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I set out extra early this morning and headed out to explore some more of the Malecon in the direction opposite where we had explored yesterday. In this direction I enjoyed some more great coastal views, explored some monuments and passed the US embassy just a couple of days before US President Barack Obama was scheduled to arrive to discuss restoring relations with Cuba. I climbed up on the wall of the Malecon on the way back and walked along there observing the many Cubans that had climbed down the wall for some morning fishing and the unique rock formations that dotted the shoreline that we’d previously missed as they were mostly out of sight from the regular walkway. I then stopped once again at the Hotel Nacional to check out the peacocks up closed that were roaming the grounds and to purchase some Cuban rum and a cigar to bring home as the prices there for those items were some of the best I had encountered!

After a late breakfast, our scheduled Taxi Collectivo pickup time of 10am was approaching so we paid and said our goodbyes to our hosts and headed downstairs. After waiting for about 40 minutes we decided we’d been forgotten about (or lost our seats to a higher bidder perhaps) and took a bus to the Viazul Bus station in the hopes of procuring some form of transportation to Santa Clara. Luck was on our side and there was a couple from Oslo, Norway looking to spend a night in Santa Clara en-route to experience Trinidad. A short while later the person organizing the taxi rides had found a driver willing to make the trip this late in the day. Unlike our previous shared taxi ride our Norweigan companions, Fridtjof and Katharina were delightful company and well-travelled as well. Fun stories of our past adventures were shared along the ride to pass the time.

The taxi dropped us off right at our doorstep and this was the one time that a pre-arranged casa that our Havana hosts had set up for us worked out according to plan. They settled us in and promptly helped our companions find accommodation elsewhere. We quickly set out to make it to the Armoured Train Park (an important piece in the battle of Santa Clara during the revolution) which was about a 10 minute walk from our Casa before it closed. The cost to tour the small park was 1 CUC or 2 for a guided tour. Unfortunately we had arrived too late in the day for the guided option so for about half an hour we wandered through the train cars and the exhibits they hosted.

We then decided to walk over to check out the Che Guerva Mausoleum and Plaza of the Revolution which turned out to be about an hour stroll through the city. Along the way we handed out the last of our candies and dollar store items to children and families we met along the walk. The Che Monument was certainly one of the most impressive that we encountered on the island. We flagged down a horse cart and for 5 CUC we were whisked back to the centre of town along some scenic roadways through the city. For dinner we found ourselves at another Italian restaurant and just as we were finishing off our meal we bumped into Fridtjof and Katharina and joined them for a few rounds of drinks and good conversation for a perfect last night to round off our Cuban adventure!

Day 8: Santa Clara and Home

When we woke up the last day the person that would cook the breakfast had not yet arrived so we wandered about the town some more and at the square we were able to make arrangements for a 15 CUC taxi ride to the airport. We returned to pack our things and enjoy one last Cuban smorgasbord before catching our Taxi. Once at the airport it did not take long to check-in and clear security and we were delighted to learn that Air Transit had covered the cost of the departure tax. There was a currency exchange window inside the main entrance where we switched back to Canadian funds but we later learned there was also one once you had cleared security. I would recommend exchanging funds there in case you’d like a meal or to do some last minute souvenir shopping. When it was time to board the plane everyone lined up to take a shuttle bus across the runway to where our plane was waiting. We climbed the stairs to board satisfied that it had been a March break adventure we’d remember for years to come!

Some of the gear being tested on this trip courtesy of ScoutTech Outfitters at www.scouttech.com :

We awoke around 5am to the constant crow of roosters (they start well before dawn here) and barking dogs a plenty. Fortunately since we’d retired pretty early the evening before due to the blackout we were still pretty refreshed and rose with the sun. Our Casa host was awake and offered to make us a breakfast for 5 CUC a person. Eager to get out and explore the nearby national park we gladly accepted as them seemed a much better option than strolling about hoping to find an open restaurant so early on a Sunday morning. She provided quite a spread including fruit platters, ham and cheese platters, home- made cream cheese, muffins, biscuits, a small loaf of bread coffee and fresh pressed juice. The coffee was espresso strength and served with honey and warmed dehydrated milk and would become an essential way to jumpstart our date. Turned out there was even enough leftovers to bring along as lunch and snacks for our day trip.

We quickly packed for our trip and made a stop at a small grocery store we’d discovered for some water and juice. Taxis were looking to charge $15-20 for a one way trip and $30-35 wait for you to hike and take you back home after. Since we were told the park was only a few kilometres away and keeping in mind we were budget travelling we decided to hike there seeing it as an opportunity to see some more of the city and some of the countryside up close and maybe even meet some interesting people along the way. Shortly after passing the welcome to Trinidad sign, we did indeed encounter a farmer named Ruen and a friend heading home after delivering their goods to 

restaurants and markets in the city that morning and they offered us a ride to the trailhead for $5 CUC in their horse drawn homemade cabbage cart. We happily accepted the offer as we knew this money was going to a good cause and it fit the profile of the way we were hoping to experience some travel here. Turns out we really benefitted from the ride because the few kilometers was to the park road off of the main road and then it was a good couple of more to the trailhead. He dropped us off at the official park entrance and we started to walk in from there and encountered a nice gentleman from Wisconsin venturing out to the park with a Cuban friend who offered us a ride yet another ways down this road to the entrance.

We thanked them and parted ways for now. We had procured some national pesos from our hosts with the understanding that it would be much more affordable to gain entry to the park. It turned out this particular location currency didn’t matter any tourists had to pay the 9 CUC entry fee. It was a bit of a surprise but we were prepared and paid up for the opportunity to experience the natural beauty offered here. The main trail to the waterfall was not much more than 45 minutes long but there were side trails and many things to stop and see from giant termite mounds and strange twisting trees to large cliff nesting bird settlements and swimming spots en-route. Along the hike we reconnected with the people we’d met in the cab and the Cuban was pointing out many bird and wildlife sightings including the Cuban national bird which was grey with a red splotch on the chest and some very tiny green birds as well as a something that looked like a Chinchilla on a tree. Some hikers are recommended here as there were some slippery rocks, potential for mud and a river we crossed a couple of times. The people attempting the hike in flip flops did not appear to be enjoying it. At the end of the trail we were rewarded with a really neat waterfall that looked a bit like a giant waterslide with a drop at the bottom. We ran into a number of folks here, a good blend of tourists from around the globe and Cubans. There were cliffs of varying heights that you could jump from into the pool at the bottom of the waterfall and you could swim under it to explore a cave full of bats and really cool rock formations. The water was cool but not cold and a very welcome reprieve from the high humidity that day. Unfortunately this is where I parted ways with my camera/cellphone when someone was filming us jumping off of the cliffs. We managed to recover it but it had swum with the fishes a bit too long. Note to self: If using cell phone as primary camera in the future, invest in a Lifeproof phone case. A large snake made an appearance and caused quite the stir as it slithered across someone sunning on a rock and after entertaining us for a few minutes it departed and so did we. At the trailhead we decided to relax a few minutes and enjoy a drink while recapping the highlights of the hike. Shortly after starting the walk back to the city we again encountered the same folks in a cab and were happy to split the 5 CUC rate that they had arranged with the driver. Back in the city we picked up some more supplies and headed to our Casa to see if our hosts could prepare a seafood dinner feast (10 CUC) and change for some evening exploration. We explored some Cuban art galleries and small market places and then headed out to enjoy some Cuban nightlife. My favourite spot that evening was called Castille de Cerveza (Castle of Beers) where it was easy to meet and dance with people from both Trinidad and abroad. It was an outside dance space in what appeared to be the partial ruins of an old castle like building.

At ScoutTech we’re constantly testing out gear on all types of trips and searching for new travel and adventure ideas. We thought we’d try sharing some of our stories with the world to inspire anyone to get outdoors and enjoy the many sights and experiences our planet has to offer whether their taste for adventure is a guided walking tour in a foreign metropolis to trekking through a rainforest or kayaking a gorgeous coastline.

This travel blog entry is a first so I’d love to hear your feedback on future editions about what you’d like to hear whether it be more details or less about certain things such as accommodations or gear configurations. I hope that you enjoy!

Doing Cuba a Little Differently

I’d been to Cuba before about a dozen years ago, which was in fact my first excursion outside of North America and planted the travel bug inside me. What I vividly remember from that trip was not the whole resort and beach thing but it was the day that my friends and I spent off resort driving a Skoda SUV in a small convoy exploring the countryside from Cayo Coco to the mountain top of Bolivia, Cuba to the city of Moron. I also remember the incredibly friendly people and the stories about their home and as I departed I knew I would be back some day to see more.

The goal of this trip was to see some of the many wonders (from UNESCO to natural) and immerse ourselves as much as possible in Cuban culture while backpacking through the island on a budget. We chose to take advantage of a fairly new accommodation option which was not available on my last visit called Casa Particulars. A Casa Particular is where the Cuban people graciously open up their homes to tourists for reasonable fee. We figured what better window into the Cuban way of life could there possibly be!

Day 1: Toronto to Santa Clara (Abel Santamaria) Airport to Trinidad & Getting Acquainted with Cuba

It was 5:35 am and we had just lined up to board our plane. We had decided to maximize our limited time and budget for this trip and take the first flight out on Saturday morning in the hopes of being able to catch a bus from Santa Clara to Trinidad (Cuba). As we disembarked the plane we were greeted by a perfect combination of warmth and tropical breeze. Our plane, they first of four that had just arrived from Canada for March break had landed a few minutes early and we were hopeful that we’d soar through customs, collect our baggage and be on the next air-conditioned bus to Trinidad.

We did indeed move through customs at a reasonable pace even though they were taking everyone’s photographs at the customs booth. However we were held up at the baggage claim for over an hour waiting for our luggage to arrive. I had packed for carry-on and at first regretted that last minute I’d decided to bring along extra liquid toiletries to give away but was quickly comforted by the fact that a little bit of impatience on my behalf was nothing compared to the smiles that the good deed being done here would bring. During this wait we were unable to leave to wait in line for currency exchange which was outside and then return so a note here is splitting up may be worth considering if you are travelling with someone and are on a bit of a schedule. I was a bit groggy from our early start and wish that idea had occurred to me at the time and we might have been lucky enough to make for our early bus as the currency line took about another 45 minutes. It was certainly possible to find a bank and withdraw money elsewhere (highly encourage by taxi drivers that approached us while we waited) but we felt very uneasy about setting out into the country without any funds in hand.

Our backup plan for the day if we missed the early bus was to head into Santa Clara and explore a bit until the evening bus came. But some good that did come of our wait in the currency line was that we were able to negotiate with one of the cab drivers to take us directly to our Casa in Trinidad. At first he was unwilling to drive such a distance but once we arrived at his car he took off for a minute to chat with some other drivers and we agreed on a rate of $60 CUC (Convertible Cuban Pesos) for the journey.

I’d done a bit of research online before leaving and knew that was actually a very good rate and given that a cab to Santa Clara plus 2 bus tickets to Trinidad would have cost us approximated $40 this was an easy decision. It turned out to actually be incredible added value as the taxi cut our travel time in half as the buses take a roundabout route to other cities. The drive was a really friendly guy and went a bit off the beaten path and stopped to show us some sites such as coffee plants and Spanish citadel. The scenery we drove through ranged from rainforests to mountain tops and turned out to be the most beautiful drive we’d experience this trip. Most of the trip was on asphalt roads and was pretty smooth as long as our driver skilfully dodged the many large craters and uneven stretches. Keep in mind when travelling by unofficial cab you definitely need to willing to sacrifice some creature comforts. I took notice of the broken speedometer and the lack of air-conditioning, armrests and working doors and travelling without these may be a bit scary for the faint of heart! To note here from my experience throughout the trip, some basic Spanish is often required to negotiate rates of much of the transportation throughout the trip and I was fortunate to be travelling with a fluent speaker though we did meet folks that did not speak Spanish and seemed to be getting along just fine.

As we reached Trinidad we noticed our asphalt roads quickly turned to cobblestones and then the largest and most uneven cobblestones I’d ever come across! Once I was through observing the streets I looked up and we were surrounded by winding, hilly streets of colourful houses. Well there are many pictures of Trinidad available on the internet and in magazines they just could not capture parts of the real beauty of this place, the hustle and bustle of the many types of friendly people going about their daily lives. The cab encountered some heavy traffic so he let us off a couple of blocks away from our first Casa where we quickly discovered the dynamics of how using this system of accommodation really worked.

An important note about the style of accommodation we chose is that prior to departure we had only been able to establish regular contact with our first host. We had read quite a few stories about how once you are in the Casa network the hosts typically always have a friend they can refer you to wherever you are travelling next so we were confident when left that we would not have any trouble finding hosts. I found that since internet in Cuba is scarce and costly for Cubans that often receiving a response could take 2-3 business days and commonly the response could be “sorry no rooms available”. If you have enough time to start making Casa arrangements at least a month early you could most likely find multiple options however even solid arrangements don’t always work out as planned as we were about to discover.

Our first Casa was a beautiful Spanish Colonial mansion owned by a European gentleman and his Cuban wife. It was 

very nicely kept up with an open air courtyard full of plants and sculptures and winding staircases with several rooms for tourists. Unfortunately we quickly discovered this would not be home for us during our stay in Trinidad. Even though we had been in touch with the owner the night before he had to leave in a rush to attend to some urgent needs back home why exactly they didn’t have a room still available for us was never really made clear. The owner’s wife was happy to welcome us in for a few minutes while she called some friends and then proceeded to walk us a few minutes down the road where we were greeted by a friendly couple and their mother who were eager to accommodate us while we toured Trinidad. The rate at this Casa was 35 CUC for the two of us per night. To my benefit one of our hosts here spoke some English and shared some stories about themselves (he was an architect and his wife a chemist) and was very helpful when arranging plans during our stay.

After quickly unpacking, our hosts suggested a restaurant atop of a hill at the Plaza of the Monuments with a great scenic view of the city and ocean beyond. After dinner we wandered around the busy square taking advantage of the incredible lighting for photographs as the sun was setting and then found a nice spot at a café situated on an expansive cobblestone staircase at the very top of the hill to pause and reflect on what an incredible day it had been. As we were leaving the cafe we experienced a city wide black out which would last most of the night and interpreted that as a sign to head to bed and rest up for our trip to the national park tomorrow. Fortunately having experienced a few blackouts in my travels I had brought along a headlamp just in case of such an event or spontaneous night or caving adventures.

Thank you to everyone that stopped by our booth at the Toronto Outdoor Adventure Show! It was great to have a chance to chat with familiar faces and meet many of you for the first time.

We are excited to congratulate the winner for our 2016 Show contest, Sonia Allen-Jordan! She stopped by the store earlier this month to pick up her brand new Sea To Summit Talus II down filled sleeping bag! We wish her many awesome adventures with it :)

Wishing everyone an exciting season of outdoor adventures and travel!

- The ScoutTech Team

This morning, Daniel, Darrell and Sinclair of ScoutTech Outfitters participated in CVC’s (Credit Valley Conservation) annual spring clean-up of the Rattray Marsh. Along with many other volunteers, we ventured off the trails in search of garbage to remove. We spent most of our time on a pileup of logs over the river, which 

collected a lot of aquatic trash. Balance was necessary to remove the endless supply of garbage, without falling in! Our best find was definitely a tire. After spending a little over one hour, almost exclusively on the dam, we came out with one and a half full-size garbage bags worth of litter.

We really are proud of the community for showing up in good numbers to protect this amazing wetland. Despite the cold (-15C with the windchill!), and threat of wet feet, we saw upwards of one-hundred people, and more coming in even as we were leaving. The Rattray marsh is the exclusive home of many different flora and fauna, and it acts as a filter for Lake Ontario, as long as we keep it clean. The marsh is a great hiking spot, well maintained by the Credit Valley Conservation authority. There are boardwalks through the forest, great lookout points, and a nice rocky shoreline on Lake Ontario. A big thanks to everyone who came out to protect this gem in Clarkson, Mississauga!

All Winter Clothing, Footwear, Hand-wear and Hats (More in store)!

With mother nature unleashing a second wave of winter, take advantage of this sale for some great deals on your favourite brands! With most apparel and footwear prices increasing substantially for next winter due to a weak loonie, now is the time to buy for next winter!

Now all Insulated Winter Clothing, Footwear, Hand-wear and Hats are 40%+ off, both ONLINE & In-Store!!!

Enjoy the last few days of Winter or plan for next year early! Your Adventure Awaits...

Coupon Code: ENDOFWINTER

Where? Mt St Louis Moonstone, Coldwater, Ontario

Activity: Skiing

Weather: -4C (-11C w/ Windchill), Winds at 20 km/hr with 42 km/hr gusts

New Gear Tested:

Kombi Body 3 Primaloft Crew & Bottom Base layer, The Primaloft Neckwarmer (testing for next season)

Normally when I’m spending a day (or a few) outdoors in the winter time my natural choice is to reach for one of many wool base layers in my closet. This year however, we introduced Kombi Gloves, mittens and a few accessories for both adults and our growing youth category at the store this year and I couldn’t help but take notice that they offer a base layer made from Primaloft. Primaloft is my all time favourite insulation used in many pieces of gear I’ve owned or tested from mittens and socks to jackets and sleeping bags so I figured why not give these wool alternatives a chance.

For their base layers Kombi has a rating scale of 1 to 3 for warmth factor with their Body 3 Base Layers ranking 3 on the heat scale. I decided to layer the crew under a light weight full zip sweater and a lightly insulated shell ski jacket and for the bottoms I paired with a fleece lined softshell pant. For the drive up from Toronto to Coldwater, ON and during short breaks in the lodge I wore the whole ensemble (less the jacket in the car) to find out how it breathed, but more importantly, how it would perform outside after being a little damp from sweat. I figured if sweat was going to put a damper on the day I’d rather find right away that morning as I’d brought my trusty wool base layers as a back up. Turns out that there was no need for that back up as moments after stepping out of the lodge or vehicle into the cold I’d forgotten that I had even been sweating moments before. These base layers did a fantastic job of regulating my temperature and keeping me dry all day long both on the slopes and in the line for the lifts. Even though my jacket and pants had several ventilation options for releasing built up heat there was not need to adjust them regularly throughout the day.

I would highly recommend this base layer option for anyone that may need a wool alternative or more affordable option for active cold weather activities. We will certainly be considering stocking it in our store for Winter 2016/17.

Gordini Men’s GTX Storm Trooper Gloves (current product)

Gordini was another new brand addition to our ever growing glove line up (we’re a fair bit behind adding these online right now but they are all on display in store). As it’s always been a mandate to get out there in the products we offer I decided to try out the Gordini GTX Storm Trooper Gloves. One of the reasons I selected this model was because it used Gordini’s proprietary insulation called Megaloft which I had no experience with. As I knew there was a gusty day ahead it’s long gauntlet and multiple cinch and adjustment points seemed like they would be great to keep the chilly winds out while maneuvering the slopes. At just an $89.99 price point featuring a Gore-Tex liner and an unfamiliar insulation, I was a bit skeptical that a heater pack pocket was an indicator that warmth may have been scaled back on so I brought along some liners as a back up. My hands were kept at an optimal temperature throughout the day regardless level of activity. They were only cool once for a few minutes after a fumble with a collapsible water bottle left my hand soaked and I seized as an opportunity to see if these gloves would still hold up. After a quick shake off of excess water a stuck my wet hand back in the glove and by the end of the run any feeling of cold and dampness were forgotten. While the multiple adjustments to keep out the cold offered on the gloves were nice, I only needed to partially cinch the gauntlet to keep my hands comfortably warm which allowed me to easily slide them on and off to take advantage of the leashes while making adjustments on the lifts or pausing to snap some photos or hydrate.

ScoutTech Boxing Week Sale runs Dec 26 - Dec 30, 2015

Better than the rest by 5% Boxing Day Sale Event. Yes we are price matching & beating! (see bottom of email for full details**).

Everything in store is 30% off and online is 20% off (Regular Prices)!!!!

Coupon Code: 20% off all online inventroy***

BDSale2015

 

**Price Match & Beat by 5% in-store terms - In Store Only

Must be a Canadian retailer advertising online or in print advertisement

***Price Match & Beat by 5% online/phone order terms - Must be a Canadian retailer.

The retailer must be one that sells & ships within Canada and offers free freight to qualify.

***Excluded are already discounted or marked down items only (discounts apply only to regular price items)

***While quantities last

ScoutTech Introduces new PREMIUM LINES

We're especially excited for the cold temperatures this year, so that we can test out the new Titanium line from Columbia, and high-quality Canadian-made down parkas from Outdoor Survival Canada(OSC.) These hard to find winter brands are available now.

Columbia Titanium

We're one very few shops to offer you Columbia's Premium line.This award-winning line incorporates their pinnacle fabrics, features, fit, and technologies for unbeatable quality and comfort. Tested tough in some of the most rigorous circumstances and environments in the world, this ski and snow gear will blow the lid off expectations and take you to the far corners of the possible.

Outdoor Survival Canada

Outdoor Survival Canada was created to meet the demand for a high quality functional coat for extreme conditions, not only in Canada, but also around the world. The OSC collection provides an unique combination of warmth and waterproofness that is hard to find in winter parka collections while encompassing a sense of style and fit that remains unmatched

Absolutely Everything on Sale (in store only)!

Thinking about replacing that old tent, sleeping bag or mattress? Is it finally time to invest in great hiking shoes, a raincoat or fleece? How about getting a new pack, or a jump start on your holiday shopping? Well this weekend at ScoutTech is the beginning of our Biggest Sale Ever, and a chance to get great deals on all types of current apparel and gear.

All Regularly Priced Clothing, Hats & Footwear Starting at 

30% or Otherwise Marked*

All Regularly Priced Equipment, Socks and Freeze Dried FOOD (yes FOOD!)

Starting at 20%!*

*Discounts are off of regular prices only

Door Crasher Specials and many other unbeatable deals that are available in store only (while quantities last.) 

Some of Our popular brands include Fjallraven, Arc'teryx, Marmot, Mammut, Chacos, Reef, Bergans, Salomon, Osprey, Deuter, Darn Tough, Native, Helly Hansen and MANY more.

For our online customers that can't make it to our store- we've got you covered. All this week we will put teaser specials online just for you!

Don't let your outdated and worn-out equipment stop you from getting outside. Come down to ScoutTech for good advice, great gear and even better prices!

- Sale Starts Saturday Aug 15 and Ends at 6pm On Friday Aug 21. Come early for the best selection!