I misspent my youth on Vancouver Island. In the late 1970’s and early 1980s, I was an undergraduate student at SFU. In my spare time, I’d jump on my bike and explore Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands with different groups of friends. Eager to share my bicycle touring discoveries with others, I wrote a first guidebook to the region (published by Douglas & McIntyre, while I was [...]
Our group recently rode a 50-kilometre circuit between Nanoose Bay and Coombs on Vancouver Island. A combination of rail trails, greenways, mountain bike routes, and back roads, we enjoyed lunch at the world famous “Goats-on-the-roof” country store by the local market. All-in-all, this was a great spring trip with good weather, but with one exception. The sole rail trail between Coombs and Parksville Stations (that parallels beside the [...]
The Spearhead Range in Garibaldi Provincial Park is one of British Columbia’s most iconic backcountry ski touring destinations. Each winter, it draws local and international skiers to experience its glaciers, alpine terrain, and world-class traverses. What many users may not realize is that commercial heli-skiing is currently permitted in the Spearhead Range under a Park Use Permit held by Whistler Heli-Skiing. This permit is set to expire in November [...]
By Maria Osipova, an Individual Member of the FMCBC. She's an avid hiker, outdoor enthusiast, and co-founder of TrailQwest, helping to share the stories behind British Columbia’s trails. There are places where time moves differently. Where the air tastes of cedar and earth, where moss grows thick as carpet on trunks wider than a man is tall. Ancient Forest/Chun T'oh Whudujut Provincial Park—one of the [...]
- A poetic tribute by Ron Dart, author and member of the Chilliwack Outdoor Club - - Delores Lachapelle (d. January 22, 2007) Edward Lachapelle (d. February 2, 2007) “In my beginning is my end” -T.S. Eliot East Coker I was young in those days, keen to learn mountain lore, to take to glaciers and snow packed slopes, could ski better than walk, left school before finishing, [...]
