The Foran Grade and Windy Point hike is a great choice for anyone who lives in the Calgary area and is eager for a hike that delivers great mountain views starting early in the season. I wouldn't do this hike in the summer when there are more interesting choices, but I'd come back again in the fall to catch the vibrant colours. The effort to reward ratio on this hike is high. The Foran Grade…
The Horton Hill hike, just an hour's drive from Calgary in Kananaskis Country isn't going to be the kind of hike most people are looking for. There is no trailhead, signage, or even a formal trail, though there is the odd piece of fluorescent flagging tape around. But it is surprisingly easy to find your way to the top, if you have any sense of direction and you just head up. Horton Hill is the…
The Chilkoot Trail, which begins on tidewater in Alaska and climbs up over mountains in British Columbia, presents a unique backpacking opportunity, as this is a trail rich with history. It was the main trail used in the famous Klondike Gold Rush of the late 1800’s, one of the biggest rushes the world has ever seen. An international crowd of literally tens of thousands, fueled by dreams of riches, used the Chilkoot Trail to chase…
A large bike box containing the 72-pound Himiway all terrain electric cruiser bike showed up on my doorstep recently. It had taken three weeks to make it to Calgary from California via UPS ground, but it arrived in one piece with all bits inside carefully wrapped up - and everything in its place. Important parts like derailleurs were taped with protective layers. And there was a box holding all the accessories which made it way…
One of the great pleasures in my life is camping and backpacking in the Canadian Rockies. With years of experience under my belt, I don't give much thought to the difficulty of a trip unless it's a real out there wilderness experience. But I know that there are lots of wannabe backpackers that are nervous about taking their first steps and spending a night in a tent, many kilometres from a trailhead, especially when it's…
The town of Nordegg Alberta is an undiscovered gem in the Canadian Rockies. Situated almost exactly halfway between Rocky Mountain House and Saskatchewan River Crossing, it is in an area well-suited for year-round adventures. When John and I stopped in for a snack in Nordegg years ago while on the way to do a loop drive back to Calgary via Highway 11 and the Icefields Parkway, we didn't really give the town a second glance.…
The Mesa Butte hike is a short, easy hike that is ideal after a lazy morning of eating pancakes and drinking coffee or a pick me up after a long day at work. The hike is located near Millarville, Alberta in Mesa Butte Provincial Recreation Area. The trail starts directly across from the Mesa Butte Equestrian Campground. Even though the Mesa Butte hike is a short one that you can knock off in 1 -…
Southern Vancouver Island’s Cowichan Valley is an undiscovered gem. It offers lots of quiet back road and trail biking combined with taste worthy stops at any one of fourteen wineries. Rolling, pastoral landscapes with mountainous backdrops to the west are what you will encounter every day on your bike. Evenings can be spent in wonderful B&B’s, 5-star hotels, unique accommodations, along with budget options with some camping possibilities too. You’ll encounter small towns and villages…
If you love snowshoeing, then Jasper National Park is a terrific place to visit in winter. Enjoy kilometres of untracked trails, sublime mountain views, snowy meadows, quiet lakes, and a pretty good chance of seeing an elk. Winter is long in Jasper - and so is the season for snowshoeing, especially at higher elevation locations. On the days when the snowpack is thin, hike the trails instead, with a pair of icers tucked in your…
Winter in Jasper is divine. Once the snow arrives, the town is transformed into a true Canadian winter wonderland. Not only is it a quiet place to visit in winter compared to the summer, it's an exceptional base for cold weather-adventures. Anyone who is prepared to bundle up and enjoy the fresh air and outdoors, will love to explore the area. There's so much to do from skiing and boarding to skating, ice walks, winter…