valuable outdoor tool for hikers and other backcountry explorers. A GPS can give you vital information about where you are, where you’ve been and where you want to go.   This article discusses choosing and using handheld units for the outdoors. GPS units for vehicle navigation and fitness tracking are not covered here, nor are GPS-enabled satellite messengers that offer navigation features.   This article does not cover phone apps and maps. Innovation in phone technology is rapidly mimicking traditional GPS handhelds. A dedicated outdoor GPS unit, though, offers key advantages: • Much more rugged and water resistant • Field-replaceable batteries • Superior satellite reception in remote places • Robust features developed specifically for outdoor use   Don’t buy a GPS receiver with the idea of ditching your map and compass. Finding your way out of the wilds isn’t something you can trust solely to battery-operated electronics. GPS Buying Made Easy If you find exhaustive lists of GPS specs and features to be a little daunting, you can simplify your decision by considering three key areas:   1. Size of unit vs. size of screen. As screen size increases, so does the size and weight of a unit. Deciding where you are on the low-weight to large-screen spectrum is a good first step. 2. Interface preference. If you can’t imagine not having a touch screen, your choices narrow further. For winter activities consider a unit solely controlled by buttons because it’s easier to use while wearing gloves. 3. Advanced features. More expensive units offer features like a barometer, an electronic compass and wireless transmission. If the Advanced GPS Features All handheld GPS models do basic navigation. What you pick—and pay—largely depends on which and how many of the following features a unit has:   Barometer/altimeter:  While all GPS receivers can tell you altitude based on satellite data, a unit with the barometer/altimeter feature provides more accurate elevation readings by also considering barometric data. This feature also lets you gauge weather trends.   Electronic compass:  All GPS receivers can tell you what direction you’re going while you’re moving. If you get a unit with an electronic compass, though, it will also tell you what direction you’re facing while you’re standing still. That’s a big convenience as it lets you orient yourself and plan your route at any rest stop.   Wireless data transfer:  This allows your GPS to communicate with compatible (same-brand) GPS units. It provides a quick and easy way to share data like tracks, waypoints and routes with others.   Preloaded maps:  All GPS units come with a simple base map. Some units also include full-fledged topo maps. Most units also accept separately purchased topo maps that are downloaded or provided on a CD or a microSD card. You can manage all your maps and plan trips by connecting to your PC or Mac, then using the program that the maker of your GPS unit provides.   Third-party maps and software:  Because maps from GPS makers can be pricey, you can search online and find an ever-changing array of sites that have inexpensive (or free) maps. If you aren’t a tech wiz or prefer guaranteed products, then stick with maps and software from your GPS manufacturer.   Memory and waypoint totals:  The more you have, the more map and navigation data you can store. In addition, most units also let you expand your memory, usually via a microSD card. Unless you're doing a thru-hike, almost any unit you get will have enough internal memory (and waypoint capacity) to store detailed maps and key location data for a single trip. And it's easy to delete unneeded maps and waypoints as you go to free up memory for another trip or another section of a thru-hike.   Geocaching features:  Many units have geocaching functions that allow for paperless geocaching and managing your found caches. (Note: You don’t need to buy a GPS receiver to try geocaching; phone apps work fine for that. If you’re already a geocacher and want a GPS unit for backcountry navigation, then geocaching features are handy to have.)   Digital camera:  Offering comparable quality to a basic phone camera, it can also geotag photos so you can see where on the map you snapped each shot.   Satellite messenger capability:  Allows you to trigger a call for help in an emergency.   (NAC NOTE: On large expeditions, NAC carries a total of three Garmin devices. The GPS Map 64s gps unit, the Etrex 20x gps unit, and a Garmin InReach Mini 2 Satelite Communicator. These 3 devices used in conjunction with a map and compass provide us with all the navigation and communications needs we may encouter., keeping us on track and safe.) Using Your GPS Even a simple GPS unit has a wide range of settings and features. Because every unit’s operation varies, this article won’t provide step-by-step details. Read the owner's manual to familiarize yourself with it. Then practice in the neighborhood or a park until you're comfortable with how everything works.   Though steps vary, all GPS receivers do the following basic functions: 1. Display position: A GPS tells you where you are by displaying your coordinates; it also shows your position on its base map or topo map. 2. Record tracks: When tracking is turned on, a GPS automatically lays down digital bread crumbs, called “track points,” at regular intervals. You use those later to retrace your steps or to evaluate the path you traveled. 3. Navigate point-to-point: A GPS directs you by giving you the direction and distance to a location, or “waypoint.” You can pre-mark waypoints by entering their coordinates at home. In the field you can have the unit mark a waypoint at a place you'd like to return to, such as the trailhead or your campsite. A GPS unit provides the bearing and distance “as the crow flies” to a waypoint. Because trails don’t follow a straight line, the bearing changes as you hike. The distance to travel also changes (decreasing, unless you’re heading the wrong direction) as you approach your goal. 4. Display trip data: This odometer-like function tells you cumulative stats like how far you’ve come and how high you’ve climbed. GPS and your computer: GPS units come with a powerful software program that lets you manage maps, plan routes, analyze trips and more. Invest the time to learn it and to practice using all of its capabilities. Setting Up Your GPS Before-Trip Settings In order to let you customize your unit’s functions, the setup menu offers what can be an overwhelming number of options. You can get started doing basic navigation without worrying about most of these. The position format menu, which includes both position format and map datum, is one you should set up:   Position format (coordinates): Your GPS can display coordinates in dozens of systems. You can change this setting to whichever system you are most comfortable with at any time. When marking waypoints, though, you should choose the same system as your book, map, or other source of location information. (Whenever you change this setting, the GPS will seamlessly convert your information to match the current setting.)   Map Datum: This is both obscure and important. The key idea is that the datum you set on your GPS must match your topographic map’s datum (found in the legend), or the datum of any trail guide or other source of location information you are using. If it doesn’t, then position coordinates in your GPS will place a point in the wrong location on your map. Datum has to do with geographic modeling of the Earth at the time a map was produced. Note that this will automatically fill in the same info for the related setting, "Map Spheroid," which is fine. Locking onto Satellites “GPS” stands for “Global Positioning System,” a worldwide network of satellites that broadcasts the signals that a GPS unit receives. Because most of today’s GPS receivers can get signals from more than one system of satellites, they function much more reliably than their predecessors, especially in situations like having a heavy tree canopy overhead.   To facilitate initial satellite calibration, simply go outside, turn your GPS on and let it begin searching. Acquiring satellites after startup takes a few minutes. After that, it readily locates satellites as you travel. When you turn off the unit, satellites overhead continue to move. So your unit will always need a few minutes to reacquire satellites each time it’s turned back on. If it’s off for a long time or you travel a long distance before turning it on again, acquisition takes a few minutes longer.   If you’re under a dense tree cover or in a slot canyon, signals get blocked. Once you reach a point where overhead sky isn’t obstructed, it takes a few minutes to recalibrate with satellites. Note that GPS signals are not impaired by cloud cover, even though clouds block your view of the sun and moon. When you’re hiking, don’t block satellite signals by stashing your GPS deep inside a big pocket or at the bottom of your pack. Carrying the unit in your hand or a strap pocket will work fine.   Note: GPS units can display signal strength (accuracy) in multiple ways, including a detailed satellite page, a series of bars or a feet of accuracy spec. If your GPS lets you customize fields on your compass, trip computer and map pages, you should add a signal strength field. Keeping an eye on that will help you decide how much to trust the GPS when precise navigation is needed. Startup Routine Develop steps to follow each time you’re at a trailhead. The routine will vary with the features of your GPS unit, but it should include many of the following:   1. Acquire satellites 2. Reset trip data 3. Clear track log 4. Set a waypoint at the trailhead 5. Calibrate compass 6. Calibrate barometer/altimeter   Calibration instructions for the compass and barometer/altimeter can typically be found in the unit itself. GPS Battery Tips Rechargeables are great for day hikes. • For overnight trips, long-life lithium batteries are your best bet. • Make sure batteries are fresh before you start. • Always carry spares. • Dimming your backlight extends battery life. (NAC turns backlighting off completely) • Some units offer a battery-saving mode to preserve battery life. Featured on REI Expert Advice N.A.C. NEWS (Sunday, August 25, 2024) Good Morning, We are back from our family trip to Bon Echo Provincial Park. On this trip we were celebrating our daughters 14th birthday and both of the kids had a wonderful time, even with teen moments. Claudia enjoyed opening her gifts at the picnic table of our 3 day temporary home. Richard got to experience the wonders of tent camping in the forest and Lauren and I got to enjoy sharing the incredible experiences of Bon Echo with them. Although we were supposed to have amazing weather for the duration of the trip, we did get 12 hours of rain on the first day. Luckily I was able to set up my big tarp over the picnic table so we had a dry place to cook and eat, and the rain stopped long enough to get the tents all set up. The following two days were absolutely beautiful with amazing weather and we were able to experience the entire park. All-in-all, a great trip.   Now that we are back, the stresses of setting up all the logistics for the upcoming Gros Morne Expedition continue. The trip plans are almost complete, flights are booked, hostels scheduled and rental cars reserved. Now all we have to deal with are the permit requirements and the looming Air Canada contract negotiations just a week prior to our departure flight. I tell you, the fun never ends when it comes to planning expeditions.   We do have a short break in all the excitement this coming weekend with our Jordan Harbour Paddle on Friday morning. Come join NAC for a relaxing day of paddling in the Jordan Harbour, a very picturesque location that offers an easy paddling experience and views of historic landscapes and wildlife. Kayak rentals are available on location for those that have the necessary skills but lack the equipment. Please note, NAC is not a kayak guiding service, all participants are required to have basic kayak skills. That's all the news for this week. Remember, the adventure never ends, it's just a change of location!   Lenny Burch Niagara Adventure Club

If you have been keeping up with the most recent Adventure Weekly Newsletters, then you should now know how to read a Topographical map and how to use a compass. In order to use your compass with your Topo map, you're going to need to set the declination on your compass. It's a pretty straight forward task, but every comapss is a little different, so make sure you refer to the instructions that came with your compass. Then read this week's article to set up it up properly. Anyone learning navigation soon hears the somewhat confounding words “magnetic declination.” You’ll also find out that before you can go anywhere (with accuracy anyway), you have to understand what it means and how to set the declination on your compass properly. This article guides you through that process and tells you: • What magnetic declination is • How to find the declination you need to set • How to set declination on most Brunton and Suunto compasses • How to account for declination on compasses without adjustable declination A Brief Explanation of Magnetic Declination As a kid you learned that north is at the top of the globe. As a grown-up navigator, though, you now realize that the world isn’t quite that simple. What we think of as the top of the globe is referred to as “true north.” Magnetic north (where your compass needle actually points) is a function of Earth’s magnetic fields and its core elements, which fluctuate in complicated ways. Currently, magnetic north is roughly north of Hudson Bay in Canada. The difference between magnetic north and true north is “magnetic declination.”In the continental U.S., declination can vary from nearly 20 degrees east in places on the West Coast to nearly 20 degrees west in places on the East Coast. When you’re navigating in the wilds, degrees matter. A 15 degree error, for example, on a mile-long hike puts you a quarter-mile away from your destination. Finding the Declination You Need to Set Because declination varies depending on where you are on the globe, your first step is to find the declination value for your trip area. And whenever you head to a new area, you’ll need to check, and likely reset, your compass declination for that area. Topographic maps list declination in the legend, but an added complication is that declination in a given location also changes slowly over time. So check your map’s revision date or, better yet, check the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) website for magnetic declination. The site should have the most up-to-date data. Setting the Declination on Your Compass Brunton and Suunto, two of the biggest navigation brands, differ in the way declination is adjusted on most of their compass models. The steps presented below for each brand are for a magnetic declination of 15.6° West. Declination Adjustment on a Brunton Compass Brunton’s tool-free adjustment system spares you the concern about losing the adjustment tool, but it can take a little time to get the hang of it.   1. Place your thumb on the center hub of the compass, then pinch—very tightly—with your forefinger located on the bottom of the compass, exactly opposite of your thumb’s position. 2. Hold the rotating bezel outside that center hub firmly (and perfectly still) with your other hand as you twist your pinched thumb and forefinger clockwise. 3. Pay close attention to the declination scale (yellow in this example), which is inside of the rotating bezel. The declination indicator (a red tick mark in this example) will start to rotate as you twist. (Note: If your model has no separate declination scale, use the orienting arrow and the degree scale on the rotating bezel.) 4. Stop when the declination indicator is centered over your declination value (15.6° West in this example). Now your declination is set and can be left as is for the duration of your current trip. Declination Adjustment on a Suunto Compass Suunto’s adjustment is easy, but you need to keep track of the adjustment key that does the trick. The adjustment key comes looped on the lanyard included with the compass in the package. (Inventive folks who lose the key may be able to do the adjustment using a tiny blade-end on one of the tools in a multi-tool.)   1. Turn the compass over. 2. Insert the metal key (provided with your compass) into the adjustment screw. 3. Turn the key until the declination indicator is the correct number of degrees east or west of 0° (15.6 degrees West in this example). What to Do If Your Compass Doesn’t Have Adjustable Declination If you plan to do any navigation more advanced than getting a general impression of north, south, east and west, then you really should invest in a compass with adjustable declination. It’s not an expensive feature and it will make navigation simpler and far less prone to mental errors.   If you’re in a situation where you need to navigate precisely and have a compass that lacks declination adjustment (but that has a declination scale printed inside the bezel), these are the steps:   1. Find the declination for your area, using exactly the same steps (above) as you would for a compass with adjustable declination. 2. After that, you make declination adjustments by adding or subtracting that declination each time you work with a bearing. 3. Note that, for all calculations, an east declination is a positive number and a west declination is a negative number. 4. Read How to Use a Compass for a refresher on how to take a bearing in the field and from a map. 5. Whenever you transfer a magnetic bearing taken in the field to your map, you add the magnetic declination to get the true bearing. (Note that a west declination is, in essence, subtracted because you are adding a negative number.) 6. Whenever you transfer a bearing taken from your map to the field, you subtract the magnetic declination to get the magnetic bearing to follow. (Now a west declination is, in essence, added because you are subtracting a negative number.) Featured on REI Expert Advice N.A.C. NEWS (Sunday, August 18, 2024) Good Morning, In a few short days Lauren, myself and the kids will be heading to Bon Echo Provincial Park for a few days of car camping and exploring. While there we will be enjoying the incredible views of slabs of granite and gabbro rising hundreds of feet out of the water. These slabs attract many Trad Climbers and we are hoping to see some in action. We will also be exploring the many hiking trails and maybe take a paddle to view the ancient petroglyphs left behind by the indigenous tribes that once inhabited the lands.   Once we get back from our family trip, we will begin preparing for NAC's Jordan Harbour Paddle event taking place only 7 days later. You may wish to join us as we paddle through the large marshy bay that is Jordan Harbour. We will see a variety of wildlife and travel past the ruins of an old rock train bridge. It's a very picturesque location that offers a relaxing day of paddling and photos.   Hoping everyone is having an adventurous summer, we would love to see all your summer fun photos! Follow @NiagaraAdventureClub on Instagram and we will follow back so we can share in all the incredible activities you do. That's all the news for this week. Remember, the adventure never ends, it's just a change of location!   Lenny Burch Niagara Adventure Club