- By Steven Miros, a member of the Kootenay Mountaineering Club - Have you noticed changes in BC's backcountry? Favourite trails that were quiet a decade ago now see dozens on a summer day. Alpine meadows braided with new paths. Litter appearing. Wildlife scarcer. That special spot you scouted now trending on social media. Trailheads overflowing by dawn. Rising rescues. Hesitation to share locations even with friends. [...]
On World Mental Health Day (October 10, 2025), we’re celebrating something simple and profoundly needed: regular time in nature. The science is clear—contact with green and blue spaces reduces stress, improves mood, and supports long-term mental well-being. For the Federation of Mountain Clubs of BC (FMCBC), this isn’t just interesting evidence; it’s one of the reasons we advocate so strongly for protecting non-motorized access to BC’s backcountry [...]
- July 2025 - By Monika Bittel, Rec & Con Committee Chair FMCBC’s Recreation and Conservation Committee (Rec & Con) advocates for the interests of public self-propelled backcountry recreation in BC. The Committee tends to focus on issues in southwest BC because, for most Committee members, this is their primary recreation area. However, since changing to virtual meetings, members from other regions participate in the monthly meetings [...]
Greater Vernon is home to one of BC’s most dedicated trail advocacy groups—the Ribbons of Green Trails Society (RoGTS). Since their beginnings in the early 1990s, this volunteer-driven organization has been working to ensure that residents and visitors alike can enjoy a safe, connected, and inspiring network of non-motorized trails. From hiking and cycling to everyday active transportation, the Society’s efforts highlight how trails are not just pathways—they’re [...]
This June, several Vancouver Island Trail Association Board of Directors, volunteers and fellow hikers had the pleasure of hiking stages 2 and 3 of the Alberni Inlet Trail, part of the extensive Vancouver Island Trail (VIT). The VIT offers non-motorized, outdoor enthusiasts a scenic and historically rich experience. Winding along the rugged coastline of Vancouver Island near Port Alberni, these stages treat hikers to sweeping views of [...]
