Opinion: I quite like this trail for a quick but not too tough workout, the main downside being the cost of entry. Some superb views and great terrain to explore. Extending it with the Neverland Loop is fun, though I recommend following the suggested (counter-clockwise) route to avoid a tricky descent. Watch for those trail … Continue reading Al’s Habrich Ridge Trail, 12 Sep 2021
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 An old favourite, and even after hiking it for the past decade and more, the views from the Chief are still worth every steep step, plus the hiking over the granite is simply a delight. A weekday in November might be one of the best times to hike it too. But the trail is … Continue reading Stawamus Chief, 16 Nov 2018
Opinion I think I may have just found the best view in the Lower Mainland. I'm not kidding. But you've got to earn it with an exceptionally steep climb through forest and meadows, followed by that same steep descent that could get very tricky when wet. Definitely not a trail for beginners. Allow plenty of … Continue reading Al’s Habrich Ridge Trail, 20 Oct 2018
Opinion There's no doubt this is a beautiful destination worthy of its social media fame. And yet I find myself wondering just how good a hike it really is. Perhaps the Instagram hype got the better of me? The lake is smaller than you might think. Getting there is a bit of a slog, albeit … Continue reading Watersprite Lake, 6-7 Oct 2018
Opinion This seems to be the year of the "I enjoyed this than I expected to" hike. It's been 8 years since we last visited Petgill Lake and we set off today with an expectation of a mediocre hike purely for exercise. Instead we had an exceptionally peaceful experience and thoroughly enjoyed our time in … Continue reading Petgill Lake, 24 Jun 2018
Opinion I had a dim view of this trail the first time I hiked it back 2006, largely because we were on our way up to the second viewpoint on Sigurd Creek which was a long slog in the trees. But as a trail to visit Crooked Falls it's actually really quite enjoyable, despite its … Continue reading Crooked Falls, 20 May 2018
Tips for avoiding crowds at the Chief: 1) go late in the day, 2) do the route in reverse. Sure, it was still busy but by the time we descended off second peak, we only encountered one small group along the narrow chains-and-ladder section. Some of the polished granite required a bit more care than … Continue reading The Chief, 20 May 2017
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
Though I went up the Chief with Ewan back in November last year, Maria hadn't been there for a few years, so we opted to make use of a warm sunny day to return. Unfortunately (but unsurprisingly) many other people had exactly the same idea... We parked up at Shannon Falls and were greeted by … Continue reading The Chief, 9 May 2009
