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

Urban Mushing and Steelhead Fishin"

Urban Mushers and determined Fishers were the highlights of this ride along the Vedder river dyke trails.  Our day began at the Mckay Creek Trail head, part of the Trans Canada Trail.

Trans Canada Trail marker points the way

As we were unloading our bikes and getting ready to hit the trail, we were greeted in the parking lot by Kathy, an Urban Musher.  Intrigued we delayed our start to chat with her.  We learned all about this dry land, dog-powered sport called Urban Mushing.  Her dogs were more than happy to give us a demo and before we knew it they were harnessed up and ready to pull.  Kathy and her team were busy training for the upcoming Iron Paws event.  I must confess, Iron Paws brought a smile to my face.  As we bid farewell, it struck me yet again that there are countless ways for people and pets to get outside and play!

Urban Musher and her dog team

We planned our route for the day to take us along the dyke trails on the both the north and south side of the Vedder river and Vedder canal.  This loop was scenic, flat and fascinating!

View of the Vedder Canal

We departed the parking lot and as we pedaled we could hear distant rumblings.  At first we thought there must be blasting going on in the area but soon we discovered we were nearing the Abbotsford Fish and Game Club.  Judging by the noise, it was clearly a busy day on the range!

Dark Sky Park courtesy of the Fraser Valley Astronomers Society

After cycling past McDonald park, we passed by an Astronomy Viewing Area, and joked about the "mini Stonehenge" in the background.  We later discovered that McDonald Park is officially designated a dark sky park with the hopes of offering views of the Night sky, minus light pollution, for many years to come.  The Fraser Valley Astronomers Society host educational programs and events at the park throughout the year.

Vedder South Dyke Trail marker

The trail was very well marked, easy to follow and yes - FLAT!

Heavily treed area of the trail

Although the trail was on a dyke and flat, we were pleasantly surprised by the variety.  From open farmland to tight, twisting turns through forested areas, the trail was an interesting ride....and did I mention FLAT?

Snow capped mountains and cherry blossoms mark an early spring

River view

Scenic viewpoint along the dyke trail

It was quite a busy day on both the trail and on the river.  At every turn we stumbled upon another fisher in search of Steelhead trout. 

The Steelhead seem to be facing big odds 

Log Jams - Paddlers beware!

During a quick lunch break we had the pleasure of meeting Dave.  Clearly, Dave had spent many an hour on the river.  He shared stories of his big catches and of course the one that got away.  He did manage to catch a record breaking 41 pound Steelhead earlier this year and delighted us with pictures of the catch.  He recommended Steelybeads as the bait of choice and Fishbum as the apparel of choice. I am embarrassed to say that at times we had no idea what he was talking about, but he spoke with unbridled passion and enthusiasm so we listened intently!  Maybe, it is time for us to take some of Dave's advice and explore fishing by kayak?

Hmmm.....should kayak fishing be next?

Giggle of the day:

As we made our way along the south dyke trail we stumbled upon a retired gentleman out fishing for the day.  He was the picture of happiness....deep laugh lines marked his weather beaten face.  We chatted for a while about the trail and the river and then the conversation turned to fishing.  He was out looking for Steelhead and to quote, "the fish taste like $@%# this time of year, but my wife doesn't nag me or give me jobs when I am out fishing.  And best of all if I catch something, I don't have to pay for dinner!"


Maps and Route Tips:


The trail for the most part is hard packed gravel, best suited for touring or mountain bikes.

Great ride for families, especially along the Rotary Trail in Chilliwack which features a virtual tour.  (another example of technology in the outdoors)

Be sure to check out the Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve

Parks and Trails in Chilliwack

Trans Canada Trail

Fishing the Vedder River

Kayak Chilliwack Lake, BC - A fishy story

Our day trip took us to Chilliwack Lake, a favourite for lake anglers in search of Dolly Varden, Kokanee and Rainbow trout.  The lake is located in Chilliwack Lake Provincial Park - 9,258 hectares of awesome in the upper Chilliwack River Valley! The area features old-growth forest, amazing mountain ridges, lakes, rivers and countless opportunities for those interested in exploring the outdoors.  The Chilliwack River Ecological Reserve is located within the provincial park boundaries.  This site and the old-growth forest it protects has been selected for a scientific research study on tree genetics.  The park also feature 146 front country campsites and numerous back country camping opportunities at Greendrop, Lindeman, Flora and Radium Lakes.

The majestic "Doug" stands proudly

We arrived early, attempting to get a head start on both the winds and the boat ramp chaos. The ramp at Chilliwack Lake is quite small and tricky for launching power-boats, but absolutely perfect for kayaks!  We chatted briefly with a few fishermen at the boat launch and listened intently to their tales of wow.  They had been at the lake for the entire weekend and had not yet caught a single fish.  We wished them luck for the day and then began our paddle down the lake to the estuary.

Boat launch at Chilliwack Lake Provincial Park

We stuck close to the shoreline as we circumnavigated the lake, taking in the sights and sounds of the forest.  The scenery was breathtaking and we barely spoke a word as paddled along in silence taking it all in.

View towards the estuary

Snow still visible on the upper ridges

We found a secluded sandy beach for lunch and enjoyed a picnic.

Perfect picnic pull-out

We chuckled as we passed a rope swing and diving board that Mother Nature had inspired.  Some enterprising vacationers had braved a swim in the cold lake waters.

Rope Swing - how did they hang that rope?

Diving Board

There were several folk out fishing and all shared their stories as we paddled by...the fish just weren't biting.  We soon discovered, that the fish were getting the last laugh.  As we neared the estuary, we found ourselves in the middle of huge school of fish.  Their vibrant crimson colour sparkled in the sun as they jumped.  The water was literally boiling as the fish swam all around us.  It felt like we could just put our hands in the water and pull up dinner.  We lingered in the area for a long time, mesmerized by the fish just inches below our boats.  The kayaks did not appear to bother them in the least and they almost appeared to be daring us to catch them.

Our attempt at photographing the fish jumping

What lies beneath.....

Schools of fish dare us to catch them!

We later learned that Kokanee are sockeye salmon that spend their entire lives in fresh water - land locked salmon.  It was a highlight of the day to observe the fish and I must confess we giggled a little bit thinking of all the fishermen trolling out in the middle of the lake, while the fish were all hanging out down at the estuary.  I would suggest that the fish won the day! Maybe it is important to stay in school!  (GROAN!)

Return to the boat launch

Giggle of the day:

It was another great day for nature viewing, but as we rounded the bend on our return trip we were treated to an unexpected "full-moon rising."  A couple of hikers had trekked in to the lake and found what they thought was a secluded section of sandy beach.  In the spirit of getting back to nature, they had discarded their clothing and were enjoying their time in the sun.  I am not sure who was more surprised - the naked sunbathers or Rob and I as we paddled by.....of course, we wished them a good day!


Map and Route Tips:

Chilliwack Lake is a large lake and very cold.  Be sure to start your trip early in the morning, as strong afternoon winds are the norm and can make your paddle back quite hazardous.


#kayak #nature #explorebc #discoveroutdoors

Greendrop Lake - no longer a secret!

As we advocate and encourage folk to get outdoors and explore nature, we often find ourselves feeling conflicted.  Today was such a day!  We arrived at the trail head, that was once quite difficult to find, to discover an expanded parking area - actually a fully developed parking lot and it was full.  We knew we should have been excited that so many people were out hiking and enjoying the great outdoors, but I must confess that deep down we were a little upset that "others" would be on the trail.  These feelings make no sense, yet every once and a while they rear their ugly head.  We forced ourselves to make a conscious decision to celebrate the fact that so many people were outside!  Unfortunately, we also found ourselves packing out a LOT of garbage....clearly much work needs to be done to spread the "leave no trace" message.  We will leave that for another blog post!  :)

It was a beautiful spring day and we were thrilled to be visiting Chilliwack Lake Provincial Park, a 9258 hectare park just 150km east of Vancouver.  We planned to hike the trail past Lindeman Lake to Greendrop Lake.  Both lakes feature back country camping - complete with pit toilets and tent pads.

Back Country tent pads - at Lindeman Lake

This hike is a both a great weekend getaway and a fantastic day trip....lots to keep you interested:

• Bridges

• Views of snow capped mountains

• Fascinating ridge lines

• Lakes

• Streams

• Rock gardens

Navigating across a slide area

• Wild flowers

Trillium in bloom

The trail is really well marked, but today we were forced to be a little creative as sections of the trail had been washed out by recent spring run off.  We managed to keep our feet relatively dry as we scampered and jumped from rocks to logs!

Trail marker on rock

Flagging tape marks stream crossing

Section of bridge washed out

As we were crossing one of the slide areas a young couple caught up to us.  We heard a deep voice shout out, "Mr. and Mrs. Weiss!"  This hulking, young backpacker quickly approached and gave me a huge hug.  Turns out he was a baseball player from a team Rob had coached years ago.  Of course, he was all "grown up" and had changed considerably.  On the other hand,  we have hardly aged a day!  What a great meeting - we were so excited to catch up with him and of course thrilled to meet him on the trail.  You just never know what might happen or who you might meet when you get outside!  :)

Giggle of the day:

It has been many years since we last hiked to Greendrop Lake.  In fact, the previous time we visited the area, we took our three children, who at the time were all under the age of 10.  It was a wonderful day trip to the lake, as the kids enthusiastically climbed, explored and got their feet wet and muddy!  You can imagine our laughter today, as we arrived at the first lake in 30 minutes.....an outing that years ago had taken an entire day and countless SNACK breaks.

Trail leading past Lindeman Lake to Greendrop Lake