Last Chance to Get Outdoors!
Summer is winding down and fall is right around the corner – hiking season will be coming to an end soon and the days will become shorter. September may be your last chance to get outdoors! Here are just a few ideas from our team and personal trainers if you’re wanting to take your workout outdoors and enjoy Beautiful BC!
Elliott
- “I’m doing the Chief (all three peaks) early next month. It’s an intermediate to advanced level hike depending on how many peaks you decide to hike. Since it’s in Squamish, factor in the approximate one hour to travel each way. The best part is that you can do the first peak then come right down or you can continue on to the second or the third peaks. First peak is between 1-1.5 hours and all three peaks can take the whole day (up to 6+ hours). Pace yourself and bring lots of food and water – break to enjoy the scenery and refuel throughout the day!”
- “If you’re wanting to stay in the city, Grouse Grind is always a great time! I’m going with Alex from our Transformation Challenge Sunday.” – By “great time” we think Elliott means, a very rigorous and challenging hike up “Mother Nature’s Stairwell” that can take up to 1.5-2 hours for a novice hiker, or just shy of an hour for more advanced hikers. He didn’t offer any tips on this one, but we would recommend bringing a good playlist, water, to pack light, don’t stop, don’t look up, don’t look down, don’t talk and just don’t give up. Kapeesh?
Taryn
- Taryn was born and raised on the Sunshine Coast and will always highly recommend taking a day (or weekend) to visit and experience it for yourself! Just a quick 40-45 minute ferry ride from Horseshoe Bay, it offers something for every outdoor enthusiast, without being as busy as some of the local Vancouver attractions and the hustle-and-bustle of city life. Read below for tips and information on what to do on “the Coast”:
- One Day trips from Vancouver:
- “Keep your adventures East of Sechelt so you don’t spend your entire day traveling to-and-from. I love getting out of the water and would highly recommend either a kayak rental or Harbour Tour from Sunshine Kayaking based out of lower Gibsons. You can explore the shoreline of Gibsons and Keats Island in calm waters, and enjoy lunch at the historic Molly’s Reach for all you Beachcomber fans out there. Smitty’s Oyster house is always lively with a great communal table – good vibes, good wine and great seafood. Both are located right at the harbour/wharf and near Sunshine Kayaking in Molly’s lane – where there are some cute shops as well.”
- Weekend trips from Vancouver:
- “Drive up to Pender Harbour or continue to Egmont, home of the Skookumchuck Narrows. Sakinaw Lake (if you have a boat) and Thormanby Island (water taxis available) are my two MUSTS every summer. They’re the best places to escape from city life, are never busy and the people are always amazing. Camp on Thormanby for the night or stay in a nearby VRBO, cabin or resort.”
- General Tips:
- “Ferries are busiest leaving the city on Friday afternoons and returning Sunday afternoons – make a reservation! Or travel during slow times (the first and last ferries). You only pay for the ferry one way leaving Horseshoe Bay so it’s way more affordable and faster than visiting Vancouver Island. If you don’t have a reservation, check the current conditions on the BC Ferries website and be early. You can also walk on if you have a local hook-up on the other side to pick you up! Public transit is pretty much non-existent, don’t do it. If you have time to stop at the Gumboot in Roberts Creek (and when I say time, I mean tiiiime) – have brunch! It’s true farm-to-table dining as in, they grow everything out back. It’s always been this way – it’s a way of life in ‘the Creek’.”
- One Day trips from Vancouver:
Sean
Sean is an avid runner, outdoor enthusiast and Triathlon athlete (accomplished his goal of completing Iron Man last year!). He gives some great tips on how to run the Lost Lagoon 5km loop if you’re new to running.
- “5km Lost Lagoon Loop for beginners. Average time is 30-35 mins based on an average 10km pace of 6 mins/km or 10 min/mile. These are typical paces for 25-45 year olds. I Love the views, change of terrain, and accessibility! There are washrooms on route. Plus water fountains along the way, so you don’t even have to bring a water bottle! If you’re first starting out, don’t try to do the whole thing running. Walk when you start getting tired. Slowly decrease the time walking to running over repeated training sessions. Increase any distance over three runs a week by 10% week to week.”
Kalev
Pre-hockey season, Kalev gets his weekend workouts outside of the gym and away from the weights by hiking the local mountains with friends. He recently enjoyed the view from the top of Mount Seymour and said it’s an intermediate level hike, taking about 3 hours (the Vancouver Trails website says 5, so keep in mind Kalev & Co are experienced hikers!). Once you get to the top the views are amazing (hopefully it’s a clear day) with Vancouver to the South, Grouse Mountain and Coastal Mountain Range, as well as Indian Arm. Bring lunch with to enjoy at the top before heading back down.
- Mount Seymour is a 30-50 minute drive from downtown Vancouver
- As we all know, Vancouver weather is unpredictable – be prepared
- Outdoor Vancouver also offers directions and information about the Mount Seymour and nearby hikes