It's May! What To Do Outside This Month
It's May! What To Do Outside This Month
Time To Embrace Shoulder Season
Go Outside subscribers receive advice, stories, trip reports, interviews, reflections, opinions, and outdoorsy goodness in their inboxes. If you enjoy and value our work, consider becoming a paid subscriber. Contributions from readers like you make this newsletter possible.
If you’re anything like us, the skis and winter boots are packed away and you’re longing to take out the paddleboard, pitch a tent or go for a hike.
But alas, there’s a snowfall warning.
No seriously. As we write this, forecasters are predicting as much as 50 cm of snow in areas with high terrain.
Welcome to shoulder season. That weird in-between time of year that occurs every spring and fall, when you really never know what to expect. It’s too cold for summer activities but there’s not enough snow for winter fun.
A shoulder season hike last year
Fret not, as there’s actually a lot to do during shoulder season, while you await summer fun. As follows is some of what we’ll be doing this May.
Go For a Crocus Hunt
Prairie crocuses are a sure sign that spring is here and summer is around the corner. Popular places in Calgary to look for these fuzzy purple wildflowers are Bowmont Park, Nose Hill Park and Fish Creek Park.
Crocuses!!!
Look for Deals
From hotel rooms to gear, shoulder season can be a great time to snag a deal. We highly recommend visiting Banff or Jasper in May, instead of the busy tourist summer. And, Annalise’s fav outdoor online outlet store Last Hunt often has additional sales in-between seasons (aka right now).
Bow Lake in shoulder season
Celebrate You Survived Winter!
No really. You did it! The days are getting noticeably longer. The days are getting warmer. The snow (will hopefully) end soon. And, if it doesn’t, just repeat these lines to yourself: we need the moisture, we need the moisture, we need the moisture.
Refresh Your Skills
Two words: Bears. Ticks.
These are things you don’t have to worry about in winter, but should educate (or re-educate) yourself on during shoulder season. Do you have bear spray that’s not expired? Do you know how to use it? Do you know what to do if you encounter a bear? Do you know what to do if you get a tick? Now’s a good time to learn.
A Jasper Bear in May
Join a Jane’s Walk
It’s Jane’s Walk weekend this weekend (May 3-5)! In hundreds of places around the world, people will be outside exploring their cities on free walking tours led by volunteers. It’s all part of Jane’s Walk, an awesome annual festival of community-led walks and talks inspired by Jane Jacobs, a writer, urbanist, and activist. You need not travel in a vehicle to enjoy the great outdoors!
In Calgary, you can find all the details on all the walks here, and if you’re having trouble picking a walk, you can search by location, date, time, theme and accessibility.
A Sunnyside alley art Jane’s Walk
Stock Up On Summer Snacks & Dehydrate
We recommend buying outdoor snacks in large quantities so you don’t have to trek to the grocery store every time you’re heading on an adventure. It’s just one less thing to worry about and is a real game changer for going outside.
Annalise has a specific Outdoor Snack Spot in her cupboard, which, in addition to seasonal snacks, also includes backpacking food. If you’re planning to do any backpacking this summer, now is a good time to start dehydrating leftovers to eliminate the mad-dash for meals in the days before a big trip.
Summer Snack Break Views
Happy May!
