Here you will find an archived weblog of my food, travel, and creative pursuits which I kept from 2010-2016. Please note both that the travel information contained here may outdated and that these logs were created on a prior version of this website and may not yet be optimized for the current version. If you’re looking for specific content, use the search field below! <3
We actually visited the Athabasca Glacier for the first time two years ago, took our chances and walked around on it. Returning this year, the glacier appeared to have changed quite a bit - it looked flatter, the river was larger, and walking on it was no longer tolerated, except on tours. So instead of exploring on top of the glacier - we wandered around the moraines spotting beautiful scene after beautiful scene.
Read MoreYou know when you visit a place for the first time and it just makes your heart sing?
Driving north along the Yellowhead Highway in Jasper National Park, I found one of those places; Jasper and Talbot Lakes. This was one of those great surprise destinations, simply stumbled upon along the way to something else.
Read MoreAfter an unplanned night of sleeping in the truck since all the campsites in Yoho National Park were full - I didn't exactly set out on this walk with the most open minded of dispositions. Never the less, the walk around Emerald Lake absolutely blew me away. No ordinary walk around a lake, the 5.2 kilometers are packed with varying environments and amazing views.
Read MoreI admit, I'm getting spoiled by all the beautiful canyons I've had the opportunity to explore. So when it came time to hike up Maligne Canyon in Jasper National Park, all I could think of was getting down into the canyon rather than walking along the top. We hiked the trail backwards, starting low at Fifth Bridge and walking uphill to Second Bridge. This little rock outcropping we scrambled down to along the Maligne River, just past Fourth Bridge, may have been my favorite part of the entire 4.2 kilometers.
The draw of Maligne Canyon comes from a few different unique features. First, in some spots at the top of the canyon it's so narrow that squirrels jump across the 50 meter drop. Second, the way the canyon was carved is just fascinating. Beginning at Maligne Lake, the river flows to Medicine Lake where the water drains (almost completely by the winter time) into underground passages which make their way to Maligne Canyon. In the winter, it's possible to take a guided tour through the canyon when the water has all drained out (totally on my list to do now).
A few weeks ago in my post about travel plans gone awry, I mentioned that to cope with those unforeseen changes I try to appreciate the little things like free ferry rides and comfort food. Specifically, I mentioned the ride across Upper Arrow Lake which was followed by enjoying a pile of grilled cheese sandwiches on the beach.
Read MoreLeaving some seriously rainy weather and a very damp campground behind us, we took a chance and drove up the Meadows in the Sky Parkway in Mount Revelstoke National Park. At this point, we had already fled plenty of unfortunate weather and with a seventy percent chance of rain for the next few days - we figured this might be the only chance we have to explore the park.
Read MoreStrange as it is, being just a few hours north of Seattle, I've barely spent any time in Vancouver, British Columbia. On our most recent trip, I made sure that at least our route remedied that situation and allowed for a drive and the most important kind of stop in this mostly new-to-me city. That most important stop of course was an all gluten free bakery that I've seen Brooke from Gluten Free Authority post about oh so many times.
Read MoreAlong the the Sea to Sky Highway, which runs from Vancouver to Whistler in beautiful British Columbia, Porteau Cove Provincial Park is a welcome stop to stretch your legs and admire the views of Howe Sound. This relatively small park has so much to offer and explore including the ferry dock which has several view points to climb to, a sunken ship for scuba divers to explore, and a boat launch.
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We had only planned to spend one day in Glacier National Park, however due to a "grizzly problem" every single trail in the park (except for one very steep one-which wasn't possible with my ankle) was either closed or under hiking restrictions.
Read MoreThis photo was not taken in Whistler.
We were supposed to spend the first night of our two week camping road trip in Whistler, British Columbia. After a beautiful drive up the Sea to Sky Highway, we rolled into town were excited to learn a downhill mountain bike competition was in full gear and a triathlon was to be held the following day.
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