Hikes Near Vancouver

This photo is not recent. In fact, I haven't even been hiking up in the snow since winter apparently arrived on our mountaintops recently (can you believe it? I can't!! - but I digress... ) Point is, I KNOW it's snowy up there. I see pics posted by others so I know that if a certain elevation in a certain area is snowy, likelihood is that other places nearby at similar elevation will also be snowy, especially given the cold temps we're experiencing even way down here at se...a level. So, why am I telling you this? Because I URGE you, especially those new to hiking, to BE PREPARED. Winter conditions are so unforgiving. It gets dark way earlier than most think, it gets way colder than most are prepared for, it takes way more specific gear to hike safely in snow, and it gets way more difficult to survive a night outside if you're not prepared. Do your research and know what you're getting yourself into! Don't be a statistic. Snowy mountains are stunning. Don't stop hiking. But put in more effort to be safe (and encourage others to do the same). ALWAYS leave a trip plan, no matter how experienced you are, or how "easy" or short or familiar with the trail you are. Tell someone exactly where and when you're going and when to expect you to check back in and preplan to have them call the police non emergency line if you haven't checked in as the sooner you're found, the better your chances. Pack for winter. Bring microspikes and poles and gaitors, on top of dressing warm and having EXTRA layers. In winter I always make sure to have hot shots in my first aid kit, as well as lots of fire starting stuff (I have little fire starter bricks, cotton pads doused in petroleum jelly, a lighter and waterproof matches). I bring my jetboil for long days. I make sure my headlamp is full charge and I bring an external battery pack w cord to recharge (electronics fail often in the cold- do NOT rely on a cell phone light). This is all in addition to the essentials you should always have (emerg blanket/bivvy, muktitool, compass, etc etc etc). There's lots you need to know. Search around. There's tons of resources out there to help you. Got a question? Pop it into the comments

Effective Monday, Oct. 26, the backcountry in Lynn Headwaters Regional Park is CLOSED. This applies to routes beyond Norvan Falls including Hanes Valley, Colis...eum Mountain and Lynn Lake as well as routes in the Grouse subalpine (e.g. Crown Mountain, Goat Mountain, Little Goat Mountain and Goat Ridge). For your safety, that of park staff and first responders, please respect the closure. See more

This is the current webcam shot on Mt. Seymour. Conditions have now changed to winter - so that means snow, and below freezing temperatures. People recreating s...hould be prepared with appropriate warm clothing, navigation tools (map, compass, GPS App), micro-spikes and/or snowshoes (for deeper snow at higher elevations), and poles. Proper clothing means - warm winter hiking boots, gaters, poly-pro layers, puffy jacket, shell jacket, toque, and gloves. Plus a change of base layer that you can change into to replace the sweaty base layer you hike in. During the fall you can get sun, sleet, snow, and icing all in the same day. As the snow falls over the next few weeks, the risk of avalanches increases. If you recreate in the mountains in the winter - you need to take an avalanche course - and carry the appropriate equipment (beacon, probe, shovel). Always check the forecast, plan your route, leave a trip plan, and bring appropriate equipment for the conditions and route. Prepare for what could happen, not what you think will happen. - JB Alpine Forecast for Seymour - https://www.snow-forecast.com/resorts/Mount-Seymour/6day/mid

I keep missing #leavenotracetuesday, so here's a Leave No Trace Thursday post for ya. Learn all things #lnt at @leavenotracecenter I've been seeing lots of post complaining about the state of trails. Erosion. Trail Braiding. Litter. Overuse. The list goes on. Way more blame going around than taking responsibility.... Yes, it's awful. It shouldn't be how it is. We should all do our part. But life isn't fair. Things aren't perfect. All we can control is ourselves. And all we can expect is what is, and work from there. So, if something truly bothers you, take action to fix it. VOTE for representatives that stand up for issues you care about. Last chance for next election is this Saturday! SPEAK UP to people who can actually make a difference (ie politicians) and demand change (complaining to the ether on social media to your friends doesn't do much but perpetuate negativity. Lead by example instead.) DONATE to groups like @bcparksfdn and @tlc4bc and @northwestwildlife who promote, preserve, protect and educate. VOLUNTEER to help trail maintenance groups! Lots of opportunities in every area. Look up mountain club local chapters like @bcmountaineeringclub and @accvancouver HELP OTHERS by picking up other people's trash you see on trails. Have [polite!] conversations with people who don't seem to know better. Think about your true intentions and expectations. Being rude, condescending or aggressive will get you nowhere. If you truly want to make a difference, think about the most effective way to achieve your goal and do that. Step in the other person's shoes. What would make you change your ways?

It's been a while since I've been a dork and gushed about how in love I am, so, #sorrynotsorry (that's what the cool kids say, right?) Here are some favourite moments shared with my hunky adventure partner over the last year. 1. Slhaney sunset hike ... 2. Paddleboarding Harrison Lake 3. Campfire for our shared birthday week 4. Spring hike up Strachan 5. Birthday hike in our birthday suits to Landslide Lake 6. First overnight ski tour in Tetrahedron 7. Watersprite Lake hike 8. Upper Hanging Lake hike 9. Lighthouse Park 10. Offroading to Grizzly Falls Stellar photos by our amazing friends @mywhiskeygirl @creeks.and.peaks @edgarbullon @globound @adamjborek Thanks guys

Is it just me or is all the cold weather making you also think of new years resolutions? Maybe it's just my excuse but I feel like because of covid, this year has seemed like a bit of a blur and I feel like I've done so little. Lots of down time which has been really nice but I don't quite feel like myself. Usually by this time of year I'm looking back on all the goals I set, all the things I wanted to achieve and looking at what I want to do next. This year has been about a ...lot of introspection and mental/emotional development, more than physical goals, but as I'm learning those are a lifelong practice, I want to add again some more measurable physical goals for next year. I've decided I want to set my sights on climbing for 2021. It's a fun rainy day activity to do indoors through the winter, a great way to practice mental focus, and to build the skills I need to do the scary scrambling I want, and eventually, hopefully, alpine climbing. I have some lofty goals (I want to boulder a V6 and lead an 11) but I believe we have to aim higher than we think we can because we often think we can do much less than we actually can if we just try. These pics are from one of my proudest days last summer when I set my mind to face my biggest fears and one was here, when I did my first overnight in bear country all by myself. Those who know me know this is a BIG DEAL I didn't sleep a wink being totally alone on top of a mountain but I did it! How is your 2020 looking? Goals for 2021? Let's motivate each other!

All this snow falling on our mountaintops has got me thinking of ski touring. I tried it last year for my first time and loved it so am stoked to do it more this winter. But I'm also worried that with covid, more and more people are taking to the backcountry to keep safe distances from others while enjoying the outdoors. While that's super awesome, our backyard is so very vast, I wonder how many will be adequately prepared. If you do any recreating in our mountainous backcou...ntry, whether it be ski touring or simply snowshoeing, you really should have your avalanche safety training, be fully equipped with all the gear, and knowledgeable and responsible enough to ensure every member of your group is too. Have you taken your AST training yet? There are lots of great teachers out there. I did mine through @canwestguides. A transceiver, shovel and probe are expensive to buy, but how much is your life worth? I reminded myself of that when I held back the tears forking over the moolah for my @garmin Inreach Mini too So much can go wrong. Serious and not so serious. Like pictured here on my first overnight ski tour I learned the hard way that: 1. Ski touring with overnight gear especially is friggen hard when you forget to bring poles (not as hard as when I forgot my skins, but still ) 2. Ski touring is hard when your boots are shite and murder your feet after 20 minutes because they're so awful. 3. Ski touring is awful if you're not a very good skier. Go figure 4. Ski touring on an overnight trip is awful when you don't pack enough food. Apparently I burn a crap ton more calories that just backpacking 5.... wait, seems like ski touring just sucks? NAH! It's AWFUL but also SO AWESOME. The message anyway is BE PREPARED. K?

Where there is love, there is life. Mahatma Gandhi said it right. Life is inherently amazing and wonderful and perfect and full of joy, but we can only feel and experience that when we have love. Love for and within ourselves first, so we can then share it with others. And then oh how sweet it is! Hikes to pretty places are always wonderful, but a couple weekends ago, Watersprite Lake was made forever special as Sal and I were asked to join and share in the momentous occasio...n of two of our best friends getting engaged! Such a beautiful place for two such incredibly beautiful souls committing to choose love, to choose each other, to choose life, always. There were lots of happy tears, full belly laughs, yummy bubbles shared, and goosebumped tooshies frozen in the October alpine lake to cool off from all the excitement. Cheers to you two, @kaitlyn064 and @adamjborek ! To a lifetime full of ever-growing love and adventure

Missing hiker on Frosty in Manning. Please keep an eye out and see link for more information https://mediareleases.vpd.ca//vpd-searches-for-missing-man/

Less than a month away now! Watch this amazing series about North Shore Rescue for free online at https://www.knowledge.ca/prog/search-and-rescue-north-shore

FYI if you're hiking up in the mountaintops, be prepared for snow, even on our north shore mountains!