Thoughts

Getting to visit Lake O’Hara in Canada’s Yoho National Park is likely a once-in-a-lifetime experience. (Mostly because reservations are SO hard to get!) You need these Lake O’Hara packing lists to make sure you have the right gear so you can stay warm, dry and happy. I’ve been to Lake O’Hara twice: On one trip …

If you’re reading this post, you have heard that you need to get a day pass to visit some BC Parks. But you probably have questions. In this guide, I’ll explain everything you need to know about BC Parks day passes. This guide is fully updated with the latest 2025 info. I’ve lived in the …

Finding women’s hiking pants can be a real challenge – it’s tough to get the right fit! In this guide, I’ve rounded up the best hiking pants for women. I made sure to include picks for every body type. Different conditions and preferences call for different hiking pants. In this guide, I’m just going to …

Traditionally most outdoor brands made women’s hiking clothes up to size 10 or 12. In the last decade or so, sizes 14 or 16 have become more common. But unfortunately, it’s still a challenge to find women’s plus size hiking clothes. I’m a plus size hiker and it’s a struggle to find things that fit …

If you head into the wilderness I’m sure you know not to leave trash behind – Pack it in, pack it out, right? But what else do you need to know to protect nature (and avoid being an a-hole)? I’ve been teaching people about how to Leave No Trace when hiking and camping for decades. …

I’ve done a lot of hiking around Banff and in the Canadian Rockies… and the trails at Sunshine Meadows have by far the best effort-to-reward ratio. There is literally nowhere else where you can wander through wildflower meadows, hike past alpine lakes, and enjoy mountain views while barely breaking a sweat. In the winter this …

British Columbia has tons of incredible places to go backpacking and multi-day hiking. Unfortunately, most of them require a car to get to. However, it is possible to go backpacking in BC without a car. I’ve got a list of over 35 car-free backpacking trips across BC. You can get to these overnight and multi-day …

Heads up: The Berg Lake Trail was closed for a few years, but it reopened on June 26, 2025. There are a few rerouted sections – details are in the trail description below. The Berg Lake Trail in Mount Robson Provincial Park is one of Canada’s premiere multi-day hiking trips. People travel from all over …

Visiting Whistler, BC, in summer is one of my favourite things. l live 45 minutes away from Whistler, and drive up there every chance I get since it’s such a great spot for outdoor adventures. I’m a hiker, so that’s my usual reason for visiting, but Whistler also has lots of gorgeous sightseeing, extreme sports, …

With a looming trade war with America due to tariffs, I’m starting to rethink where I buy my hiking gear. I want to find some Canadian hiking gear brands to support instead of buying from American companies. I worked in outdoor retail for over a decade, have been hiking my whole life, and have written …