Opinion: Elfin Lakes is always a good hike for a sunny day, with wonderful views of the surrounding mountains, but the inexorable climb back up to Round Mountain from the lakes is a pain. Stopping at the high point of the trail offers the best of the views with none of that demoralizing (and tiring) … Continue reading Round Mountain, 29 Apr 2023
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
Time passes all too quickly and November is here. The rains have returned to Vancouver with a vengeance and the fine weather of only a few weeks ago already feels like a distant memory. October was still a good month for hiking which I'll tell you all about below. If we were being outdoors today, … Continue reading Being Outdoors, November 2022
Opinion A superlative destination with a long but relatively easy hike in and out. The new campground at the Ponds is superb with unobstructed views of Mount Garibaldi and is now one of my favourite camping spots of all time! A three-day trip is the perfect amount of time to enjoy this area. Fact We … Continue reading Rampart Ponds, 27-29 Aug 2020
Opinion One of the few genuinely hikeable trails in this corner of BC, Garibaldi Lake is a beautiful destination, albeit one where all the good stuff is quite distant. I think it's worth adding in the section through Taylor Meadows with its views of Black Tusk ahead and the Tantalus range behind. The downside of … Continue reading Garibaldi Lake, 24 Oct 2020
Opinion Long but not difficult, Elfin Lakes is a much better hike in the winter since the tedious rocks and gravel are covered, plus it's a superb way to get some alpine sunshine and epic views on those shorter days. Fact The road to the parking lot had quite a few potholes but none were … Continue reading Elfin Lakes, 9 Dec 2019
Opinion A long but rewarding hike on a great trail, with the added benefit of being so much quieter in the winter. Not my favourite style of hike as all the payoff is at the end, but it's such an easy trail to hike that I don't mind as much, plus I know it well … Continue reading Garibaldi Lake, 30 Nov 2019
Opinion I have to say this trail has got worse over the years and right now I think it's pretty awful. A steep slog up through roots and rocks, the trail has been braided by the increased foot traffic and has clearly seen little maintenance to try and shore up eroded sections or even keep … Continue reading Wedgemount Lake, 12 Oct 2019
Opinion As a way to get several hours of uninterrupted alpine sunshine, Elfin Lakes is a great destination. I don't rate it as the most interesting of hikes - it's long and the view doesn't change much - but the views are superb and the lakes make a great lunch spot. Just don't feed the … Continue reading Elfin Lakes, 18 Nov 2018
Opinion In 12 years I've hiked this trail 10 times so I must like it :-) I'm actually kinda torn - it does have great scenery, and it's not too tough, but it's far from my favourite hike. Having said that, I think there are two times in the year where it's a really enjoyable … Continue reading Elfin Lakes, 2 Oct 2016
Being. Outdoors. 