Hiking adventures up and down the West Coast of Canada and the U.S.
A couple weekends ago I had an unexpected opportunity to run of to the mountains. I ended up on Mountain Loop highway a bit north-east of Seattle. My second hike was an easy trail to the basin below Big Four mountain.
This past weekend I suddenly had a couple unplanned days. I decided to visit a few trails on Mountain Loop Highway, a scenic byway through the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. My first hike was to Lake Twenty-Two.
This time of year gets me in the mood to get hiking. I’m just waiting for the first sunny 50℉ day where I don’t have to bundle up. I’ve been going through my gear while waiting for that day to appear. I thought I’d share with you some of the gear I bring along on every day hike.
Something I’ve been thinking about so far this January is how to get out and hike more. I thought I’d share some of my ideas and inspirations, knowing that there are others who have similar ambitions and yet challenges with the execution.
The last full weekend of October, I had the pleasure of being in Whistler. The weather was beautiful: cool, crisp and sunny. Seeing as I would be there for a few days, I had to take advantage of some free time and get a few hikes in!
September is one of my favourite months for hiking. I often visit the local areas that I avoid during the peak of summer. The trails are quieter, the air is cooler, and there aren’t any bugs! The weather this past month was so fantastic that I actually managed to convince my hubby to join me for a couple overnights. Our first overnight was on the Chain Lakes Loop at Mount Baker.
I had only been home from the PCT for about a week before I started thinking about what we could do for Labour Day weekend. I got the all clear from my physio to hike again and chose the Heather Trail in the north end of Manning Provincial Park. We could drive up to about 6000 feet and start the trail in subalpine meadows. We’d keep our mileage low and take it easy on the trail.
After hiking the first half of the Washington Pacific Crest Trail, it was time to do some cross-Canada adventuring. One of my best and longest-standing friends was having a wedding vow renewal ceremony near his original family home in Newfoundland. While planning our trip, I had done a little bit of research on hiking in Newfoundland. I laid my sights on the East Coast Trail and decided to figure out how to hike a couple short segments.
Before starting back onto the next section of the PCT, hubby and I spent a couple nights camping in Mount Rainier National Park. We had a picture perfect day of hiking in Sunrise.
This past weekend I got to meet up with a hiking friend and explore the north end of Olympic National Park. We made the most of our three days together. We explored the popular Hurricane Ridge area, and then enjoyed a night backcountry along the Elwah River.