In two months, Destination Hikes In and Around Southwestern British Columbia will finally be out in the world. I can’t wait for y’all to see and touch it.
Actually, I can’t wait to unbox it myself. The publication date is May 11.
Until then, this sneak peek will have to suffice. Check out a few spreads from Destination Hikes.
Continue reading “Sneak peek: What’s inside Destination Hikes In and Around Southwestern British Columbia”Destination Hikes In and Around Southwestern British Columbia is set to arrive in three months. I’m pleased to present a homemade extended trailer, featuring plenty of photos from the hiking trails in the guidebook.
Coming in May from Greystone Books, Destination Hikes describes 55 day hikes in B.C. and Washington, all within weekend-trip range of Vancouver (the Canadian one). It covers the North Shore, Sea to Sky, Fraser Valley, Coquihalla, Manning Park, Sunshine Coast, Gulf Islands, Nanaimo, Bellingham, Mount Baker, Cascade River, and other regions.
Destination Hikes is a stand-alone guide. However, if you own a copy of 105 Hikes In and Around Southwestern British Columbia, Destination Hikes serves as a companion volume — containing different hikes, a familiar rating system, in-depth write-ups, many more photos, and shiny new features.
Continue reading “Extended trailer: Destination Hikes In and Around Southwestern British Columbia”
While reservations for Berg Lake and the West Coast Trail are hot tickets for hikers in British Columbia, a backpacking permit for the Enchantment Lakes is one of the most-coveted prizes in Washington.
Found in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, near the Bavarian-themed tourist trap known as Leavenworth, the Enchantments are a constellation of stunning alpine tarns situated in the Central Cascades. Every year, the U.S. Forest Service holds a preseason lottery (February 15 to March 1) to allocate the majority of overnight permits for the peak and (snowy) shoulder seasons (May 15 to October 31).
Day hikers require a permit too, but it’s free and available at the trailheads — no reservation necessary. Both out-and-back and crossover hikes are possible; a privately operated shuttle service helps with the latter.
Continue reading “Hiking the Enchantment Lakes: 9 magical sights in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness”After experiencing the North Coast Trail and East Beach Trail, I felt a yearning to return to the wild coast of British Columbia. Backpacking the remote Tatchu Trail on Vancouver Island fit the bill.
This essentially unmarked coastal route traverses the Tatchu Peninsula in the territory of the Nuu-chah-nulth people, covering 32 km (20 mi) on the west coast of the island. Access is by air or water; we opted to floatplane in and out from Gold River with Air Nootka.
From Port Eliza, we trekked northwest to Rugged Point in five days, encountering no other hikers or even kayakers. Things got off to a wet start upon disembarking the floatplane, when my backpack fell in the ocean as we transferred gear and ourselves from dock to shore using an inflatable dinghy. Then it rained as I hastily separated my soggy and dry clothes.
Continue reading “Hiking the Tatchu Trail on Vancouver Island”
The release of Destination Hikes In and Around Southwestern British Columbia is six months away.
If you can’t wait to get your hands on the book — or if you want to give someone a delayed-action gift — it’s now available for pre-order.
Independent bookstores taking pre-orders for Destination Hikes include Massy Books in Vancouver, Armchair Books in Whistler, Galiano Island Books in Sturdies Bay, and Munro’s Books in Victoria. Support your local bookstore!
Continue reading “Destination Hikes is now available for pre-order at local bookstores”