September 29, 2009 | Tips from Us >
Vancouver, Hiking
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Most people hike the
Baden Powell trail in sections, though there are some hardcore runners who do it in a day during the infamous Knee Knackering North Shore Trail Run. Me? I fall somewhere in the middle and set out to tackle it in a weekend.
The trail is 48km long and runs from Horseshoe Bay to Deep Cove. Three unique aspects of this trail are:
1. It’s accessible by public transit at either end, as well as in a few points in the middle.
2. It’s more of a traverse that a summit, so when you look at the skyline from Vancouver you’re likely to be looking at a section you completed.
3. If you live near Vancouver, you can go home to make dinner and sleep in your own bed in between days – awesome!
Baden Powell Trip ReportDay 1: Horseshoe Bay to Cleveland Dam, 10 hours (we took it slow and there was loads of snow)
Transport: 257 bus (Horseshoe Bay express) to trailhead at Eagle Ridge; 236 and 240 buses from Cleveland Dam back to Vancouver
Highlights:
- Seeing a deer 10 minutes into the hike
- Having the trail to ourselves for hours at a time, with no one around except for friendly ravens and whiskey-jacks
- Incredible view from Eagle Bluffs (the pic shown is proof)
- Neat old cabins in Cypress Provincial Park
Day 2: Grouse Mountain to Deep Cove (7 hours)
Transport: 240 and 232 buses to Grouse Mountain, nice friend-with-car from Deep Cove back to Vancouver (but buses would have been possible, too)
Highlights:
- Watching mountain bikers hop and balance (with hooting and hollering) their chunky bikes on the trails
- More people meant lots of friendly trail dogs giving slobbery hellos
- Seeing wiry runners training for the Knee Knacker run
- Interesting section from Lynn Canyon towards Deep Cove – never been here and was cool to check it out. Boardwalks, a mini-Grouse Grind, and beautiful forests.
Would I do the whole thing again? Heck yes. It’s a great trail that passes through forests, bluffs and wetlands – and it’s practically in my backyard. Highly recommended.
September 05, 2009 | Tips from Us >
Telegraph Cove, Whale Watching
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The area off Northern Vancouver Island is well-known for it's whale population, and recently I visited the area for the first time to find out for myself.
Telegraph Cove is a picturesque village south of Port McNeill and this was our base for activities. In the morning we were meant to go kayaking, but with choppy waters we decided to forgo the paddle trip: instead, we soaked up the sun on the wooden boardwalk at Telegraph Cove waiting for our afternoon whalewatching tour with
Stubbs Island Whale Watching. Midmorning, our reverie was broken with the call of 'WHALE!' from the opposite deck. And just like that, three orca swam right past the opening of the tiny cove, as we stood watching from land. Later that afternoon onboard the boat, we spotted four more fin whales, second in size only to the blue whale.
I'd say that's a successful day of whale spotting.