Yes You Can Go Hiking

People have asked me about my most favourite hike. That's a toughy. So I was looking through photos and videos of the last year and came up with one that was definitely my favourite of the year....in my top 3 lifetime for sure. In August we explored the Rockies. Emerald Lake is a gorgeous place, as beautiful as Lake Louise with a small fraction of the people. There are several day trip hikes that lead from the lake so we decided to check one out. Emerald Lake Basin. This is a... 11 km in and out hike that was a bit testy but very doable. Trail was in great shape. But to end up in the basin at the bottom with mountains that tower above you for virtually 360 degrees, I was literally speechless and for people who know me that's very rare.

Roberts Roost....a great little hike basically behind Morrell Sanctuary. We used to hike up behind Morrell but the military got serious about trespassing. Peopl...e still do but... We started out from the Mt. Benson parking lot and followed the "outer bypass" trail which quickly turned into a logging road. At about the 4 km mark went back into the forest on a real hiking trail. Ended up at the back end of the Roost, but, the trail was rocky, mossy, and slippery so decided (grumbling) to not finish. Hated to get all this way and not finish but someone decided it wasn't safe. See more

Morrell/Westwood Lakes Loop, was this morning's jaunt. 12.2 km hike through Morrell Lake and Westwood Lake, back along the powerline, and finally back to Morrell. Tried incorporating the Alltrails app and recording our route. The app is pretty cool. Just under 3 hours including photo and pit stops.

Morrell Sanctuary. I am so fortunate to be so close to this "oasis". So many trails and combination of trails to just about satisfy any day hiker. Today was a 2... hour jaunt up the Maple trail hooking back up with the Alder trail. Took the powerline trail back to the fire lane and home. The result was a nice 5 km hike through some old growth forest and trails deep with maple leaves. See more

Second trip this year. Awesome day to spend overlooking Seymour Narrows.

Ripple Rock Trail, a few kms north of Campbell River on Highway 19. The vista is so cool I wanted to show a video in hopes that others would want to check it out for real. Trail is wet, many leaves, and slippery in sections so beware. But the reward for 3 to 3 1/2 hours is.....

Hiking may be coming to an end, in some places, but snowshoeing will be starting. Bring it on La Nina. Paradise Meadows at Mount Washington last year...

Ripple Rock trail is visited twice per year by us. Today's trail was slick, leafy, and wet. With views all the way up and especially at the top. Taking it easy took just over 3 hours for just under 9 kms. Trail head on highway 19 a few kms north of Campbell River.

Jocelyn Hill in Gowland Todd Provincial Park. That was our destination today as the views are always worth the extra work. Normally we use the Caleb Pike trailh...ead but today we went to Mount Work Provincial Park for another perspective. Getting to Ross Durrance Rd and the trailhead is a challenge in itself. Coming from Nanaimo and navigating Finlayson Road is...well let's call it "fun". The hike was an in and out brute of about 16km. 16 km is not overly long in distance but as all hikers know, not all kms are created equally. This hike was full of mossy trees, the most gnarly of Arbutus trees, moss covered rock bluffs, etc. And the views......... See more

A bucket list item if ever safe to go to the USA.

Off to Malahat View Point and the Jocelyn Hill.

One of the best spots, in my opinion, to walk/hike, in Nanaimo is Morrell Sanctuary. It's entirely maintained by volunteers and they have done an amazing job. There are a vast array of trails for all fitness levels and ages. You can hike the trails within the sanctuary or connect with Westwood Lake to do a 2-3 hour loop. I power walk or hike a variety of trails if I have an hour or 2 to kill. Morrell Lake is a great place to veg and feed ducks. The sanctuary is off of Nanaimo Lakes Road.

Top o' the Notch. Trailhead is on Powder Point Rd in Nanoose. Has always been a special place for us. Overlooking Nanoose Bay this trail, a bit of a butt burner, is full of Garry Oaks, Arbutus, and many, many ant hills. Normally I have been there when the weather is nice, but even though cloudy today it is special. Round trip was an easy 1 hour 20 minutes with us just sauntering and meandering around. I believe that people who aren't "hiking ready" can do this loop. Just take your time. You won't be disappointed.

Mt Tzouhalem has been a special place to hike to for years. I have been there in scorching summer heat or with 6" of snow. It just never disappoints.

The Genoa Bay bench. It is a bench where hikers can just sit, eat some lunch, and enjoy 180 degree vistas of 3 different bays. Many times bald eagles can be seen hunting, but, I just love to sit and take it all in.

For local day hikes I don't think you can beat the mega varieties of trails at The Mount Tzouhalem Forest Reserve in Duncan. A variety of trails for hiking and many more if you are a mountain biker. We took the long way to the cross. If you have never been to the top of Mt Tzouhalem to see the cross and views I hope I get you motivated. Trailhead is off of Kaspar Rd. The trailhead on Tzouhalem Rd has been closed down.

Another go to hike. Two or Three times a season.

When we got to the main lookout atop Mount Copley we sat there, had some lunch, and just took in the vista that was before us. It was just so very, very cool. It just is another example of what is in our backyard.

Love it when I finally find an amazing hike right in my backyard. That's the case with Mount Copley in Lantzville. Some know it as the Lantzville Lookout Loop. Regardless it is a great little 7 km hike with a fair amount of vertical. Alltrails says moderate but have to say more somewhere between moderate and difficult, if nothing else the hills were muddy which made them a tad slippery, particularly going down. The views are just amazing.

Also known as Lantzville Lookout Loop. Something close and new.

Squally Reach in Gowland Todd Provincial Park. A great butt burner particularly if you to Mackenzie Bight first. Instead of completing the loop, that starts in Mount Work Provincial Park, veering off to head over to Squally Reach is a great option. The hike is a testy one but the views.... simply the best. Excuse the error of me saying where the Reach is.