About Us

So what is this website about?

Mostly it’s about our outdoor adventures.  Sometimes it’s about great gear that we own (at this point, none of our reviews are sponsored, meaning we buy, test, and review the gear of our own volition, with no compensation from the company that manufactures it, because people often want to know what other people think of an item, especially something expensive like a tent, before they buy). We also share recipes, and sometimes random life events.  Basically it’s about whatever we want it to be about, but the focus is generally on backpacking, camping, and the outdoors.

What’s with the name?

Get Outside is a bit of a jab at our gamer friends, who spend a lot of their time in front of their computers, doing things like virtual fishing, instead of being in the outdoors!  It’s meant to be playful, and not malicious (lord knows I spend almost as much time in front of a computer, writing and reading).  It’s also intended to say “Hey!  Look outside!  There’s stuff to see and do!  Let’s go!”

Who are you guys anyway?

Mike is a mild-mannered millwright apprentice during the week, and a fishing-backpacking-camping-fire starting-animal spotting-weekend warrior from Friday to Sunday.  Sometimes longer than that.  Born and raised in a small town north of Toronto, he migrated to Alberta with Cal in 2010.  Besides going outside, he also enjoys playing Warhammer 40K, Dungeons & Dragons, going to the movies, and doing leather work.

Cal was born and raised in central Alberta, spending most of her younger years on a large farm, riding horses, picking eggs, and chasing cattle.  She spent plenty of time in the mountains and in the wilderness, and grew up learning survival skills and picking up knowledge that serves her well in her current adventures.  Scrapbooking, leather work, cooking, and making jewelry are among some of her other hobbies.

What kind of a camera do you use?

We use any kind of a camera, so long as it’s a Canon.

Joking aside, a good portion of our photos are taken with a Canon EOS Rebel T3i with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Kit.  We happen to prefer Canon, because they take a beating, and still deliver.  We need gear that can tolerate the abuse we put it through, and so far, 4+ Canon cameras later (because we keep upgrading) they keep on taking everything we throw at them.  The image quality is fantastic, and I love that I can hand my camera to someone who has never used it before and they don’t have to read the manual to take great photos with it either (this is useful when we bother strangers to take our picture).

More to come!