March 11, 2007 | Tips from Travellers >
Whistler, Hiking
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Taylor Meadows is a great lunch break on the way up to Black Tusk or on its own as an overnight destination in Garibaldi Provincial Park. Offering stunning views of Panorama Ridge and Black Tusk, the campsite offers many backcountry amenities like raised tent pads, large cooking shelter including tables, nearby streams for water and several clean and well kept outhouses.
To get to Taylor Meadows, drive north from Squamish for approximately 30 km after the last set of lights and turn right onto a logging road (keep driving until you come to the parking lot, map and trail head).
The hike is moderately difficult with it being a steady climb from the parking lot to the meadows (7.5 km).
Highlights include access to Black Tusk, stunning mountain views, Garibaldi lake and great sub-alpine hiking in the meadows.
March 11, 2007 | Tips from Travellers >
Sooke, Hiking
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The West Coast Trail is a 75 km trek through old growth forest and along the sea shore. Created a hundred years ago as a rescue route for shipwreck survivors, it now offers hikers a close connection with the biology and terrain of Canada's rugged west coast.
Most overnight hiking trips range from five to eight days with campsites dotted along the trail map. Cable cars, ladders, bridges and boardwalk make the trek a reasonably straight forward hike for the fit.
Highlights include hiking on sea shelf, old growth forests like the Carmanah and Walbran, meeting First Nations interpreters and ferry operators (Nitinat Narrows), wildlife, light houses and countless stunning views of the Pacific.
Begin in either Port Renfrew or Bamfield. I recommend starting in Port Renfrew and getting the more difficult sections out of the way first.
March 11, 2007 | Tips from Travellers >
Ucluelet, Kayaking & Canoeing
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One of the lesser visited parts of the Pacific Rim National Park, the Broken Group Islands provides an intimate nature experience for those who enjoy kayaking. There are several overnight campsites scattered throughout the island providing kayakers the choice between full and partial days of paddling.
Lots of wildlife; we saw: sea lions, porpoise, humpback whale, black tail deer, eagles, seals, jumping salmon and different varieties of seagulls.
Level of difficulty ranges from novice to expert; novice kayakers can do daytrips from the Sechart lodge and expert kayakers can tackle the big swells and waves in open water.
Broken Group Islands are in Barkley Sound. Travel by ferry from Port Alberni to Sechart where kyaks can be rented or else shove off along the road to Long Beach (look for sign).