Thoughts

Whistler in the winter is basically Disneyland for skiers – a huge world-class resort with seemingly endless terrain. But there is so much more to Whistler in winter than skiing – there are tons of things to do in Whistler in winter for non-skiers. I live just up the road from Whistler in Squamish so …

If you’re shopping for a hiker this holiday season, I encourage you to support local companies and purchase Canadian hiking gear gifts for your loved ones. It’s a great way to show your patriotism, bolster the Canadian economy, and give a gift that the hiker on your list will love. I’ve been hiking and backpacking …

If you’re buying presents, please consider choosing eco-friendly gifts for hikers. The hiker in your life will appreciate it and Mother Nature will too. You may not know this, but I used to work in the outdoor industry. I actually wrote product descriptions for a large outdoor retailer. As a result, I know a LOT …

As a hiker, my winter sport of choice is snowshoeing since it’s so easy to do. I’m sure the hikers on your shopping list snowshoe too (or would love to try). Give the gift of outdoor adventure this year and get them some snowshoeing gear. I’ve been snowshoeing for over two decades so I know …

There is no place I would rather be than on a backpacking trip. I’ve been backpacking for almost 20 years and used to work for a large outdoor retailer, so I know a lot about backpacking gear. In this post, I’ve got my recommendations for the best gifts for backpackers. No matter whether the person …

I’ve been to Gros Morne National Park three times, and I know I’ll be making another trip someday. When you think of Newfoundland, people picture St. John’s. But while I appreciate the charm of that city’s brightly painted buildings, the rugged and verdant landscapes of Gros Morne have my heart. I planned my first visit …

With a population of about 30,000, Corner Brook is the largest city in Western Newfoundland and the second largest city in the province. It’s an important regional centre, but before I visited, I didn’t really think of it as a tourist destination. To the people of Corner Brook… I apologize. I was wrong. In a …

Whistler might be best known for skiing, but it has great snowshoeing too. (And it’s waaaay less expensive than skiing!) In this guide to snowshoeing in Whistler I’ll give you info and directions for 10 different trails ranging from super-flat beginner trails to all-day epics treks in the backcountry. This guide covers every trail in …

In Vancouver, we don’t stop hiking in the winter… we just switch to snowshoes. In this guide to Vancouver snowshoeing, you’ll get info and directions for 10 different snowshoe trails ranging from super-flat beginner trails to epic treks to mountain summits. They are easy to follow with winter markings and most are accessible by bus. …

I’ve been to the Gros Morne area of Newfoundland three times: in June, August, and most recently, in late September and early October. Before my fall visit, it hadn’t occurred to me to visit at that time of year. I was missing out! Fall in Western Newfoundland is gorgeous. Unlike many other areas of Newfoundland, …