Honest, fun descriptions of my hikes and travels
Packing can be a daunting task for any trip, but especially the first time you go backpacking. With a goal of keeping your bag light, it can be hard to decide what to bring and what to skip. After a number of trips, I have worked out the most essential items, as well as the …
Continue reading "What to Pack? Backpacking Clothes Edition"
Eiffel Lake is a great hike if you are looking for something to do around Moraine Lake at the moderate level. It has elevation, great views, and lake destinations, with just enough distance to feel like it was "a real hike". The hike is 12.2 km total with 609 meters of elevation. Moraine Lake at …
Continue reading "Eiffel Lake Hike from Moraine Lake in Banff National Park"
Writing-on-Stone/Áísínai’pi is on traditional Blackfoot territory in the Milk River Valley. The region contains engravings and paintings on the sandstone walls that date back to ca. 4,500 BP - 3,500 years BP and continue beyond contact with Europeans. The area is sacred to the Blackfoot people, so remember to visit the park with respect. Walking …
Continue reading "Camping in Writing-On-Stone Provincial Park, a UNESCO Heritage Site"
Cypress Hills is a provincial park shared between Alberta and Saskatchewan. In the summer of 2021, I spent a weekend camping on the Alberta-side of the park, which was the furthest east I have been within Alberta. Sign for Cypress Hills showing the provincial flowers of both Alberta and Saskatchewan. The drive from Calgary to …
Continue reading "Camping in Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park"
-By Guest Author Kira Feighan Hidden in the backcountry behind the Lake Louise Ski Resort is the Skoki valley, situated in the high alpine with a network of four backcountry campsites connected to the Skoki Lodge. Skoki valley is a perfect introduction to multi-day backcountry camping, with relatively moderate elevation gains and many options for …
Continue reading "Four Days in the Skoki Valley, Banff National Park"
Last weekend I was in Edmonton, so we decided to drive to Elk Island National Park in the hopes of seeing some bison. It was my first time visiting the park. We entered the park through Yellowhead Highway and saw some bison from the main road. They were a distance away from highway so it …
Continue reading "Oster Lake via Shirley Lake Trail in Elk Island National Park"
We hiked West Wind Pass on March 6. It was a birthday hike and I could not have asked for a more beautiful day. In winter, you can hike to the top of the pass which gives you spectacular views of the Spray Lakes and surrounding valley. During the summer you are able to hike …
On a hike last summer one of my friends had the brilliant idea to bring a disposable film camera. I hadn't used one in years, since I was a child at an overnight camp and my parents didn't trust me to bring electronics. While a disposable film camera doesn't have any fancy settings (or any …
Continue reading "Why You Should Bring a Film Camera on Your Next Hike"
While the focus of my blog thus far has been on hikes, primarily in the Rockies, I wanted to write a little about an area of Alberta that is wildly different from Banff or Kananaskis. Heading east from Calgary into the prairies takes you towards a flatter, "more boring" landscape. But hidden in the river …
Continue reading "Exploring UNESCO Site: Dinosaur Provincial Park in Alberta, Canada"
While on a trip to Victoria in the summer of 2020, I embarked on a hike in Gowlland Provincial Park. The hike takes you alongside Finlayson Arm. For a hiker used to the landlocked views of the Rockies, it was so much fun to hike along the water. Jocelyn Hill is a 8.9 km loop …
Continue reading "Jocelyn Hill Loop Trail in Gowlland Tod Provincial Park"
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