A few weeks ago, just before the first snowfall hit the local mountains launching everyone’s hopes for an epic year skiing, we laced up our hiking boots and explored the alpine meadows.It was a typical wet west coast day with a sky the colour of Colin’s dirty sports socks and unrelenting rain.These trails are pretty familiar for us, but today there was something different; it wasn’t just Colin and me.We had a little squirming bundle with us, strapped to Colin’s chest in a carrier and protected from the downpour by his waterproof jacket.

We’ve quickly come to realize that newborns are remarkably packable. They’re light and small, and with just the right amount of bouncing – like the rhythmic fall of footsteps on a long trek – they fall asleep. Leif doesn’t yet have the ability to fully appreciate these outdoor excursions, but the fresh air does put him in a good mood. And with a focal range of only about 12 inches, we’re glad he’s not yet getting an intimate vantage of the cougars and bears.

It’s with more than just casual interest that we’re taking such careful notes on travelling with a small baby. Next year, Leif will be accompanying us on our journey retracing the route of the Phoenicians and how they spread the Olive tree along the shores of the Mediterranean. Since we’ll be travelling for months in a small sailboat and bicycle camping we want to make sure we can do it efficiently, safely, and as stress-free as possible. We’ve been told giving children responsibility helps, so Colin has been fired as head navigator, and that position is going to Leif. As long as he can learn to ask directions, we’ll be off to a good start.

Besides being new parents, we’ve been busy with a number of talks, prepping for our 2011 adventures and designing a new rowboat.For you Vancouverites, we’d love to see you next Thursday at VIMFF where Colin will be giving a live show detailing three of his past adventures, and showing his film on the first descent of the Yenisey River in Mongolia and Russia.

With Christmas around the corner, we have a couple ideas that your adventuresome friends and family may enjoy. If you want to gift any books or DVDs from our store, we’ll personalize them and send them directly to the lucky person. The same thing goes for boat kits or plans from our Angus Rowboats store (winter is a great time to build a boat). Just send us a note at team@angusadventures after you place your order and give us the details.

Another great gift idea comes from our sponsor Sundog Eyewear who’s giving us a 50% discount that we can extend to 50 of our friends. These are the glasses that were rated # 1 by Runner’s World magazine and we agree, they rule. Not only do they look good, but they offer some of the best lens technology around. Be warned: it’s on a first come basis. You can check out their glasses at www.sundogeyewear.com.  If you’re interested in buying a pair, send us a note at team@angusadventures.com and we’ll give you the discount code and directions.

For this month’s featured adventure we decided to take a look at the South Pole. The season has just started and we’ll be keeping a keen eye on Chris Foot who is attempting the first solo expedition to the Pole and back. Read about him in our previous post.