Trip Report
Really just a fancy personal journal which I can one day look back upon and think ‘wow my knees were good back then’
Mount Garibaldi With a Scot
After a pretty poor spring, the weather was looking good so me and Finlay were itching to get out into the mountains. Having spent both a ski season and a climbing season in Vancouver, the obvious choice for Finlay’s first proper peak in the area was Mount Garibaldi. It dominates the Squamish skyline and draws the eye anytime you drive up along the sea to sky highway. Checking the forecast….Read More
Whirlwind in the Backcountry
It has not been a particularly productive fall or winter for my outdoor exploits. A badly sprained ankle at the end of august led to my (admittedly fanciful) plans of regularly running becoming impossible. Furthermore, the many alpine objectives I had aimed to do had become less than ideal when winter decided to abandon us. So, it has been quite a while since my last trip report and thus, my last good bout of exercise. Of course, riding a stand up bike was always an option…Read More
Baffin Island
I have a lot of mixed feelings about clouds. For a simple mass of miniature water droplets, it expresses itself in an astounding multitude of forms all accompanied by an equivalent multitude of feelings from me. There are the high and bright wispy clouds which illuminate with a bright flash of pastel at sunset. Those elicit a calming joy. The black clouds that roll across the sky threatening the exciting prospect of thunder and clattering downpour….Read More
The Mönch
All of the elderly in Switzerland are fit. Of course, that is a slight exaggeration but not by much. Along every hiking trail there are distinct yellow trail markers pointing you along the right path. For some reason I have yet to discern, these markers don’t inform you of trail distance but of hiking time. A time that is always seemingly way too short for the distance as if to say, “this is how fast the average Swiss moves you weak unfit fool.” Or maybe that’s just…Read More
Wedge Mountain in a Day
Twice I have failed to climb Wedge. The first was admittedly a mild effort with no real expectation or planning. The second was a more serious attempt thwarted by poor weather and even worse visibility. My trip report detailing the second attempt emphasized safety but played up a manufactured sense of recklessness for humour. Having now ascended Wedge solo, I will avoid leaning into…Read More
Mount Baker
I am pleased to announce that Amanda and I are now international mountaineers! While most certainly an over exaggeration of title, it is far from an over exaggeration of excitement. Ever since that dangerous idea to make the jump from hiking to mountaineering first popped into my head, Baker has been on the list. It is THE beginner summit and, as the most heavily…Read More
Guaranteed Rugged – Rock Climb
There is a certain allure to doing the ‘biggest’ thing. Ascending the tallest mountain, climbing the hardest route, eating the most dumplings in a single sitting, there is a definite sense of accomplishment. Despite this, constantly chasing these feats doesn’t necessarily lead to…Read More
Juan de Fuca Marine Trail
This was a spontaneous trip to say the least. The Juan de Fuca is a 47 kilometer long trail located along the west coast of Vancouver Island and is considered one of the classic hikes. It is usually done in three to four days as a backpacking trip. It is by no means super difficult, but if the conditions aren’t right, the trail…Read More
Welch Peak
Shawn had been a smoker since he was a teenager. What began as perhaps a rebellious streak had quickly turned into an addiction. He would hang out and smoke with his friends in parks, backyards, and in the plentiful forests of his home British Columbia. But over the years, whether it be by…Read More
Mount Garibaldi
There are a variety of emotions one could go through when hearing the phrase “potentially active”. Socio-economicanalysts for instance, would be delighted at its mention and delve into a comprehensive rant about the labour market, unemployment, and whatever else socio-economic analysts discuss…Read More
Wedge Mountain
Now some may disagree with me and cite my often ambitions trip plans, but I don’t want to die. I want to live a long and healthy life. Long enough, in fact, to experience the cure for death so I can then go on to live forever. But there are certain risks in life. Every year there is an approximately 1 in 2500 chance of dying…Read More