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Outdoors activities were among the many things that got more expensive and difficult to enjoy when the pandemic hit.

In 2020 and 2021, campsites were booked up and spots were reselling at outrageous rates. Bike shops were looking at year-long delivery timelines. Popular beginner hikes, such as those in Banff and Vancouver, became clogged with people. And the lineups at ski resorts near major cities made you just want to give up.

Now Canadians have major inflation and the looming possibility of a recession to think about before they decide whether they want to invest in a new outdoor hobby.

With that in mind, we’ve compiled a list of a few relatively low- and medium-cost outdoor activities to pursue, whether you prefer exerting yourself or relaxing when in nature.

Whatever the activity, people who take part all say that having an outdoor hobby is a way for them to unplug, be mindful about nature, and improve their overall mental health.

Disc Golf

Some casual disc golfers – also known as Frisbee golfers, or even frolfers – describe the sport as going for a walk, but with purpose.

The premise is simple: Instead of using golf clubs to hit a ball toward a hole, players flick a disc toward a basket. The scoring is the same as in golf, too; there’s a par set for each hole, and the lowest score at the end of a game wins.

Gagan Singh, a spokesman for Van City United Disc Golf Club, says disc golf is addictive because it’s an easy sport to pick up and play, but one that takes a lifetime to master.

A major difference between disc golf and regular golf is the cost. According to an estimate by another Vancouver-area club, North Shore Disc Golf, 90 per cent of disc courses worldwide are free to play.

In terms of gear, a starter disc wouldn’t cost much more than $20, and if you get into the sport, most people can get away with just three discs: a putter, a mid-range and a driver. (The shape of the discs dictate how far they fly, or the curve path they take.) Mr. Singh even says you can use a regular Frisbee if you’re trying out the sport for the first time.

Disc golf has exploded in popularity in recent years, with interest soaring particularly since the pandemic began. Statistics…