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2022-2023 Ski Season Wrap Up
We just wrapped up a fantastic ski season. Big Bro was the MVP, skiing and progressing the most. But Middle Bro had amazing improvements too, and was doing significantly better than how Big Bro did at age 3. Our first skiing session of season was Dec 28, 2022. It was a big mistake to come…
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Icy Winter Paddle on North Alouette River
To extend my paddling season all year round, I bit the bullet and invested in a full dry suit last summer. Before this, I used a wet suit to paddle in the shoulder seasons, but a dry suit works better in serious cold because you can layer as much as you want underneath. I got…
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Capilano Suspension Bridge – Great Tourist Attraction for Locals
With an abundance of outdoor options all around Metro Vancouver, we have avoided visiting Capilano Suspension Bridge due to its pricey entry fees ($62.95 for adults for a day ticket, which is the same price as an annual pass for BC residents). To us, it felt more like a tourist destination. Why pay $136 when…
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Musings on teaching Big Bro skiing
Teaching kids skiing can be both fun and exhausting. Here I reflect on how far Big Bro has come and where we want to go next.
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First Time Skiing Whistler: Big Bro Takes on Big Mountains
This is Big Bro’s 3rd season skiing. We spent the first two seasons on our local mountains, and we saw some dramatic improvements from not willing to take more than a few steps to linking turns. With him turning 5 and starting kindergarten this year, we took advantage of the free Epic Schoolkids pass. This…
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Lower Gold Creek Falls Hike
Quick Facts: Lower Falls Trail in Golden Ears Provincial Park is very popular because it’s very easy and the views are pretty great. The parking lot, although not small, doesn’t quite hold up to the popularity. In recent years, BC Parks has started a free day-pass program to limit the number of visitors to Golden…
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Hayward Lake Paddle
Hayward Lake in Mission is not quite as busy as Buntzen Lake, but it’s similar in several regards. They are both managed by BC Hydro as reservoirs, both prohibit motorized boats, and both have a wealth of facilities and walking trails for people who don’t want to paddle. They are both medium sized lakes, with…
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Solo (Plus) Camping
When the weather forecast called for unseasonably warm temperatures across the region, Tina and I made an impromptu decision to book a camping trip for the weekend. Unfortunately, Middle Bro got a fever the day before our departure so Tina decided to stay back with him and Baby Bro. Thus, I went on a solo…
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Mystery Creek Hike
Quick Facts: This hike is a great example of the lush temperate rain forests we are blessed with on the BC Coast. Towering trees cover most of the hike, with a small Mystery Creek running alongside a steep, rocky section. The Hyannis Trail starts in a quiet North Vancouver neighborhood where parking is limited but…
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Train Wreck Hike
Quick Facts: The Whistler Train Wreck trail is known as one of the most kid friendly hikes around the area, with an exciting wreckage site at the end. There’s a sizable parking lot at the trailhead near Bayly Park, but surprisingly no washroom facilities nearby. Given the increasing popularity of the trail, this seems like…