After living in British Columbia for 45 years, I have had many adventures from the Rocky Mountains to the west coast of Vancouver Island and Haida Gwaii. These are the few still on my list.
Vancouver Island
1. Nootka Island – 4-day backpack. Fly in and take the Uchuck back to Gold River.
2. Hesquiat Peninsula – 4-day backpack. Fly in and out. End at Cougar Annie’s Garden.
3. Road trip Central Island. Carmanah/Walbran big trees, Kinsol Trestle. 5-7-days. Car camping.
4. Hot Springs Cove. Fly, boat or kayak, camp 3 days/2 nights.
5. Kayak trips: a. South Gulf Islands (5-10 days) b. Johnson Strait – killer whales c. Deer Group d. Gerald Island e. Jervis Inlet f. Broken Islands
6. Road trips (camper?): a. Long Beach 3 days/2 night, b. Saltspring island.
British Columbia
1. Valhalla Traverse – difficult 7-day backpack at my ultimate limit
2. Slocan Lake – kayak 4-5 days. Would be my 5th time, the best lake kayak in the world
3. Silverspray Basin/Cabin (Kokanee Glacier PP) – 4 days/3 nights in cabin. Climb mountains around basin. My favourite place in the West Kootenay.
4. Kettle Valley Railway – cycle Castlegar to Hope or just the Carmi Section from Midway to Penticton.
5. Burgess Shale, Yoho National Park. Day hike, requires reservation
6. Stanley Glacier – Kootenay NP day hike (Burgess shale-like deposits)
7. Mt Edziza and the Spectrum Range. 7-12 day backpack in spectacular volcanic landscape. Northern BC.
Canada
1. Labrador/Newfoundland road trip – East Coast Trail, Gros Morne
2. Nova Scotia road trip
3. Akshuyak Pass, Auyuittuq National Park, Baffin Island – 97km backpack. My #1 bucket list item, has been in my dreams for decades, easy hiking in surreal environment. Boat trips at each end for access.
United States
1. Road Trip Utah – backpacks Salt Creek and Grand Gulch (Collin’s Spring to San Juan R), explore Elk Plateau, Dolls House Ruin, Slickhorn Canyon (down 1st fork/up 2nd Fork; down 3rd Fork/up Trail Fork), John’s Canyon, Fish & Owl Canyon backpack.
Four days in South Coyote Buttes. Explore to Paw Hole, Wave, White Pocket area.
2. Kayak SE Alaska via Alaska Marine Highways, the ferry system. Can board in Bellingham with loaded kayak, camp on covered deck, get off at any of the ferry towns (Sitka, Juneau, Haines, Skagway) or take it all the way to Dutch Harbour at the end of its trip down the Aleutians.
3. Wonderland Trail – 94 miles backpack trip around Mt Rainier. Best in July for the wildflowers.
3. Mt St Helens – climb
4. Kayak Lake Superior – Picture Rocks.
World
1. Via Francigena – 2000 km pilgrimage route Canterbury to Rome. Cycle.
2. Vezelay section of the Camino de Santiago.
3. “The Great Crossing”, Wicked Diving’s 19-day repositioning trip in Indonesia. Access places no one goes to. Totally immerse yourself. I took a 7-day live aboard trip on this boat in the Raja Ampats of Indonesia. It is a classic.
