High Adventure in the Canadian Wilderness

Jul 3

Every year, I make a promise to myself to unplug in nature, at least twice.

Most of my days are filled with being a full-time caregiver for both of my parents and a 180lb house hippo (read: Saint Bernard) whose leggies currently don’t work all that well (poor Brucey, his neurological issues are a story for another time). Wandering somewhere remote forces me to focus on myself, even if just for a week. It’s rejuvenating and so rewarding to sit in awe of the beautiful earth in which we have the opportunity to exist.

I usually find myself up in Ely, MN, picking up my portage packs and strapping a canoe to the top of my car getting ready for a tow across Moose Lake to start my yearly adventure into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCA). I could spend multiple entries describing the feelings of joy and wonder that I feel in a place so remote (and I probably will).

But, CANADA!

I wasn’t sure whether I’d make it to the BWCA this year and when I saw an email from a long time internet gal pal (Hi, B!) about an all-women high adventure trip in British Columbia, I had to say yes. A huge perk? I asked my bestie, Jessalyn, to join me and she also said yes ☺️.

I was thrilled to pull out all of my gear - I’ve spent the last several years testing and collecting gear that works for me. I focus on ultralight gear that works for short trips and week-long escapades. Remote is always my goal and it feels good to travel light even when I don’t need to.

Here are some of my favorites:

Big Agnes Echo Park 0 Degree Sleeping Bag
- If you get cold no matter what like me, this bag will get you through all of the seasons. I like the long, wide version, it feels similar to a sleeping pad/comforter combo, but with a nice roomy hood. I have an older version but like that they kept the feature where it secures to your sleeping pad.
REI Campwell Sleeping Pad
- This self-inflating pad is my secret weapon for side sleeping. I have tried so many sleeping pads and my hips are happy with this one. Get the XL, it’s worth it. This one fit in my 80L duffel and a portage pack in the BWCA.
NEMO Moonlight Elite Reclining Backpacking Chair
- I go literally everywhere with this chair, it weighs just over one pound (yes, just one!) and has a weight capacity of 250lbs. It’s on the pricey side but I think worth the investment. Camping, hiking, picnics, day trips - it fits in a water bottle sleeve of a backpack!
Fjallraven Duffel 80L
- This was a new purchase for this trip and I was highly impressed with the size and the strength+comfort of the backpack handles. I was able to fit: sleeping bag, sleeping pad, camp pillow, hiking boots, (1) 20L dry bag of clothes, (1) 8L bag of clothes, camp chair, with a little room to spare.

MSP > YVR

The plane views were spectacular, and they continued to get better!

My favorite camp read: The Hobbit

I have only ever been to Winnipeg - made the 7-ish hour drive straight through Northern Minnesota, for a hockey game (that sounds so Minnesotan 😆) - so Canada, in general, has been on my adventure list. Once I read the itinerary for this trip to Squamish, BC, it checked both my adrenaline-seeking boxes and my desire to purely exist in nature.

Our Agenda:

Making basecamp in Squamish
Long trail hike to a beautiful glacial lake via the Cheakamus Trail
Whitewater rafting in Class III + IV rapids
Scaling Whistler Mountain on a via ferrata
Technical hike up a trail called “The Chief” (spoiler, I couldn’t make this final hike because of my knee, but it worked out)

This trip surprised me, in the best way.

My annual trips to the BWCA are quite remote, rely heavily on honoring the “leave no trace” principal (you leave the area as good or better than you found it), and is a pack-in, pack-out experience - you carry everything with you, including your trash, until you exit and you’re back to civilization.

Although where we stayed in Squamish was less remote than I’m used to, I was able to find little glimmers that I love so much about my BWCA experiences, just in different ways:

I dunked myself in the glacial waters of Canada, keeping to my tradition of taking a dip in the Boundary Waters.
Enjoyed lots of silliness and whimsy with 10 lovely ladies (this moss was called Grandpa’s Beard and is a sign of clean air!)
I stayed behind from “The Chief” hike due to my knee being a little spicy after the via ferrata and instead was able to cook a meal for everyone in my true Italian grandmother style - chicken fettuccini alfredo was the perfect post late night meal after a literal day of elevation.