Written by Shailyn (@shailyn_d)
Getting my daily dose of vitamin N(ature) in the Yukon Territory in a beary responsible way.
I grew up in Southern Ontario with a strong passion for nature and the outdoors until I went on a research trip to the Yukon Territory during my undergraduate degree. My heart and mind were instantly hooked on the Yukon’s vast wilderness, the mountains, the wildlife and the quieter lifestyle - and I have now called the Yukon my home for the last fourteen years.
The Yukon is the perfect place for me because I adore snow and am a cold weather lover. We get over eight months of snow each year, and I am that lady that is still out there in the -40 C temps running – face unrecognizable because It’s covered in a thick layer of frost). I enjoy a variety of different activities here in our mountains – trail running, snowshoe running, day hiking, multi-day hiking, camping and geocaching.
Getting my daily dose of Vitamin N (ature) has helped me heal from many of my mental health challenges and has kept me on track with my sobriety. I am a strong advocate (especially on my Instagram page) of encouraging people to get outside for their daily Vitamin N(ature), in a way that respects our environment, habitats and our non-human inhabitants – especially bears! 
How I Approach the Outdoors:
The Yukon is very remote; wild, extreme and sparsely populated (with limited services). Wildlife encounters are extremely common (I often run into black and grizzly bears even while just walking my neighbourhood city trails!). A lot can go wrong, and fast! And help is not just around the corner. Even within the city limits of Whitehorse, most of the areas where people recreate are classified as being in a “wilderness context”, which from a first aid perspective means, “a delayed access to care”. So a lot of careful preparations for my outdoor recreation and safety are incredibly important.
Route planning and risk management are very important to me. Our terrain is incredibly variable here, so I always make sure I am picking a route that fits my current level of fitness. Things like weather and exposure, and hills also play a big factor into picking which trails I run or hike that day.
Wildlife safety is my biggest passion in life, and I put a lot of careful planning into what trails I do and when - always respecting trail closures (for active bears of sheep lambing). I put a lot of energy into preventing negative wildlife encounters by paying attention to any signs that they are near, and by making sure wildlife always know that I am coming. I take (and organize) a bear safety and bear spray course every spring to make sure I am well prepared. Additionally, I spend a lot of time practicing with inert bear spray cans and practicing the quick retrieval and removal of the safety off my bear spay.
My close friend and my family always know when I am running or hiking, and I always use the live tracking feature on my watch (if I am in cell range) so they can track where I am (especially in the winter or on more bear encounter prone trails). When I am going on an overnight hike, I always provide my close contacts with a very detailed safety plan for that trip.
My gear system has been most refined over the years. I am always taking into account the weather, remoteness, the mosquitos, and the duration of my activities. We have some unique things here in the Yukon that can catch you by surprise when you’re out on an adventure, such as changing creek levels (for creek crossing and drinking water availability), zero cell reception in most areas, and how every day we gain/loose 6-7 minutes of day light. This is especially important in late summer as I have to take extra precaution in my planning, making sure I have the right gear for being caught out in the dark.
Gear I Take on Every Adventure
Bear Safety: bear spray, bear deterrents (like an air horn – though nothing is more powerful than making human noise!), an accessible holder for your bear spray
First Aid: I bring a wilderness first aid kit which I developed from the courses I have taken
Communication Safety: I always bring a satellite communication device
Food and Hydration: Extra of both, as well as ways to safety get more water (filter of tablets)
Layers: Even in the summer, a down jacket, hat and mitts are so important to have in the mountains!
My Spring/Summer Mission:
My mission as your VPO spring/summer ambassador is to encourage you to get outside every day for some vitamin N(ature) but to do it in a way that respects the land and wildlife around you.
I want to share my experiences and knowledge about bear safety with you so that you feel more equipped to explore in bear country and feel more confident in your ability to respond to the various types of bear encounters that you might have.
I also want to share my training/gear journey with you as I race my first ultra marathon this summer (the Raven 50!).
And I want to continue being honestly about what it is like to be out in the mountains. As someone who spends a lot of time in the content creation world of Instagram, I am getting tired of seeing people glamourize the outdoors, never showing the reality and the risks associated with it.
Why Valhalla Pure Outfitters?
Because they are rock stars! And I am not just talking about the amazing selection of outdoor gear that they carry in their physical and online shops (which is terrific BTW). I am talking about the incredibly way that VPO supports its community!
I love how VPO offers a variety of educational tools to help people feel more confident in the outdoors and in their gear choices. From blog posts, gear reviews, events at their shops and their ambassador program, they truly have created a strong community.
I had been following along with their seasonal ambassador program for several years now and am beyond excited to partner with VPO this spring/summer to be able to share my experiences with mountain sports and gear with their community!
