Cross Country Ski Day at Cypress Mountain

Ahhh - the serenity of the mountains on a cold, crisp, sunny, snow day!  There is nothing quite like it.  

Rob and I recently decided to register for a Cross Country Classic ski lesson at Cypress Mountain.  What a wonderful way to explore this fantastic ski area.


Read more on Inside Vancouver

#crosscountry #ski #snow #winterlove

Do you know these trails?

Do you know these trails?
Exploring Sunnyside Acres Urban Forest, Surrey BC

The bright September sunshine poured through my office window as I tried to focus my attention on my work task list.  Bills, invoices and spreadsheets called out to me, yet I could not pass up the opportunity for an "outdoor break" to celebrate this glorious fall day.  Being short on time, I decided on a brisk walk in the neighbourhood.

True confession time - Rob and I are extremely spoiled.  We live within a hop, step and a jump of Sunnyside Acres Urban Forest, one of the City of Surrey's true gems.  This area was one of the first designated urban forests in Canada and is one of Surrey's largest parks.

Can you imagine an urban forest at your fingertips?  Sunnyside Acres Urban Forest Park is a 130 hectare natural second growth forest.  Douglas Fir, Vine Maple and Huckleberry bushes line the trails which are home to banana slugs, spotted towhees and the occasional black tailed deer.  If you look closely you can see a few stumps, remnants of the logging that took place in the early 1900's.  These stumps are now nurse stumps and support all kinds of new growth.

On this particular day, I was taking my time, strolling along Chickadee Loop when a couple approached me.  They were completely lost and attempting to make their way back to their car.  They asked me if I knew the trails.  Of course I was happy to help and confidently pointed them in the direction of the parking lot.

Did I know these trails?  The memories began to flood in.  As I continued walking, I began to reflect on how well I actually did know the trails and more importantly the joy the urban forest has brought our family.

We have been exploring Sunnyside Acres for over 23 years!  In the beginning, when our children were toddlers, our visits to the park were like expeditions.  We equipped ourselves with rain gear, sunhats, sunscreen, strollers (now called infant transportation systems) and of course SNACKS!  It would take us almost a full day to complete the 4 km loop!  We would stop to examine every slug, snail and tree stump that lay before us.

Our family, like the forest, grew and changed.  We transitioned from strollers and tricycles to running shoes and bicycles.  Our speed to complete the loop increased dramatically, yet each and every one of us still finds a sense of peace and calm when visiting the trails to stroll, walk, ride or run.

Over the years, we have participated in many community habitat restoration events in the park.  As a family we feel a sense of ownership, connectedness, pride and protectiveness for this very special place.  And so, YES - I DO know these trails and I sincerely hope many more families will come to appreciate them the way we do!

Giggle of the Day:

There is a downhill section of the trail that twists and turns as you gradually descend.  Looking at the terrain now, it does not seem like much, but 20 years ago it seemed quite steep.  At the time, our son would insist on riding his tricycle along this section of trail.  I could barely watch as he would remove his hands from the handlebars and take his feet off the peddles.  He would scream with glee as he barrelled along the trail.  I would shut my eyes, hold my breath and wait for either the sounds of a crash or the joyful sound of another successful ride.  I caught up to him after one particularly fast descent, and he looked up at me and exclaimed, "MOM - wouldn't it be great if the whole world was downhill!"


Map and Route Tips:

Thank you to the City of Surrey, the dedicated volunteers who make up the Sunnyside Acres Heritage Society and to those trailblazers in 1988 who asked the community "Do you want this area to be preserved?"

Sunnyside Acres Urban Forest Trail Map

Parking is available in a designated area - enter off 24th Ave.

And...check out this video featuring sounds from some of my favourite green spaces in Surrey.  EcoMUSICology & Surrey's Biodiversity Conservation Strategy

#truesurrey #explorebc #surreybc #family #discoveroutdoors #getoutside

I am the Weakest Link

As a fall chill begins to hit the air, and the September Labour Day long weekend approaches, I find myself reflecting on the summer.  The days have gone all too quickly, with so many trips and adventures still on the wish list!  This has been a monumental summer for us in many ways.  We have watched our “flock of baby birds” with awe, pride and sometimes a sense of terror and foreboding as they have embarked on their own adventures.

Family Kayak Trip - Sechelt 

It seems like yesterday we were packing diapers, soothers, stuffies and SNACKS into our back packs – (essential survival items for outdoor travel with toddlers).   Now, we find ourselves anxiously awaiting trip reports and news from our adult children as they cycle to Mexico, paddle the waters of BC and guide in the unpredictable waters of the Hecate Strait, off Haida Gwaii.

Bunny Boyz arrive at the border to Mexico

Adam leads a Ridge Wilderness Group in a Moving Water Canoe Course

Emma strolls the beach during a Moresby Explorers Tour

Rob and I feel such a sense of pride as we watch Ian, Adam and Emma embrace the outdoors and challenge themselves to take risks and seek adventure.  However, it has become abundantly clear that I am now the weakest link.  In all honesty, I have probably been the weakest link for quite a long time, but it was this summer that it became obvious - even to me!  I began to notice everyone asking if I was all right, if I needed help.  While I am comforted by the fact that my family cares about me, it is quite unsettling to realize that I am the one that is slowing the pace of the group, and the one that the group worries about most.

Our style of out tripping has definitely evolved from those early years.  We are no longer about the speeds and distance or the weight of the pack.  And yes, it is a little harder to roll out of that sleeping bag on a cold and rainy morning, but at the risk of sounding cliché, we are taking time to smell the roses.  So, as we begin to plan our next trip, we may shorten our mileage, walk a few hills and accept help when offered. 

San Juan Islands

Rob sets up camp

YES - I am the Weakest Link….. and I think I love my new role!  Now, could someone please help me with this heavy pack?

I am the Weakest Link

A Boy and a Girl in a little Canoe - A Weekend with Ridge Wilderness

OK - how about two "old farts" in a little canoe?

A fabulous weekend on the Chilliwack River with Ridge Wilderness

I remember EXACTLY when I fell in love with paddling.  I was in High School (seems like a hundred years ago) and our wonderful team of teachers coordinated an Outdoor Club for the student body.  One of our many adventures took us on a week-long paddling out-trip to Algonquin Park in Northern Ontario.  I was hooked!  I loved everything...the paddling, the lakes, the back-country camping, night skies, campfires with friends, the peace, quiet and the opportunity to connect to nature.  To this day I think of those very special teachers and the impact they had on my life.  I am grateful. I am also thankful that Rob shares my love of the outdoors and that we continue to bike, hike and paddle as a family.

When Rob and I moved from the prairies to the west coast we were captivated by the ocean and made the transition from canoes to sea kayaks.  I apologize to all canoe purists, as I know they will be horrified and appalled at the thought of transitioning from canoeing to kayaking.  It has been a good move for us.  However, this past weekend, we had the opportunity to return to the river and register in a Moving Water Canoe course with Ridge Wilderness, a fantastic outdoor adventure company based in B.C.  Our trip was led by our very own pride and joy - our son Adam!   It was a little surreal to be in Adam's class - as it seems like only yesterday we were bundling up the kids to take them on their first canoe trip.  Adam quickly proved himself to be an exceptional teacher and guide.  Of course, I am biased!  Moms are allowed to be!

Who would have thought the "monkey in the middle" would be guiding Canoe Courses?

Adam demonstrates

Our day began in a small parking lot adjacent to the Chilliwack River.  As our group gathered, we made introductions and learned a little bit about each other.  We were joined by two wonderful ladies from Squamish.  If you live in BC, you know that "Squamish Girls" don't mess around.  They are usually hard core, fit, athletic outdoor enthusiasts.  Well, Josie and Sasha were poster girls for the "Squamish Girl" stereotype.  Josie was taking the course to improve her moving water paddling skills as she was about to embark on a three week trip in the Yukon, and Sasha was there to learn about moving water because she is heading to the Grand Canyon in October.  Rob and I were there because we thought it might be fun!

Thumbs Up...let the day begin!

Feeling a little intimidated by the sheer, raw athletic ability of the group, Rob and I looked at each other, shrugged, picked up our canoe and began the portage to the put in spot.  It seemed the only prudent thing to do.  Before we knew it we were on the water and the day had begun.  Adam led a wonderful introduction to the skills we would need on the river.  We learned to draw, pry, sweep and J....he teased us a little about our "Ontario Lake J" strokes.  Old habits die hard!  We laughed at our different learning styles.  I was content to simply hold my paddle and lean as per Adam's instructions but Rob's analytic mind needed to think about fluid dynamics, paddle angles, the whys and the hows.  Thankfully, Adam skillfully taught the strokes in ways we could both understand.

The second day of the course took us higher up the river looking for bigger water to practice on.  What a wonderful day!  We played in the eddies, working on our turns and our forward and backward ferries.  We learned a lot about reading the river and the many hazards that might await.

Adam teaching us to the read the river

 Sasha and Josie mastered the skills quickly and quite effortlessly.  Rob and I were not quite as skilled, although we did surpass the group in one area.  We mastered the eddy out - get out - and bail out.  We seemed to have perfected the ability to take on a lot of water - even in a river with relatively low water levels!

Josie and Sasha show us how.

We got this!

Adam worked extremely hard at finding something positive to say about our paddling skills.  He was very impressed at our willingness to lean as we attempted our eddie turns.  He teased the Squamish girls that we were leaning more than they were.  Although I would like to accept the compliment, I would suggest that we had at least a hundred pounds on those girls, and it was simply a question of MASS!

On day two, we were on a faster section of the river and Adam was demonstrating a jet ferry.  With one smooth stroke he angled his canoe and effortlessly moved or "jetted" across the water.  He was actually able to hold his paddle out of the water and spin it in the air.  I noticed that his dry bag was open and the straps were actually dragging in the water.  I was reminded of a power skating instructor from yesteryear.  This kid was so good that he could teach an entire power skating class without even tying up his skates!  I suppose Adam wasn't even worried about his gear, because he knew he would not tip.  Of course, seeing the dry bag open and straps in the water bugged me and I had to point it out.  He gave me a huge smile and said, "I knew that would get you Mom!"

...just like this!

The day went all too quickly as we worked on our skills and enjoyed a picnic lunch on the river.  As we ate lunch, I silently wondered if Adam and the other great guides at Ridge Wilderness knew that they might be the ones to turn a young kid on to paddling and the outdoors, as my high school teachers had done many years ago.  I hope they understand and value the potential impact they may have on a youngster....who knows, one day they may be taking a class from one of their former students.


Giggle of the day:

On one of our many eddie turns, we managed to completely fill our canoe with water.  We are not sure exactly where we went wrong, but our boat was full, absolutely, positively FULL.  Thankfully, we had a float bag in the canoe enabling us to stay upright (although it was not pretty).  The canoe was incredibly unstable.  With each tentative paddle stroke the water in the boat would move and our centre of gravity would shift dramatically.  We were sure that a swim was in our future.  To the disbelief of our group we managed to ferry back across the river without dumping! We arrived at shore just in time to get out and empty the water out of our canoe.  I think we left our guide speechless...... all Adam could say was, "What are you guys doing?"  I wish we knew!

Why is there so much water in the canoe?

Map and Route tips:

Ridge Wilderness offers a wide variety of lessons, courses, and first aid instruction.  They provide programs for groups from 1 person - 250 people and from 1 hour to 6 days.  Whether you are interested in a tandem canoe or a trip in a historic Voyageur Canoe - these guys can make it happen!

Thanks Ridge Wilderness....Bowron Lakes next?


#canoe #paddle #discoveroutdoors #pnw #explorebc #chilliwack #fraservalley #paddlecanada

Sea to Sky Adventures in Squamish, BC

I have to be honest.  When I first heard of the proposal to build the Sea to Sky Gondola in Squamish, I was a doubter and really not thrilled with the thought of paving paradise to put in a parking lot.  Sometimes in life you have to earn the view, and to me hiking is one of those activities that rewards hard work and perseverance.  I also believe strongly in no impact camping and preserving nature for future generations.

Sea to Sky Gondola Parking Area - Squamish, BC

However, I was convinced to try the Sea to Sky gondola to see for myself.  Opened in 2014, the Gondola transports visitors from the parking lot adjacent to the Sea to Sky highway to the lodge at 885 meters.

Base Facilities - Sea to Sky Gondola - Squamish BC

We purchased our tickets, hopped in line and joined a young family in the Gondola car.  We were quickly whisked up the mountain.  The views from the Gondola were absolutely spectacular!  Unfortunately, we missed most of them, as we were completely taken with the young 'uns who shared our Gondola.  The kids were ages 2 and 4, and mom was pregnant with her 3rd baby.  They were dressed in muddy buddies, boots and toques and their excitement was contagious!  Hurrah for a young family connecting their kids to nature!  The little man, excitedly exclaimed GABOLA every time we passed another Gondola car.....it's the small things in life isn't it?

Summit Lodge - Sea to Sky Gondola - Squamish, BC

We soon arrived at the top, bid farewell to our newest "favourite" family and stopped in at the lodge.  Magnificent!  The Summit Lodge featured a restaurant, bar, tea house, gift shop and a sheltered place to take in the panoramic views of the surrounding mountains.  After reviewing the trail maps, we began our hike by crossing the Sky Pilot Suspension Bridge.  This bridge is 100 metres long and a definite crowd favourite. Having said that, we were surprised at how many people were truly fearful of crossing the suspension bridge.  It seemed a shame for them to miss out on the trails that beckoned from the other side.

Sky Pilot Suspension Bridge - Sea to Sky Gondola - Squamish, BC

Sky Pilot Suspension Bridge - Sea to Sky Gondola - Squamish, BC

The area is extremely well maintained.  In fact, we both commented that if felt a bit like visiting Tom Sawyer Island in Disneyland.  The trails and viewing platforms are well planned, well marked and feature signage highlighting the natural features along the way.

View of Sky Pilot - Squamish, BC

We enjoyed the views, and then decided to follow the trail leading out to the back country access.  We chose the Skyline Pilot trail hoping to take in views of Pilot and Copilot along the way.  It was an easy hike, with relatively little elevation gain and before we knew it, we were feasting on a picnic lunch at the end of the marked trail.  We joked that although the sign said end of the trail, we felt like it was only the beginning.  Despite the lodge and gondola being very busy, we did not encounter a single soul on the back country access trail.  I must confess...that is how we like it.

End of the line...Sky Pilot Valley Trail

We made our way back to the Lodge and decided to pop in for a coffee.  The lodge is a fantastic place to people watch.  It is a strange mixture of seasoned hikers (the ones covered in mud who refused to take the gondola up, and instead climbed and grunted their way to the top), tourists from all over the world and some of the best dressed hikers I have ever seen.  I could barely believe my eyes as a group of ladies in high heels made their way to the bar, purchased a couple of bottles of wine and settled in on the outdoor deck beside the roaring fire.  In truth, I still can't quite believe there was a bar up there!  Time passed quickly as we enjoyed the views...both those of nature and the people!

I left with mixed emotions.  We had definitely passed many people who physically would not have been able to visit this area had they been required to hike up on their own.  The demands of the hike would have been too much.  The Gondola has opened up an area of the mountain that many would not have the opportunity to visit.  Sea to Sky adventures appears to be attempting to blend education into the mountain experience and have created a wonderful opportunity for many to learn more about the mountain vegetation, wildlife and natural history.  Additionally, easy access to the back country provides hikers opportunities for expanded hiking options in the area.  Admittedly, we enjoyed a great day of hiking and yet there still is a part of me worried that we paved paradise to put in a parking lot.

Selfie Props - Sea to Sky Gondola - Squamish, BC

Giggle of the day:

We had the pleasure of riding the Gondola down the mountain with a couple of Aussies (it seems every fun story also begins with a couple of Aussies ) and a couple of gentlemen from Israel.  One of the Israelis was valiantly trying to share a story with us in English when his cell phone rang.  His ring tone was the theme song from the old western "The Good, The Bad and the Ugly".  We all broke out into laughter and then Rob asked the question we were all thinking....which one are you?  Without missing a beat, he replied, in perfect English...I am good.  It left us pondering which gondola the bad and ugly might be on.


Map and route tips

Fees

Gondola download is available for those hardy souls who hike up and want to relax on the way down.  There is a charge to download.

Trail maps available at the kiosk.

Interactive Map

#explorebc #SeaToSky #Squamish #yvr #vancouver #discoveroutdoors

The Stawamus Chief - Mother Nature's Stair Climber

The Stawamus Chief is an iconic landmark.  It dominates the Squamish skyline and attracts tourists, hikers and climbers from all around the world.  This magnificent granite wall beckons you to approach and climb her.

View from 2nd Peak - taken on a sunnier day!

The Chief can be very busy as people flock to the area to test their fitness levels and take in the magnificent views from the three peaks.  On a clear day, the summit offers panoramic views of Howe Sound, the Squamish town site and the adjacent mountains. We prefer to hike the Chief in low season to avoid the crowds, as during the summer you can sometimes feel that you are experiencing trail gridlock.

Today was a perfect day to hike.  The weather was overcast and showers were in the forecast.  We knew that the views up top would be limited because of low cloud, but we felt the trade-off was worth it - very few folk on the trail.

Falls are picture perfect!

The trail begins climbing almost as soon as you leave the trail head.  As your heart rate starts to rise, you begin to realize that this will not be a casual stroll in the park.  The sound of the waterfall roars beside you and encourages you to keep going.  Today I hoped that the roar of the falls would cover the sounds of my huffing and puffing.

Series of stairs at beginning of hike

BC Parks does a fantastic job maintaining the park and trail.  The route to the peaks is well marked, with stairs and bridges strategically placed to aid hikers on their trek up.  It should be noted that the area is nesting habitat for Peregrine Falcons and often between April and June designated climbing routes will be closed to protect the nesting birds.

Chains assist climb on way to 2nd peak

Today we chose to go past the turn for the 1st peak and head straight to the second peak for lunch.  That is when the excitement began.  It was raining quite heavily by the time we reached the trail to second peak.  The rock was wet and slippery.  As we crawled and clawed our way up the rock, clinging to the fixed chains we began to wonder if we should have waited for a drier day.  The rock was really slippery.  By the time we reached the fixed ladder we were debating the wisdom of continuing on.  Truthfully, I was more worried about going back than pushing on.  We rested for a few minutes, caught our breath and then continued the climb.  We were not the most graceful looking pair as we clung to the rock.  Thankfully, we soon reached the top of the second peak.  The clouds briefly lifted and we took the opportunity to take in the view and shoot a few pictures.

Waiting for clouds to break for view of Howe Sound

Feeling rested and thankful to have finished the ladder section, we began looking for the trail to the third peak.  As we roamed about, three young guys approached.  They were also in search of the route to the third peak and they were feeling exactly as we were....it was too slippery to go back the way we had come.  There must be another way down!  We began to search for the trail together.

Granite everywhere!

We managed to find the trail markers leading to the third peak and enjoyed a breathtaking view while munching on our lunch.

Fragile beauty on 3rd peak

Not wanting to revisit the ladder and chains we made the decision to return via the Slhanay trail.  Although not as popular or as well marked, the Slhanay trail is amazing.  Within minutes you feel as though you are back in prehistoric times.  The trees are huge, the smells are fresh and the vegetation is lush.  It is like a land before time.

Return trip on Slhanay Trail

After descending for quite a distance, the Slhanay trail eventually joins back to the Chief trail.  As we drew near to the series of stairs we encountered a school group.  Thirty middle school students and two courageous teachers were on a geography field trip.  We chuckled to ourselves as some things just don't seem to change and we were reminded of our glory days chaperoning school trips.  There was a core group of kids at the front, literally racing up the mountain, a group in the middle more interested in chatting than looking at rocks or trails and the few stragglers who really didn't want to be anywhere near the mountain.  We congratulated their teachers on their ambition and dedication and wished them luck.

Giggle of the day:

The weather broke for a few minutes, so we decided to lay out our foamie and enjoy lunch from the second peak.  As we were peering out from the ledge and admiring the view, I began to think of the recent slide.  Thankfully, there were no injuries or damage to property.  However, a big hunk of that magnificent granite wall had simply fallen off.  I am sure there are numerous geotechnical terms for the actual event, but at that moment all I could think of was a slab of mountain falling off.  I inched a little further back from the edge, and sweetly asked Rob if it made him feel a little uneasy sitting on the edge of a mountain that a few days ago had "fallen off".  Rob said and I quote, "I was feeling pretty good about our lunch spot, but thanks for sharing your thoughts."  FYI - a few minutes later, I noticed he inched a little further back.


Map and Route tips:

There is a campsite at the base of the Chief, complete with slack lines.  Vehicle and walk-in sites are available.

Stawamus Chief Provincial Park and Protected Area

Trail Map

Be sure to visit Shannon Falls if you are in the area!

Paddle Forward - Voyageur Canoes & Reckies Storm the Beach

We were invited to join Paddle Forward - a beach cleanup event in North Vancouver hosted by the "Reckies" - Outdoor Recreation students from Capilano University.  How could we resist a day on the water paddling a voyageur canoe in search of marine debris?  It seemed like a perfect outing for us!

Our day began at Cates Park in North Vancouver.  This beautiful seaside park offers 6 km of waterfront trails with spectacular views of Indian Arm to the north and the Burrard Inlet to the south.

Welcome sign to Cates Park

Swimming Area with view north to Indian Arm

The boat launch is open year round and well used by paddlers, power-boaters and anglers.  We were excited at the opportunity to paddle a Voyageur.  We learned that the larger canoe we were going to use for the day was called a Montreal canoe.  The canoes were graciously donated for use during the event by Ridge Wilderness.

These boats are beasts!  They can hold up to 22 people and all of their gear - a bit roomier than our sea-kayaks.  Although our boat quickly filled with garbage, we tried to remind ourselves of the earlier days when the fur traders would load their canoes with furs and goods to trade.  It is unimaginable to think of portaging these monsters!

Getting ready to launch the canoes

It was nerve racking to watch the team reverse the trailer with those huge canoes down the boat ramp.  I know for sure that I would not want to drive the truck and trailer.  However, our team, led by guides from Ridge Wilderness handled it like pros and made it look easy.  A very smooth start to our day.

Micro-biologist looks downward as the Marine biologist looks out

Safety talk and trip prep

After a brief safety talk, we donned our life jackets and loaded up the canoe.  Again, we were amazed at the size of these boats and I wondered if we had a strong enough team to paddle across the inlet.  Within a few strokes it became apparent that the boats were surprisingly maneuverable - credit to our guides of course.  We quickly crossed the inlet and were out and on the beach in search of garbage before we knew it.

All aboard

When does marine debris become habitat?

Event organizers take a bow

Garbage barge

I am saddened to say that it only take a short amount of time before we had filled the canoe with garbage.  The team was forced to decide whether to continue with garbage collection, meaning several of us would have to swim back, OR, call it a day and paddle back.  For a moment I was nervous that this dedicated and energetic group of students weren't joking and would ask us to swim.

Although we were very upset by the amount of garbage, on the bright side, it was inspiring to see that a few people, a big canoe and a little bit of time can make such a substantial difference.  As Dr. Seuss pointed out in the Lorax, "UNLESS someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better, It's not."

  As we celebrated during the post cleanup BBQ, we felt inspired by these "Reckies" and that they did care a lot.  We felt confident that these students would continue to advocate for the care of these waters and the amazing BC coastline.

Celebration Picnic

To the dump

Giggle of the day:

It would be impossible to load up a canoe with University students on a long weekend and not giggle.  There were countless bad garbage jokes and lots of teasing, however, my favourite was our early morning paddling lesson.  We all sat patiently in the canoe as we were taught a forward stroke, a back stroke and how to rest.  I giggled as the "resting" stroke quickly became our favourite and the one that the group mastered the quickest!

How do you do the rest stroke again?

...and here is a video of the action from the uneqivocal Cap OREC team....enjoy!

Map and Route Tips:

There is a boat launch and parking fee.

Cates Park offers a picnic shelter, concession area and washrooms.

We tested our Strava mapping tool while paddling the inlet....it appears that we must have entered the Bermuda triangle for the first section of the paddle.