A few T-shirts celebrating flying sites in Western Canada.
2026-01-17
2026-01-11
Flying T-shirts: the Lakeside series
My T-shirts from the Lakeside splashdown contest over the years
Which one is your favourite?
2025-11-15
2024-03-01
My hang gliding records in Canada
As a young pilot, I became interested in flying in hanging gliding competitions. It was a very good way to compare myself and discover my weak points. Also, a lot of fun and bonding with other like-minded people. Eventually my skills increased my competition placings improved, and in 1980 I was offered a spot on the national team to compete at the world championship in Japan. In 1985, I again qualified and that time I competed at the world championship in Austria. A decade later I flew in the pre-world championship in Ager, Spain. Those are all stories for another day.
As time went on, I could see that the pilots that were willing to push the envelope on the flight conditions or take a bigger risk on landing in very tricky locations had a better chance of scoring better. I wasn't willing to push it as far and eventually pulled away from flying in competitions. But something had to replace it. I discovered badges and records. These I could pursue on my own terms.
During the later 1980s and into the 1990s, I went after the low-hanging fruit, all the records that had not been set yet or those that I figured I could easily surpass. By the time I was done, I had amassed about 16 of them. And here they are!
2023-03-23
Midwinter.ca landing page
This is a landing page for the midwinter.ca domain, featuring links to the social media sites of various members of the Midwinter family.
Nigel: Photography site
Stewart: Main blog, old blog, SCI recovery blog, tumblr blog
2010-09-21
2010-08-21
2010-05-26
2010-05-21
goodbye 24St SW bridge
the pedestrian bridge over Bow Trail is being torn down in order to be replaced with a wider and longer one.
Jamis Beatnik For Sale
This is a nearly new Jamis Beatnik single-speed 46/16 commuter bike with flip-flop rear hub (i.e. it could be turned into a fixed-gear bike). Skinny tires, goes fast. Used less than half a dozen times: chain isn't even dirty yet!. $500 OBO, details to follow. Size somewhere around 56cm Contact Charlie Sark at 403 874-3363 or charlie 'at' sark.ca.
2010-03-22
Photo of the day 100322 – Cyclists need cash
Well it's actually a scan, not a photo, but it's a valid point - we have all the studies we need.
2010-03-21
Photo of the day 100321 – bike polo
Great weather for the first day of spring means it's a great day for bike polo at the W Hillhurst polo pitch.
2010-01-08
The simplicity of winter cycling
I love the simplicity of year-round cycling. Oh sure, there are the complexities of what to wear, and how and where to ride. But the simplicity I'm talking about is this: I just ride. I don't hem and haw in the morning, trying to gauge if the temperature is warm enough to be pleasant, or if it will be too windy, or too snowy. I just ride.
This single-minded approach to winter cycling simplifies my life. I just do it. And when I get out on the road, or path, I discover what the day has to offer me. Sometimes it's a bitingly glacial wind. Sometimes it's a toe-numbing cold. Sometimes it's snow so deep I have to push my bike. And sometimes, like today, it's a warm chinook breeze anointing my body. Each day brings a new adventure. Not all of them are pleasant... and that's the point: to experience life with all its ups and downs.
I love this simplicity.
This single-minded approach to winter cycling simplifies my life. I just do it. And when I get out on the road, or path, I discover what the day has to offer me. Sometimes it's a bitingly glacial wind. Sometimes it's a toe-numbing cold. Sometimes it's snow so deep I have to push my bike. And sometimes, like today, it's a warm chinook breeze anointing my body. Each day brings a new adventure. Not all of them are pleasant... and that's the point: to experience life with all its ups and downs.
I love this simplicity.
2009-11-13
2009-11-10
2009-11-05
Pointy mountains in Ecuador
Here are a few pictures from Ecuador, and a brief summary of my mountaineering adventures there while working in Quito on a business trip.
I took the new telefériQo up out of Quito (to 3950m), then scrambled up Rucu Pichincha (4705m) Saturday October 18th. It cost $8. I took the obvious path and followed it up rolling hills to the base of the steep rocks, then continued around the backside and zig-zagged up to a final scrambly bit near the top. Once I got above 4400m (i.e. well higher than the highest point in the Rockies, Mt. Robson's 3954m), I began to feel a little light-headed and even slightly dizzy, and I got a slight headache. Nothing that would hold me back, however. From the summit I got a good view of the slightly higher Guagua Pichincha and the intervening Padre Encantado. Also on the summit, I met some like-minded travelers and we made plans to go out the next day.
The next morning, I got together with an American marathon runner named Jason from Plattsburgh, NY, Michele from IBM's Minnesota office and Juan Carlos from Bogotá at 6am, and we shared a hired car for a trip south into the countryside, then up a dirt road to a parking lot at 4000m, from whence we climbed Iliniza Norte (5125m). At the refugio (4500m) I met a local guide, Fernando Iza, who offered his services for the following weekend.
I teamed up with Jason, and, after mid-week gear rentals of expedition boots, crampons and ice axe, we got together on Saturday October 25th and drove with the guide to the parking lot at the base of Cotopaxi (4500m). Just as we started up the steep path to the refugio, the skies opened and we got hailed on for 20 minutes. The ground went from brown to white; quite a welcome! The guide said "la montaña nos está huachando". Basically that means that barfing the white stuff on us was the mountain's way of saying "welcome".
Once at the hut we went out as a group onto the nearest snowfield and did some practice work with crampons and ice axes, including the all-important self-arrest technique.
We stayed two nights in the refugio (4900m), which helped us acclimatize, as did the second day's excursion up to the toe of the glacier (5185m). I didn't sleep very well the first night, and had a continual low-grade headache, but it had cleared by the next morning. I also took a long nap the second day and felt fine by the second evening.
On the second night we headed out just after midnight and started our ascent. At first, the going was easy, with the guide taking a slow, measured pace which I liked. However, after we reached the glacier and put the crampons on, he seemed to pick up the pace (or was it just gettting higher). It seemed like the trail grew ever steeper, and the level of exertion grew ever harder, until it felt like I was just sprinting up the mountain (though in reality I was just shuffling along at the same slow pace as ever, in all likelihood).
I thought we would top out before dawn, but the "last little bit" seemed to go on forever. The sun popped out before we got to the top, which had its good side as I got a fabulous photo of the volcano's shadow.
Cotopaxi casts is shadow on the world, forming a third, virtual, Iliniza for a moment:
Finally, we reached the summit of Cotopaxi (5897m) at 06:15. It was an intense physical exercise during the whole climb, followed by a powerful emotional response when I reached the top - I was overcome with tears of joy and a feeling of gratitude at being able to be in this very special place. As you can imagine, the view was spectacular.
Stewart and Jason on our knees, humbled by the beauty:
the perfect crater of Cotopaxi:
Guide Fernando Iza and Stewart:
the mighty Chimborazo (6310m):
Descending through the glacier under clear blue skies:
It took two hours to descent to the refugio, and another half hour to carry all my gear back down to the car. I was knackered all the rest of that day. I decided not to attempt Chimborazo in the next few days, and instead went paragliding at Ibarra and touristing at Otavalo.
I took the new telefériQo up out of Quito (to 3950m), then scrambled up Rucu Pichincha (4705m) Saturday October 18th. It cost $8. I took the obvious path and followed it up rolling hills to the base of the steep rocks, then continued around the backside and zig-zagged up to a final scrambly bit near the top. Once I got above 4400m (i.e. well higher than the highest point in the Rockies, Mt. Robson's 3954m), I began to feel a little light-headed and even slightly dizzy, and I got a slight headache. Nothing that would hold me back, however. From the summit I got a good view of the slightly higher Guagua Pichincha and the intervening Padre Encantado. Also on the summit, I met some like-minded travelers and we made plans to go out the next day.
The next morning, I got together with an American marathon runner named Jason from Plattsburgh, NY, Michele from IBM's Minnesota office and Juan Carlos from Bogotá at 6am, and we shared a hired car for a trip south into the countryside, then up a dirt road to a parking lot at 4000m, from whence we climbed Iliniza Norte (5125m). At the refugio (4500m) I met a local guide, Fernando Iza, who offered his services for the following weekend.
I teamed up with Jason, and, after mid-week gear rentals of expedition boots, crampons and ice axe, we got together on Saturday October 25th and drove with the guide to the parking lot at the base of Cotopaxi (4500m). Just as we started up the steep path to the refugio, the skies opened and we got hailed on for 20 minutes. The ground went from brown to white; quite a welcome! The guide said "la montaña nos está huachando". Basically that means that barfing the white stuff on us was the mountain's way of saying "welcome".
Once at the hut we went out as a group onto the nearest snowfield and did some practice work with crampons and ice axes, including the all-important self-arrest technique.
We stayed two nights in the refugio (4900m), which helped us acclimatize, as did the second day's excursion up to the toe of the glacier (5185m). I didn't sleep very well the first night, and had a continual low-grade headache, but it had cleared by the next morning. I also took a long nap the second day and felt fine by the second evening.
On the second night we headed out just after midnight and started our ascent. At first, the going was easy, with the guide taking a slow, measured pace which I liked. However, after we reached the glacier and put the crampons on, he seemed to pick up the pace (or was it just gettting higher). It seemed like the trail grew ever steeper, and the level of exertion grew ever harder, until it felt like I was just sprinting up the mountain (though in reality I was just shuffling along at the same slow pace as ever, in all likelihood).
I thought we would top out before dawn, but the "last little bit" seemed to go on forever. The sun popped out before we got to the top, which had its good side as I got a fabulous photo of the volcano's shadow.
Cotopaxi casts is shadow on the world, forming a third, virtual, Iliniza for a moment:
Finally, we reached the summit of Cotopaxi (5897m) at 06:15. It was an intense physical exercise during the whole climb, followed by a powerful emotional response when I reached the top - I was overcome with tears of joy and a feeling of gratitude at being able to be in this very special place. As you can imagine, the view was spectacular.
Stewart and Jason on our knees, humbled by the beauty:
the perfect crater of Cotopaxi:
Guide Fernando Iza and Stewart:
the mighty Chimborazo (6310m):
Descending through the glacier under clear blue skies:
One last look at Cotopaxi from a lowly 4000m:
2009-10-05
Photo of the Day 091004 - Traffic Calming: Friend or Foe
Do devices like this hinder or help commuter cyclists?
2009-09-25
Obelisco
Evening colours the landmark Obelisco in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
9 de Julio
pedestrians cross "the widest avenue in the world", the 9 de Julio in Buenos Airedale, Argentina.
2009-09-23
morning in Buenos Aires
After a day of rain, sunshine returns to the narrow streets of downtown Buenos Aires.
2009-09-02
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