Opinion: Normally I find this trail to be quite easy and enjoyable but some days your body lets you know just how many switchbacks there are between the trailhead and the first place with a view. (The answer is too many!) It's definitely a trail that requires perseverance, especially in the snow. But seeing everything … Continue reading Garibaldi Lake, 22 Jan 2023
I've been cycling in to the office for one or two days a week more or less continuously since October 2021, with just a couple of breaks. That means, whatever the weather, I set out on the local roads and head up the hill to UBC. Ah yes, the hill... Or perhaps, more ominously, The … Continue reading Vignette: A winter commute
It's that time of year when the days are lengthening, it's no longer dark at 5 pm, and there's a sense that spring is just around the corner. Or maybe the next corner, or the one after that, depending on whether a marmot's cousin claims to have seen its shadow. And then it goes and … Continue reading Being Outdoors, March 2023
Opinion: A classic hike for exceptional wildflower displays and eye-popping views, Elk Mountain is well worth the stiff climb. The best turnaround spot is the cairn with a panoramic view over the Chilliwack River valley, there's really little point continuing to the viewless summit of Mount Thurston - unless, like me, you are keen to … Continue reading Elk-Thurston, 2 Jul 2022
Opinion: A thoroughly enjoyable area to explore, albeit one not to be underestimated. The trail to Valentine Lake was really quite lovely, though I worry about the route through the meadows becoming a mucky mess. The lake was pretty and best appreciated from higher ground. Cassiope Mountain was a moderately challenging scramble on account of … Continue reading Valentine Lake, 3-5 Sep 2022
Opinion: A great destination when short of time, Hollyburn is ideal for a quick workout and I think it has some of the nicest trees on the North Shore when they're covered in snow. Heading up later in the day avoids the crowds too. Fact We had no issues parking along the road leading to … Continue reading Hollyburn Mountain, 18 Feb 2023
Opinion: A beautiful area that has clearly become more popular in recent years given the welcome upgrades to the parking arrangements and the trail itself. Despite it being known as a backpacking destination, the camping is not particularly good with only a few spots squeezed in between boulders, occupying delicate meadows, and sited far too … Continue reading Marriott Basin, 24-25 Sep 2022
My job takes me to North Vancouver twice a year and, after completing the task at hand, I like to venture into one of the nearby parks to soak up a bit of rainforest atmosphere before heading back to work. In the past I've visited Mosquito Creek and Capilano Canyon, while today I opted for … Continue reading Vignette: Lynn Canyon, 31 Jan 2023
Well that's the first month of the new year over. The days are getting noticeably longer again which is a great mood-lifter. I read something recently where the writer mentioned that they found January and February to be hopeful months because of those lengthening days, and I'm inclined to agree. The first signs of spring … Continue reading Being Outdoors, February 2023
Opinion: What can I say about Lake O'Hara that hasn't already been said? It's an absolutely stunning area with the most amazing trail network that threads over and through a very intimidating landscape. Three nights is absolutely required to see it all but with less time the priority has to be the Alpine Circuit, which … Continue reading Lake O’Hara, 14-17 Sep 2022
Being. Outdoors. 