Meandering through life beyond the pavement.
What is the perfect gift for the new or aspiring hiker in your life? Before we dive into gift ideas, let me describe a bit of gift giving (and receiving) ethos. I'm a huge fan of gifts that achieve three key functions: (1) the gift is something I probably wouldn't get for myself, (2) the … Continue reading Holiday Gifts for the Aspiring or New Hiker
Nobody should ever describe a trip to Cape Scott Provincial Park as 'quick'. Cape Scott occupies the northern west tip of Vancouver Island and the western reach of the North Coast Trail (the younger, muddier sister of the world famous West Coast Trail). It is a long drive from Victoria (or any of the urban … Continue reading A Quick Trip to Cape Scott Provincial Park
Over the Easter holiday (a four-day weekend, here in Canada), my partner and I headed up to Quadra Island, one of the Discovery Islands wedged between central Vancouver Island and the mainland. Quadra Island is my favourite of the Gulf and Discovery Islands: it embodies the true west coast island style, with funky hippie houses … Continue reading Easter Weekend Rock Climbing on Quadra Island
Last weekend I had a wee mishap, that could have been a major mishap: I gave my ankle a wretched twist on a piece of simple, flat trail. My intention was to head out early with my dog for an excellent hiking double-header: Maple Mountain and Mount Tzouhalem. Both mountains are a brisk two to … Continue reading A Wee Mishap on Maple Mountain
"Pardon me thou bleeding piece of earth that I am meek and gentle with these butchers" - William Shakespeare I grew up on Vancouver Island during the early 1990s, as the environmental movement was just gaining momentum. The environmental activists in Carmanah Valley, Walbran Valley, and Clayquot Sound were heroes protecting ancient forests from irreparable … Continue reading Bearing Witness to Changing Landscapes
Barefoot in the Backwoods 