Explore America: Snowshoeing at Mt. Baker.

Mt. Baker has to be my favourite mountain in the Pacific Northwest that I have visited. It is amazing in any season because it is so vast that it never seems to be too crowded.

This past Sunday we woke up early and headed to Baker. We arrived there around 11am and surprisingly, the mountain wasn’t too busy. I am one of those people that wants to get up at the crack of dawn and do things so as we were driving up I was worried it would be busy! We decided to snowshoe up to Huntoon Point which has beautiful views, but we have only seen them in the summer!

All that white.

It was a clear day when we started snowshoeing, but a storm quickly blew in so for the entire trip up the mountain we could only see about 5 feet in front of us. This didn’t stop us from pressing on though! When we got up to Huntoon Point, the clouds started to clear but unfortunately we didn’t get to see those amazing mountain views we were expecting – that’s okay though because it just means we will have to go back!

Huntoon Point.

Making friends with the locals.

This guy landed on Kate’s head but I sadly only got a good shot of him preparing to land.

As we started to come down the mountain, there were a lot of snowshoers making their way up the mountain. If you are going to do this trail, I would suggest going before noon to beat the traffic. Also, it’s important to check for avalanche risk because this is a backcountry trail and it isn’t monitored by the staff at Mt. Baker.

Down the mountain.

Another successful day of snowshoeing:) What outdoor activities do you like to do in the winter?

 

Explore BC: Snowshoeing at Hemlock

On New Years Day I went snowshoeing at Hemlock Resort with my cousin and some friends. This was my first time snowshoeing and my first time at Hemlock. The day was absolutely beautiful, sun shining and some fresh snow on the mountain.

Road to Hemlock Resort.

We rented snowshoes and hit the trails. We chose to do a short 4km trail with minimal elevation gain. One thing I really appreciated about being at Hemlock was that it didn’t have the crowds that the mountains surrounding Vancouver has. However there isn’t the option to snowshoe or cross country ski along free trails which was kind of a bummer.

Emily, Kate and Taryn – my snowshoeing buddies.

About half way through the trail we stopped for a mandatory hot toddy break which we do on all snow days!

Snowshoes and Hot Toddy’s!

It was definitely a great way to spend the first day of a new year! How did you spend the first day of 2016?

Best of 2015!

I have recently realized that I have been failing in the blogging department. The past month has been a bit of a blur! Things have been incredibly busy at work and of course Christmas is a hectic time of year! I do have many things to blog about including a few snowshoeing adventures which I will definitely do soon, but I wanted to highlight some of my best of 2015 according to Instagram.

1. Nahatlatch Provincial Park: Something I absolutely love to do on weekends is hop in the car and drive as far away from people as possible into the nature. One weekend in February, my partner and I hopped into the car and headed to Nahatlatch. This trip was not short by any means but it was absolutely worth it. We walked probably about 10km’s that day exploring the beautiful foggy mountains! It was a day to remember for sure.
2. Moraine Lake: Normally Moraine Lake is overwhelmed with tourists, but on a special rainy day in August, it was virtually empty. So I made a pitstop there on a drive to Calgary to visit my family. It was so worth stopping there too! The misty mountains were incredible and I had a lot of fun stretching my legs in such a beautiful part of Canada.
3. Icefields Parkway: This photo was taken on one of two adventures through the Alberta Rockies this year. My first trip there was for my birthday over the Easter weekend. It was awesome to experience the mountains covered with snow and have virtually no traffic on the roads. This road trip is one I will remember forever! I can’t wait to go back again this summer.
4. Buntzen Lake: Buntzen Lake is probably one of the most photographed areas outside of Vancouver! I understand this because the mountains and the little boat cabin are just too much! I love going to Bunzten because of the numerous hiking trails in the area.
5. Mystery Lake: Mount Seymour has some pretty great hikes. Mystery Lake is one of the easiest trails but it does not disappoint. I hike up there in the summer so I can take a dip in the lake and I hike it in the winter to play in the mounds of snow! Great little gem just outside of Vancouver!
6. Lillooet: In May, my partner and I took a trip to Lillooet, a tiny little mountain town that I lived in when I was young. It was a weekend filled with hiking, sturgeon fishing and catching up with old friends. I am sad we only made it to Lillooet once last year but I am sure we will be back again when to roads are a little less snowy! Oh, and the slogan for Lillooet is “Guaranteed Rugged” which I would say sums up this beautiful little place.
7. Alexandra Bridge: Visiting Alexandra Bridge was another one of those ‘jump in the car and get the hell out of the city’ adventures! During certain parts of the year, you will find people panning for gold along the Fraser River here. There is also a hiking trail if you are feeling adventurous that takes you along where the old highway used to be. Along the way you will find a number of abandoned cars. The views of the river and the mountains are pretty spectacular here.
8. Guimaraes, Portugal: Okay, so this actually didn’t happen this past year, but on the day I posted it, I was missing my travelling days. I love that I get to explore my beautiful country, but I can’t help but miss experiencing new places and countries. I can’t wait for the day that I get to live in Europe and be able to experience culture in a way that is not found in Canada.
9. Athabasca Falls: This is another shot from my trip through the Icefields Parkway. If you happen to take that drive, this is definitely a place to stop. It is beautiful in the summer, but it is packed with people! If you are able to go there in the colder months you will virtually have the place to yourself!

And there we have it, the best of 2015! While it wasn’t my favourite year, it did have some extremely awesome times and I am thankful for the experiences I had! Thanks for following along with me on this journey.

What are your favourite moments from 2015?

Explore Canada: Sunshine Coast, BC.

One of my best friends recently made the move from Vancouver to the Sunshine Coast, which means I have an excuse to get out of Vancouver and enjoy the quiet Coast every now and then. Last weekend my friend Tim and I made our way to Gibsons a day of outdoor adventures.

Morning ferry to the Sunshine Coast.

We hopped on an early ferry to the Coast on Saturday morning. It was a beautiful, crisp morning so we tried to enjoy the view from outside until our hands were frozen from taking so many pictures. Once we made it to the Coast, we made a pitstop at my friend Nick’s place and headed to the Gumboot Restaurant in Roberts Creek for an incredible lunch.

Our plan for the day was to head to Skookumchuck Narrows for a day hike, but it was absolutely FREEZING out so our day hike turned into a quick 20 minute walk along a creek! Because we wanted to enjoy the nature on the Coast, we made a number of pitstops on the way back to my friends place.

Coastal roads.

Tim and Nick at Smugglers Cove.

Dusk at Smugglers Cove.

We hit Davis Bay just in time to catch a beautiful west coast sunset. The light was incredible and it was such a peaceful place to watch the sun set. One of the great things about the Sunshine Coast is that it is not a big tourist destination so you are able to enjoy the outdoors without a lot of people around!

Capturing the sunset.

Normally I am the one snapping photos, but I decided to get in front of the lens because the lighting was too good!

On Sunday, we woke up early so we could enjoy breakfast at the Waterfront Restaurant and have a walk along Roberts Creek before we had to hop on the ferry back to Vancouver. It was an awesome weekend and I am already looking forward to my next trip to the Coast in January.

Roberts Creek.

Have you traveled to the Sunshine Coat before? What outdoor activities did you do while you were there? I’m always looking for suggestions of new places to explore!

Explore Canada: Hometown Tourist.

I spend a lot of my days dreaming about travelling around the world, exploring tiny towns and old cities and hiking to mountain peaks. It’s easy to forget that I live in a beautiful city that other people dream about visiting. Lately I have been trying to feel what tourists experience when they come to Vancouver for the first time.

My favourite part of the city, aside from the awesome neighbourhood I live in, is the Stanley Park Seawall. It is incredible to me that you can be so close to the city yet feel like you are so far away from it. The crisp ocean air and the changing views as you travel the 10km of the Seawall are some of the best things about it for me.

A shot from this morning’s walk around the Vancouver Seawall.

Have you visited Vancouver or the surrounding areas? What activities did you do during your stay?

American Adventures: Ptarmigan Ridge, Mt. Baker.

One of my favourite places to go when I want to remove myself from the busyness of city is Mt. Baker National Park. I love the beauty of the nature there and I also love that it is not too long of a drive from Vancouver (although sometimes boarder waits can be a little excessive)!

It was a beautiful, warm and sunny autumn day yesterday so we decided to make the trek to Mt. Baker for a little hike. What started as a short adventure into nature, quickly became a long, epic day when we decided to explore the Ptarmigan Ridge trail toward Mt. Baker.

Beginning of Ptarmigan Ridge trail toward Mt. Baker.

The Ptarmigan Ridge trail starts out on the Chain Lakes trail and veers off to it’s own trail about a mile in. The elevation gain on the trail is minimal but it is a fairly long trail and at times can be hard to follow.

Getting closer to Baker.

After hiking about 4 miles, the trail becomes more steep and narrow, but this is how you know you are close to the end of the trail! We chose to continue on from what the map said was the end of the trail. There is a path that you can follow that adds at least 1.5 miles each way to the hike, but is incredible as it takes to Mt. Baker than you could imagine!

Path to Mt. Baker.

Up close and personal with beautiful Mt. Baker.

We started hiking at 10:30 am and got back to the car around 5:30 pm. We could have done the hiker in less time but then we wouldn’t have been able to enjoy the stunning views. The hike was absolutely worth the massive blisters I have on my feet today!

Mountains for days.

What did you do on the weekend?

Explore Canada: Kananaskis Country.

Almost every time I visit my family in Calgary, we take a trip into Kananaskis for the day. It is extremely close to Calgary so it is easily accessible and the views do not disappoint. We decided to spend a few days driving through Kananaskis during my trip there in August.

Alpine meadows in Kananaskis.

The drive through Peter Loughheed Provincial Park and the Smith-Dorien Highway takes about three hours to complete, but if you are like my family, it can take an entire day to get through if you stop to do mini-hikes, take pictures and make friends with the wildlife you meet along the way!

Coffee with a view.

A must see while travelling through Kananaskis is Mount Engadine Lodge. The beautiful lodge is perfectly located about half way through the drive. It is a great place to stop for a coffee, tea or snack and to stretch your legs (although there are too many places to list for that)! My parents and I spent at least an hour there taking in the views, moose watching and enjoying a fabulous charcuterie board.

Cutest parents enjoying Mount Engadine Lodge

Views from Mount Engadine Lodge.

We finished our day with dinner and drinks at the Iron Goat Pub in Canmore. This place has incredible food, a great selection of wine and beer and has the best views of the Rockies.

Spray Lakes.

What are your favourite places to stop in the Kananaskis region of Alberta?

Explore Canada: Mount Galiano.

In June, my partner and I spent a weekend at a beachfront cabin on Galiano Island. The Gulf Islands are awesome, because they are all fairly close to Vancouver but far enough away that you are able to completely forget about city life while you are there.

We spent the weekend hiking to hidden beaches, visiting the local Farmers Market, eating ice cream, drinking wine by the ocean, hanging out with the local sea lion population (okay maybe not with, but near) and hiking up to Mount Galiano. My favourite part of the weekend was our time spent on Mount Galiano.

Mount Galiano view.

The hike to the top takes about an hour and once you are there, you are rewarded with a beautiful view of Active Pass. We sat up there for hours, eating strawberries, listening to the birds and enjoyed the view! Next time I am there, I definitely want to make it a camping trip so we can sleep under the stars and wake up to enjoy the view at sunrise!

Have you ever visited any of the Gulf Islands? And if so, which one is your favourite?

Explore Canada: Joffre Lakes, BC.

When I was 12 years old, my class did a hike up to Joffre Lakes, which is located just east of Pemberton, BC . I remember how hot the sun was and how good it felt to jump into one of the crisp glacier fed lakes to cool off. Ever since that day, I have had a huge love for this place.

Last summer, two friends and I made the trek up the mountain with our massive backpacks to do a backcountry camping trip there. The hike was great, although the trail was much busier than I remember it being in years past. When we arrived at our camping destination, there weren’t many spots left! I put my tent up on a bed of rocks, but I didn’t mind because of the beautiful mountain view and the sound of water rushing from the waterfall!

Campsite at Joffre Lakes.

Joffre Lakes sunrise.

We spent the evening taking in the views, playing cards and eating cheesy beans. I hope to make it back for another weekend camp at Joffre this summer, but I will be sure to arrive earlier in the day to secure a good spot to pitch my tent.

What are your favourite hikes to do in British Columbia?

American Adventures: Mt. Baker, Washington.

When I am not exploring other countries, I love to explore the mountains around Vancouver. Yesterday my partner and I took a trip to Mount Baker and hiked the Table Mountain Trail. The trail was fairly easy and we were rewarded with views like this! I love the feeling of being on top of a mountain – it’s so freeing and makes me realize how tiny we are as humans and big and strong nature really is. We arrived at the mountain a little after 10am and there wasn’t much foot traffic up the hill at that time, but as the day rolled on, more tourists found their way to the mountain peak. I love arriving early to hike so I can feel like I have the whole mountain to myself. It was such a beautiful day that I have already made plans to go back next weekend with friends.

Do you have a favourite trail to hike in the Pacific Northwest? If you do, I’d love to hear about it!