Ian looks out the cockpit window of the twin otter plane twin propeller plane. The runway is in full view of and covers the whole window. That usually doesn’t happen when you’re about to land. A huge “thunk” and jostle and the plane lands.
The flight in, you fly through the valley of the khumbu glacier melt, which comes from Everest. On one side you can see the bottom of the valley, the other, the mountain wall of some snow capped Peak.
Lukla. The worlds most dangerous runway. The biggest planes are twin engines that can fit on the run way. The runway sits on a 11 degree incline and its very short. The way the plane takes off is pretty much dive bombing down the end of the runway. We land and use the uphill incline to slowdown and stop.
The valley heading up
We get our packs and follow Pema. This route is actually more popular than originally thought. But most people are only going as far as namche bazaar. Few make it to base camp and even less go to Lobuche. We also meet our porters for the first time. We have two porters, one for each of our packs. They’re to carry our food, tent, kitchen and more climbing equipment later on. Our packs together already total 40 kgs. Were expecting to meet up with our climbing guide and cook later on when we get closer to lobuche. What logistics to get 2 people up a peak! We eat a simple egg breakfast and start our trek!
Half way through the hike, we realize Christa’s hiking shoes decided to die on her. The soles literally ripped apart. And then even more a little further down the road. It was fixed temporarily by tying a hair band around the shoe. We jimmied it at night so hopefully we can get to our next destination to get shoes. Ian’s stomach bug loves his bum. He left in the morning realizing there is something still brewing inside. Time to call the insurance! Lets hope it works out.
We get into our first stop and stay in a tea house. There a so many tea houses along the way its ridiculous. We wouldn’t have to bring anything! Along this route, its so based on trekker tourism that everything is catered toward that. We have dinner at the same place. There really isn’t much option otherwise as far as food goes.
The tea house is basic, 2 beds with shared washroom. You have to pay for hot water shower and for electricity to charge your phones and what not. Luckily, we have our solar charger so we don’t need it… yet. After dinner at 8 everything shuts down and everyone goes to bed. Its party central here! Good first day of actual hiking.
Ok guys, here’s the long awaited trek and climb in the Himalaya Lobuche Peak, in Nepal! There’s brief description of each day and will elaborate more in each section when there’s more to read.
Looking ahead to the summit, Himalaya Lobuche Peak
To-knows before reading:
AMS = Acute Mountain Sickness, also known as altituded sickness where the body tries to compensate for lack of atmosphere and oxygen to the brain
EBC = Everest Base Camp
All heights are calculated in meters. Multiply by 3 (roughly) for feet.
Where: Everest Mountain Range
Destination: Lobuche Peak (6,100) via Everest Base Camp (EBC – 5,600) and Kala Pattar (5,900), the Himalaya Lobuche Peak
Acclimatizationprocess: 2 days in Namche Bazaar (3,200), 2 days in DingBuche (4,700). Acclimatization hike to EBC (5,600). Day rest. Acclimatization hike to Kala Pattar (5,900). Retreat to Lobuche Base Camp (4,900). Final height 6,100 meters at Lobuche Peak Company: Travel Ways Nepal – Things not included were gear rentals and emergency high altitude rescue insurance. Support team: 1 guide, 2 porters, 2 climbing guides. 2 Client total. Number of days: 16 days on paper. 22 days total (Stuck 6 days in Lukla because of adverse weather) Cost: ~2,000 USD
Click the map to see what happened that day during the climb up. Not all events are documented in the map. You may also click on the map and check out the links. View Nepal Everest Base Camp and Lobuche Peak in a larger map
Streets of Thamel, Kathmandu
Day 1 – Meeting our guide Pema Not that we’re in love with Thamel, but that’s where everything happens in Kathmandu. And it’s a pretty cool area.
We left Hasera with bittersweet good byes. Mito’s awesome food and Govinda’s uplifting spirit will be sorely missed. We head with Sujan, our volunteer coordinator who placed us there, to the taxi waiting for us that takes us back to Thamel.
Day 2 – Immigration visa extension Pema picked us up at 10 am to head to the immigration office. Not a difficult procedure to get your visa’s extended. Just requires 30USD for 15 days, minimum and then 2USD for every additional day afterwards. We get back and Ian unpacked and re-packed the packs switching unnecessary stuff from India with needed stuff for mountaineering. Our hotel room is now a mass of boxes, back packs and half of our belongings from Korea.
Day 3 – Last minute scramble before departure Epic scramble for last minute things! No time to write. Not much happened. Just a lot of running around. Plane ride in the morning.
Lukla runway
Day 4 – Let the suffering commence! Ian looks out the cockpit window of the twin otter plane twin propeller plane. The runway is in full view of and covers the whole window. That usually doesn’t happen when you’re about to land. A huge “thunk” and jostle and the plane lands.
Day 5 – Trek We wake up, pack, eat breakfast and set out for Namche Bazaar at 8 am. It was 3 hours away. This is also the first big altitude hike. Climbing from 2,700 meters to 3,400 (approx.) We didn’t know it could take 4 hours to climb 700 vertical meters.
Day 6 – Namche last minute gear purchases. Nothing of significance. Stayed in Namche for acclimatization. Bought a few extra items for the up coming big trek. Resting for 5 hours of hiking on day 6. Namche marks the Alpine level where trees stop and rocks start becoming the common scene carved from the glaciers.
Namche Bazaar
Day 7 – Out of namche and onwards! “1 more hour” Buba, one if the porters said. He said 1 hour an hour ago. We must be going really slow. Were at 3,900 meters and struggling through the clouds that have completely sucked any joy of being in the mountains. Each step is becoming more laboured. At 3,300 meters, the atmosphere provides 13% of oxygen, where as sea level is 21%. We’ve really reached above that level now.
Day 8 – Dingbuche and more acclimatization. A 4 hour hike that otherwise would’ve taken 2 hours. It seems like every time frame that’s given to us we should add 1.5 to it. These porters and guides not only carry a load of stuff, but they’re also pre-acclimatized to this altitude. We made it to 4,300 meters today.
Day 9 – AMS and learning from it. On the rest day in Dingbuche, Ian went for a bike for acclimatization while Christa rested her blistered feet. Ian climbed too high too fast and came back down with the worse AMS (acute mountain sickness) he’s felt yet.
Read more>> Day 10 – Lobuche base camp and storm Not the worst storm ever. But being at 4,900 meters make it seem a lot more real when thunder is going off beside you. The winds are starting to pickup.
Day 11 – Gorakshep and Everest Base Camp We pack only a day pack to head up to Gorakshep which is the kick off point to head to Everest Base Camp. The packing took much longer than we expected as we are tired, frustrated and sick of AMS. The day was incredibly slow going. The altitude and AMS played such a huge role in making the trek really slow. Christa felt nausea got sick a few times. But she continued to be bad ass and headed the trek.
Day 12 – Kalla Pattar and back to Lobuche Base Camp We jerked awake at 5am and tried to shut the alarm off. Then Pema came knocking at our door at 5:05. It was time to get up and climb Kalla Pattar. With bloodshot red eyes, we crawled out of bed. Ian went first to meet Pema. Christa was still in no good shape to tackle the mountain. At 5:30, departure time, she worked her boots on and coat on, like a boss.
Day 13 – Push for the summit “Wake up Didi!” Won shouted. Didi meant sister in Sherpa. He shouted at Christa.
“We’re up! We’re up!” Ian responded back.
It got real the second time the alarm went off and our guides smacking and banging our tent. Christa cursed her AMS and Ian tore out of his sleeping bag… and then cursed his AMS.
Day 14 – 2nd attempt for the summit “Wake up Didi!” Won shouted. Didi meant sister in Sherpa. He shouted at Christa.
“We’re up! We’re up!” Ian responded back. Well, second attempt for the summit. Hours earlier we had as gourmet of a feast as much as our AMS would allow. It’s funny, we’d thought we’d acclimatize faster. It’s been 4 days already living at 4,900 meters ASL and we’re still not fully acclimatized
Day 15 – Retreat to Dingbuche After the longest approaching of our lives; 12 days hike, of which 4 days was for acclimatization, and 8 hours of actual approach to the top of Lobuche, we begin the journey downwards. For the past 5 days We lived at no less than 4,900 meters.
Day 15 – To Namche we go After summiting Himalaya Lobuche Peak, we wake up to a very misty day. Rather, we were in the clouds. And its only called “fog” because we were standing on the ground, otherwise, it’s clouds.
We begin our death march back down. A grueling 9 hour day. With 2 major uphills that takes us back to altitude, or so it seems.
We get into Namche bazaar at 5 and just crash. That marks the longest day hike on this trip. Not counting the summit day.
Day 16 – Resting in Namche. Souvenir shopping! Not much happened today as it was rest day. Our bodies still tired from the hike. No longer do we have the porters, we have to carry our own packs. 15-ish kgs isn’t so bad… for 3 hours. But for 9, it was painful. Christa blistered are getting worse as we have zero off days to let them heal completely. We can only tend them so much while not on the move.
We spend the day in namche bazaar shopping for 3 dollar gloves and 10 dollar shirts. Then caught a short movie based off Jon Krakauer’s book, Into Thin Air. Good thing Christa watched it after we went up the mountain….
We went to bed to prepare for a 6 hour hike to Lukla to get ready to fly out.
Our Porters
Day 17 – The great descent. So remember day 15 as the longest hiking day? Scratch that one. Today we broke 11 hours of hiking straight. Summit day was still 13 hours of uphill/scramble/climb, so that still takes the gold. But today carrying the 15kg pack for 11 hours was probably the best feat we have done together.
At least we are in Lukla now. We’re resting for our flight back to Kathmandu. The weather has been pretty wild. Some days, no flights go out. We wake up tomorrow preparing to go down, but if not, were in Lukla for another day.
Some people have waited 10 days for the weather to clear out. Lets hope we catch our flight straight.
Namche Bazaar is really a Bazaar!
Day 18 – Stranded. This was the first day to see if we can get a flight out. We woke up in the morning and not too soon after clouds rolled in. This was 8:30. No more roaring of engines landing in the field behind the lodge. We read, ate, and slept to pass the time.
Day 19 – Missed flight Our actual departure day. The weather held out a bit, but they were letting all the backed up passengers go first. We missed our flight.
Sitting here now, at night listening to the rain hammer the tin roofs. Just last night the monastery held a party to commence the monsoon season. How fitting.
Day 20 – Waiting for breaks in weather
Finally getting off this mountain!
Still stuck. Raining now, and forecasted for the rest of the week. We pass our time reading books. So far, Game of Thrones has been winning. Had a legitimate chicken leg for the first time today. Real meat! Stumbled upon it by accident at the one restaurant we eat at. Making ourselves at home now. Watching tv at the bottom coffee shop. We own the channels. We’re no longer served food, instead we go look for the ladies that cook our food by wandering into their kitchen. People don’t take our orders. We go place them. Maybe tomorrow we’ll go wander out unto the rain and see if the airport is still there. Day 21 – Considering helicopters at this point Now we’re getting anxious. We still have to get back down to Kathmandu and pack for South Africa. We’re looking at different helicopter options and alternative route down, including hiking to another village and taking a bus. The only flights that are going are helicopters taking dead corpses off the mountain because of the storm hammering at higher altitudes. Day 22 – Weather breaks! Finally out of Lukla! Yes!! We’re out of here! The weather breaks! We’re pushed up in flights! Flying out!! 10 minute notice! Scramble scramble scramble! This concludes the Himalaya Lobuche Peak trek and climb!
Our support team that brought us up, minus 1 climbing guide, Won
Day 12 – Kalla Pattar and back to Lobuche Base Camp
Up top of Kalla Pattar
We jerked awake at 5am and tried to shut the alarm off. Then Pema came knocking at our door at 5:05. It was time to get up and climb Kalla Pattar. With bloodshot red eyes, we crawled out of bed. Ian went first to meet Pema. Christa was still in no good shape to tackle the mountain. At 5:30, departure time, she worked her boots on and coat on, like a boss.
We leave the safety of the hut and into the blanket of fog. We could barely see 5 meters ahead and rain began its’ pitter patter. We needed to acclimatize, even Christa said so, especially after she had gotten sick before EBC. We meet some familiar faces along the way and decide to keep pace with them.
The mountain decided to give us some really mixed reviews of weather as the monsoon season was coming near. It rained and then became sunny and rained again all within a span of 3 hours hiking up and down.
The valley between Lobuche and Everest
We reach the top quite climatically as it was our highest point of the trek yet, 5,900 meters. The air is super thin and we are feeling the altitude big time now. We spend 20 minutes at the top breathing in whatever oxygen is available at that altitude and snapped a few pictures. We being our journey down. Not to Gorakshep, but all the way down to Lobuche Base Camp, where were were on Day 10. A full vertical kilometre away, which took 6 hours to climb.
As we approached Lobuche village, it began hailing. It was about 2pm at that stage and we were both exhausted. We hadn’t eaten anything significant as our bodies weren’t very happy with the altitude. Plus all the hiking we had gone through just earlier. We stop in a restaurant and meet our second climbing guide, Won. We were another hour or two from Lobuche Base Camp where we could actually crash and sleep.
After a gruelling longest 2 hours ever, we collapse in our tent after a small bite to eat. Pema tried to shove as much as he could down our throats. Shortly after, we were shown how to use our climbing equipment, which we are all too familiar with. Funny thing is, never showed us how to use the ice axe, which Christa could use some instructions on. In hindsight, more focus on the ice axes and less on equipment we already know how to use.
After the quick demo and orientation Pema tried to shove more food into our stomachs.
“You’re climbing at 2am!” He shouted as he left the tent.
Not the worst storm ever. But being at 4,900 meters make it seem a lot more real when thunder is going off beside you. The winds are starting to pickup.
That and last night we heard avalanches popping off from everywhere.
The temperatures hover around freezing now. Basecamp is setup with a tent for washroom and kitchen among the sleeping tents. The washroom is a hole dug into the ground. Once you’re done,you shove a bit of dirt to cover it.
Tomorrow, Everest base camp. (Imagine the climbers on Everest right now. Probably around camp 2 and 3, aka half way up.)
We pack only a day pack to head up to Gorakshep which is the kick off point to head to Everest Base Camp. The packing took much longer than we expected as we are tired, frustrated and sick of AMS. The day was incredibly slow going. The altitude and AMS played such a huge role in making the trek really slow. Christa felt nausea got sick a few times. But she continued to be bad ass and headed the trek.
Avalanches could be heard popping off everywhere as we walked down the Khumbu Glacial Valley. Fallen rocks and boulders litter the top of the glacier and from where we were hiking, it seemed as if it was another trail.
We reach closer to the Khumbu ice fall and catch the first glimpse of EBC. From a distance, we could see small, tiny collection of yellow dots on the ice. Upon closer inspection, those were all tents of the expedition teams. It’s located at the bottom of the Khumbu ice fall and the beginning of the glacier, logically. Imagine Everest was a waterfall with a river, the eddy after the waterfall is where the base camp is situated. Except this is all ice and it moves no where as fast as water. Let alone flowing. But it does move. Very slow.
Christa collapsed in her bed with nausea as AMS kicks in, when we got to Gorakshep. We don’t know why, but Ian still felt strong and AMS hasn’t really affected him. He continued up toward EBC with Pema and snapped a few photos.
From Lobuche to Gorakshep took 6 hours. From Gorakshep to EBC and back, took 4 more hours.
Day 13 – Push for the summit “Wake up Didi!” Won shouted. Didi meant sister in Sherpa. He shouted at Christa.
“We’re up! We’re up!” Ian responded back.
It got real the second time the alarm went off a
nd our guides smacking and banging our tent. Christa cursed her AMS and Ian tore out of his sleeping bag… and then cursed his AMS.
We were both exhausted from lack of sleep, hiking all day the previous day and can’t stomach much food the whole time. Hot food was placed infront of us. Copious amounts. There was no way we could’ve eaten any of that. Christa downed her hot chocolate but left most the food. It was still hard to eat. Ian munched a bit more oats but couldn’t finish everything.
Boots were laboriously put on and tied. Headlamps, check. Layers, check. Harnesses, check. AMS, check.
We started trudging through the depths of the night with a very narrow focus of light beam. The rocks slipped under our feet and gave way. 3 steps up, 2 steps down. Ian looks forward to the bigger boulders and ice sheets on the mountain. The going will go faster that way.
Heavy set breathing kicked in immediately. The AMS and fatigue was already pressing down. We had barely began. First rest stop seemed miles away. Then the rests became more frequent.
“We’re retreating” Christa turned to Ian. “I’m far too exhausted for this climb. We haven’t slept or eaten in the past 3 days.”
And with that the team retreats to get some real energy for the actual climb.
We had climbed for 2 hours. Took another hour and half to retreat. We collapse in the tent as the sun peaked out of the sky.
“1 more hour” Buba, one if the porters said. He said 1 hour an hour ago. We must be going really slow. Were at 3,900 meters and struggling through the clouds that have completely sucked any joy of being in the mountains. Each step is becoming more laboured. At 3,300 meters, the atmosphere provides 13% of oxygen, where as sea level is 21%. We’ve really reached above that level now.
The day started with a caravan of trekkers from namche. It was a beautiful clear morning and Mt. Everest was in full view. Days start out clear, but by mid day intimidating clouds would roll in. As the day wore on, we climbed higher and the clouds moved in and the temperatures sunk. We’ve reached about the Alpine level where trees are turning to brushes and snow covered peaks are now a common view. We are constantly surrounded by 7,000 meter peaks with huge glacial formations on them. Yet we are still marching in dusty trampled roads.
The general rule of thumb when trekked in altitude is to not go higher than 600 meters a day, for optimal acclimatization. We stopped 600 meters higher than our previous altitude and Ian can feel it. A night rest and then on wards to Dingbuche where well need 2 days of rest for acclimatization.
Day 9 – AMS and learning from it. On the rest day in Dingbuche, Ian went for a bike for acclimatization while Christa rested her blistered feet. Ian climbed too high too fast and came back down with the worse AMS (acute mountain sickness) he’s felt yet.
Usually rest, liquids and food helped. But this time it didn’t. And its already been a day at this altitude. Hopefully the night will prove useful to help acclimatize. If not, its time to take some medication for AMS, diamox.
The porters have left for lobuche basecamp, 5 hours away. They carried the tents, the kitchen. And food. Very heavy stuff. We will do that trek tomorrow. They will come back for out packs in the morning. Very strong boys.
Previously, just remembered (see what altitude does?) we had passed the memorial for all the people who died on Everest.
DAY 1 Not that we’re in love with Thamel, but that’s where everything happens in Kathmandu. And it’s a pretty cool area.
We left Hasera with bittersweet good byes. Mito’s awesome food and Govinda’s uplifting spirit will be sorely missed. We head with Sujan, our volunteer coordinator who placed us there, to the taxi waiting for us that takes us back to Thamel.
We all meet up with our guide, Pema, who we’ll see everyday for the next 19 days. We say our farewells to Sujan and a big hello to the fanciest hotel we’ve stayed in this entire trip! We have beds with clean sheets. I mean, not clean and have a few stains; these were white! Actually, white! We have a shower head! 2 weeks of pouring buckets of water over you to shower is an experience, but certain luxuries are welcoming return. Hot water! Ian finally had a clean shave. Inclusive breakfast! Pleather chairs! Relatively speaking, “western” standards we grew up with at home. But load-shedding, was still there. Pema has arranged for us Zen Holiday to stay in. (Load shedding: When certain parts of the city shuts down electricity for a certain time for other parts of the city to have power) This begins Day 1 of our himalayan experience. Not a bad start.
When it comes to exploring the vast wilderness of Ontario’s backcountry, having the top 4×4 gear for camping in Ontario backcountry can make or break your adventure. Trust me, if you’re heading deep into places like Algonquin Park or Killarney Provincial Park, you don’t want to be caught without the essentials. Whether you’re navigating rocky trails, setting up camp on rugged terrain, or going off the grid, the right gear will ensure you’re safe, comfortable, and ready for whatever Ontario’s wilderness throws at you.
Table of Contents
Top 4×4 gear for camping in Ontario backcountry
When it comes to the top 4×4 gear for camping in Ontario backcountry, you need gear that’s not just reliable but built for rugged environments. You can’t afford to have things break down in the middle of Algonquin Park or when you’re halfway through a trail in Temagami. So let’s dive into the top pieces of kit every off-roader needs.
Before we dive into the nitty-gritty, let’s talk about why top 4×4 gear for camping in Ontario backcountry. Trails in Northern Ontario can get pretty rough—Bruce Peninsula and areas around Georgian Bay are perfect examples. You’ll want gear that holds up against rugged terrain, unpredictable weather, and the demands of off-roading. Here’s what you need to start your overlanding adventure:
Rooftop Tents
A rooftop tent is a game-changer. Not only does it get you off the ground, away from bugs and moisture, but it’s also super easy to set up after a long day of driving. I’ve found rooftop tents particularly handy when camping near Lake Superior, where finding level ground for a regular tent can be a nightmare. Plus, being elevated gives you that extra layer of safety from wildlife.
Pro Tip: Check out brands like Thule Tepui or Yakima SkyRise for durable, weatherproof options.
Why a Rooftop Tent?
Quick Setup: Takes the hassle out of finding flat ground or dealing with a traditional tent.
Protection from Elements: Keeps you above soggy or uneven terrain.
Perfect for Remote Locations: Once you park your 4×4, you can set up camp anywhere.
All-Terrain Tires
You can’t talk about top 4×4 gear for camping in Ontario backcountry without mentioning all-terrain tires. Your regular street tires just won’t cut it on Ontario’s backcountry trails. You need tires that can handle gravel, mud, rocks, and anything in between. The BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 is a solid choice. Whether you’re exploring Temagami or trekking through Muskoka, these tires will grip the ground and give you confidence on the roughest roads.
Why it matters: The last thing you want is to get stuck in the mud or slide on loose gravel, miles away from the nearest service station.
Off-Road Recovery Gear
Here’s the thing about top 4×4 gear for camping in Ontario backcountry—the trails can be unpredictable. You might hit deep mud, rocky hills, or even snow, depending on the season. That’s where recovery gear comes in. You can’t rely on getting help in the middle of nowhere, so your recovery gear is your safety net.
Winches and Recovery Straps
A winch is a must-have. Whether you’re stuck in mud or need to clear obstacles on the trail, a winch will get you moving again. ARB makes excellent winches and recovery gear, but you’ll also want to pair that with high-quality recovery straps. These aren’t just for you—helping someone else on the trail can save your day, too.
Traction Boards (Fireyred)
Another piece of essential gear is traction boards like Fieryred. These boards help get your tyres out of deep mud, snow, or sand by giving your vehicle something to grip onto. A lot of Ontario’s trails, especially in places like Bruce Peninsula, are notorious for their tricky terrain, and you don’t want to get stuck without a way out.
It’s not just about the off-roading gear. Once you reach your destination, you’ll want your camp setup to be smooth and enjoyable. Here’s the essential camping kit that’ll make life out in the Ontario wilderness way more comfortable.
Portable Camping Stoves
A quality camping stoveis a game-changer, especially if you’re out for a few days. Brands like MSRand Jetboil make portable stoves that are compact yet powerful. Whether you’re boiling water for coffee or grilling up some fish by Lake Superior, having a reliable stove makes all the difference.
Chairs and Coolers
Don’t skimp on comfort. After a day of navigating backcountry trails, you’ll want to relax. Grab a solid camping chair and a Yeti cooler to keep your food and drinks cold for days. Ontario’s summer heat can be unpredictable, so having a cooler that lasts is key.
Waterproof bags to protect gear in sudden rainstorms
Solar and Power Solutions for Off-Grid Camping
When you’re off the grid, staying powered up is a challenge. That’s where solar and portable power stations come into play. You don’t need a full solar setup to keep your gear running, but having a small solar panel and a portable power station can make your life much easier.
Goal Zero Power Stations
A Goal Zero or Jackery portable power station is a lifesaver for charging up phones, lights, and even small appliances. Pair it with a solar panel, and you’ve got endless power, no matter how deep into the wilderness you go. This is particularly useful in Ontario’s remote areas where cell service is spotty at best.
Power Solutions Checklist:
Goal Zero or Jackery power station
Foldable solar panel for on-the-go charging
LED camp lights to keep your campsite lit at night
Tire Deflators and Compressors
One of the most overlooked pieces of gear for top 4×4 gear for camping in Ontario backcountry is a tire deflator and compressor. Adjusting your tire pressure is crucial when driving on different types of terrain. Lowering your pressure for sand, mud, or snow gives your tyres more traction and prevents you from getting stuck.
Rugged Ridge Tire Deflators
The Rugged Ridge tire deflatoris the gold standard. It’s easy to use, and once you’re back on solid ground, pairing it with aStop & Go compressor will get your tyres back to road-ready pressure. Whether you’re exploring the trails around Algonquin Park or navigating deep sand, having these tools is a game-changer.
Why You Need a Tire Deflator:
Increases traction on soft ground
Prevents tyres from getting stuck in mud or sand
Quick and easy to adjust your tyre pressure on the go
Final Thoughts
Having the right gear is essential for enjoying top 4×4 gear for camping in Ontario backcountry. Whether it’s a solid rooftop tent, a reliable winch, or the convenience of a portable power station, being prepared ensures that you can tackle the toughest trails and set up a comfortable camp. So before you hit the backcountry, make sure your rig is fully equipped, and your adventure will be unforgettable.After my travels overseas, I came back to Ontario and was looking for some adventure destinations. I headed out over a weekend to do some 4×4 off trailing to do some camping in the back country. Back country camping don’t necessarily have campgrounds and generally the campsite is where you create one yourself. I find myself enjoying this wilderness and tranquility. There’s something special about disconnecting for a few days away from electronics.
It’s hard to find quiet places around Ontario, near Toronto for back country solitude. But a quick research on a map yielded a spot to check out. I use the “Crown Land Use Policy Atlas” from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resource. To my surprise, the spot my brother and I checked out was a moderately-used, but still not popular enough for huge crowds.
Top 4×4 gear for Camping in Ontario Backcountry Short Video
Azure production swung this piece quickly together from the footage we took. We went with our pup through some rivers (which the water was far too low for), mosquito filled bush whacking (because we missed the actual portage route), and took the 4×4 through (when we realized we could drive into the lake and haul our gear out instead of back tracking upstream through the rapids)
