Robinson's Outdoor Store has been outfitting Vancouver Island since 1945. For our camping issue, we wanted morning advice from someone who actually lives it, so we asked Cole, who's spent six years fitting boots and packs there.
We wanted to know about the mornings that make a trip worth it. What goes in the pack first. What makes or breaks a kit. What a cold, early, miles-from-anything morning is actually for. Here's the full conversation.
Q: What does the first morning at a campsite actually feel like, before anyone's really awake?
A: Admittedly, I’m usually not the first one up. Sometimes, my sleeping pad is too comfortable and my sleeping bag too cozy. Good coffee is a high priority here. That being said, waking up and realizing that I’m in a tent is one of my favorite feelings.
Drifting out of sleep and recalling where I am, and that I’m probably doing my favorite thing = a day started on the right foot. When I’m camping alone, and the odds are better that nobody else is “really awake”, I love the serenity of moving at my own pace. Making coffee and eating breakfast, owing nothing to nobody.
Q: When someone's building their kit for the first time, what's the thing that makes the biggest difference to how the trip starts?
A: I’d say any of the more fit-centric or comfort-centric pieces of gear you’re using. For example if you’re going backpacking, the fit and comfort of you footwear is crucial. When we’re fitting both shoes and packs at Robinson’s, we’re always starting with the fit and working backwards from there. Does is feel good? Why or why not? Could it be better? You can have everything dialed, and be in the best place with the best people, but if your feet hurt, it’s hard to experience everything through the lens of your feet hurting.
If you're putting a kit together from scratch, Robinson's has a guide to choosing the rest, tents, sleeping bags, stoves.
Q: What do you always make sure is packed before anything else?
A: This one’s a preference rather than an endorsement, but food. I find it’s the list item that takes the most care and planning, and I usually try and tailor my food plans to the type of trip. If I’m on the West Coast Trail with a few friends for a week, I’m bringing pancake batter, an Aeropress, a skillet, and lots of treats. If I’m trying to ride my bike to Bamfield and back over the weekend and need to be more minimal, I’ll likely take one of the lovely dehydrated meals we sell here at Robinson’s, and some Fernwood Instant Coffee!
Also, my sleep system, for the same reasons of tailoring the gear to type of endeavor. Whether it’s a tent, a tarp, or a bivy sack, shelter and a good night’s sleep are never on the chopping block.
Q: Vancouver Island has some pretty specific mornings, early light, cold, a long way from anything. What makes those worth getting up for?
A: Other than good coffee? Shout out to West Coast Trail blend, never fails to pair well with instant oatmeal and a beach sunrise.
A lot of us would find our answer in this question: Morning light, a cool breeze, and solitude. The peace of a good book. Snow crunching under bare feet. A chance for some local fauna.
I love the simplicity of the outdoors. When you wake up outside, your to do list that day is likely short and sweet.
Q: What separates a good trip from one people talk about for years?
A: Two things:
- The people you’re with. My best moments with my best people usually start and end in a tent or under the stars. Sometimes going alone can be its own memorable characteristic, but good company is what makes a memory last.
- Continuing education. This could be an oh shit moment where you learn a lesson you didn’t anticipate, a real breakthrough on leaving your comfort zone, or learning something new about the places and creatures that are passing by while you walk/ride/slide. I think a lot of us who are really passionate about this stuff really chase novelty; we want to learn and experience something new, whenever we can.