ASCEND & WANDER

In June 2022, I hiked the 35km Nootka Trail over 6 days. The route follows the west coast of the island with more than 2/3 of travel on beaches.  Those beaches however range from the nice sandy ones you are probably thinking about... to pea sized pebbles, large boulders, rock shelves, and steep headlands. Short trails through the forest bypass the impassible headland sections, and the rest of the trail is just yourself with the tide chart figuring out the lay of the land. This trip highlights the surf pounded landscape of coastal BC away from the other crowded trails on Vancouver Island. Let's giddy! Gold River Population 1200. And provides easy access to Mount Washington, Buttle Lake and Strathcona. We had a campsite booked in Elk Falls Provincial Park the day prior and opted to watch Top Gun 2 in Campbell River instead. But this zone could easily be a basecamp for many of the peaks around, including one way trips that connect with Mount Washington or the Forbidden Plateau trailhe...

Late March 2022 I packed my skis from YVR to MUC and traveled to Innsbruck then Ischgl. This page covers my 3 days while ski touring out of the Heidelberger Hutte.  Exiting the ski resort boundary at Piz Val Gronda First view of the Heidelberger Hutte from Piz Davo Sasse Naturally triggered loose wet avalanche Dinner time (at the firm time 18:30) ! I wish I had taken more photos of the food, but you also don't want to be "that guy" who pulls out the camera while everyone else is eating... The rooms were minimal with 2 bunk beds / 4 people max. Has everything you need. You bring a sleeping bag liner, then they provide pillows and wool blankets. Compared to the huts I'm used to in BC, this felt like luxury. 57 Euros for half board, which includes the bed, breakfast, and dinner. Great deal especially considering the town of Ischgl is expensive overall. These huts are all cash only and reservations required.  Built and operated by the German Alpine Club Photographs on the...