British Columbia

A fresh look at my “same old” parks in West Vancouver

Posted on May 26, 2020 by carolinehelbig
Social distancing sign at Capilano River Regional Park

I wasn’t going to write about parks in my West Vancouver neighbourhood as it seemed so “same old,” but two things changed my mind. One was a chat I had with a woman originally from Spain who is a participant in my Zoom English Conversation Club. She was gushing about our local parks. Her enthusiasm was infectious and it reminded me that these parks may be “same old” to me, but they’re also incredibly beautiful. The other was the creative social distancing signage at a favourite park. The bald eagle image showing the 2 metre/6 feet wingspan made me smile.

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Categories: Activities, British Columbia, Hiking | Tags: , , , , | 51 Comments

Who knows what tomorrow will bring?

Posted on March 26, 2020 by carolinehelbig
No offence to my hubby

I think back over the last three weeks. How is it possible that so little time has elapsed but so much has changed? The worldwide COVID-19 situation, our response, even our vocabulary (social distancing, self isolation…) are in constant flux. I have gone from no worries to big worries mixed with confusion, guilt, reflection and gratitude. I’ve had a frustrating number of false starts on this post. I don’t usually deviate from my travel and hiking themes but I feel the need to get a few things off my chest.

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Categories: British Columbia, Places | Tags: , , , | 52 Comments

Don’t miss The Gargoyles on an Elfin Lakes hike

Posted on August 22, 2019 by carolinehelbig

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The Gargoyles in Garibaldi Provincial Park, British Columbia

I’ve hiked to Elfin Lakes at least half a dozen times, but I’ve only recently done the gem of a little add-on hike to The Gargoyles. Elfin Lakes is a popular hike in Garibaldi Provincial Park, near Squamish, British Columbia. The 22 km (14 mile) return hike is a beauty on its own, but for just an extra 2.5 km (from Elfin Lakes) you get into some incredible glaciovolcanic landscapes. In non-scientific lingo, that means bizarre volcanic rock pillars, stark scree slopes, and turquoise-hued, glacially-carved lakes.  A few weeks ago, my friend Morag and I got to explore this otherworldly place called The Gargoyles. Continue reading →

Categories: Activities, British Columbia, Hiking | Tags: , , , | 60 Comments

Hiking Brandywine Meadows and Mountain at Whistler’s Callaghan Valley

Posted on August 2, 2019 by carolinehelbig

 

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Brandywine Meadows

I’m on a hiking roll, and just did another beauty—Brandywine Meadows and Mountain, at Whistler’s Callaghan Valley. This hike has an incredibly high reward-to-effort ratio, particularly if you have a sturdy 4-wheel drive vehicle. An easy walk brings you to a beautiful meadow surrounded by snow-dappled peaks. It’s crisscrossed with gurgling creeks and is currently ablaze in wildflowers—you’ll think you’ve landed on set in The Sound of Music. The trail beyond the meadow, to Brandywine Mountain, is more strenuous, but with so many gorgeous views it doesn’t feel onerous. And, if you don’t make it the whole way (we didn’t), it’s still an enormously satisfying hike. Continue reading →

Categories: Activities, British Columbia, Canada, Hiking | Tags: , , , , | 22 Comments

Hiking Whistler’s Skywalk North Trail

Posted on July 19, 2019 by carolinehelbig

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Skywalk North: Whistler, British Columbia

I’m so excited about a hike I did earlier this week that I’m taking a short break from my Sri Lanka series to tell you about Whistler’s Skywalk North (better known as one of the trails leading to Iceberg Lake). Despite the clouds and the voracious mosquitoes, Skywalk North was amazing and got me motivated to explore more trails of the Skywalk network. My hiking pals (Morag and Eva) and I love a hike with variety and this one gets top marks: The 23 km lollipop route (a loop with a short repeated section at the start and end) travels through cedar forests, alpine meadows, rocky slopes with dramatic views of the Coast Mountains, and a glacial basin with tumbling waterfalls and the turquoise-hued star attraction— Iceberg Lake. Continue reading →

Categories: Activities, British Columbia, Canada, Hiking, Places | Tags: , , | 70 Comments

Happy New Year: My Favourite Local Nature Spots with my Favourite People

Posted on January 3, 2019 by carolinehelbig

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Happy New Year!

My best wishes to all my readers, whether you have just celebrated New Year or do so at a different time. I hope you are blessed with happiness and health. Thank you for continuing to read my blog posts. It gives me great pleasure to write about my travel and local adventures. I love that I’ve “gotten to know” many of you and that you’ve inspired me with your passions.  My list of places to go and hikes to do keeps growing thanks to you. I will keep my rambles short for once with a post featuring some of my favourite spots close to home—Vancouver’s North Shore and Sea to Sky corridor—with my favourite people. Continue reading →

Categories: British Columbia, Places | Tags: , , , , , | 22 Comments

WINE-der WOMAN at the Oliver Osoyoos Half Corked Marathon

Posted on June 6, 2018 by carolinehelbig

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Team Wine-der Woman running through the vineyards—C.Helbig

It’s my favourite weekend of the year! It’s filled with belly laughs, outrageous silliness and much wine consumption with great friends. This is our fourth year participating in the Oliver Osoyoos Half Corked Marathon, an annual event that takes place in the vineyards of British Columbia’s beautiful Okanagan Valley. Named the 2017 Canadian Event of the Year at the Canadian Tourism Awards, the “marathon” is an 18 km (11.2 mile) course that winds its way through bucolic countryside with more than a dozen wine tasting and food sampling stops along the way. There are no prizes for speed, only creativity. After being pushed off the podium last year, we were thrilled to reclaim first prize with our WINE-der WOMAN costume. Continue reading →

Categories: Activities, British Columbia, Canada, Crazy Fun Stuff, Places, Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , | 22 Comments

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