Hiking for the Scaredy Cat
Hikes in and around Vancouver, B.C. Canada
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Scaredy Cat's Hiking Key
1~Trail is 2 ft wide or less 2~Trail is 2-5 ft wide 3~Trail is 5 ft wide or more E~Easy M~Moderate C~Challenging SB~Switchbacks R~Rocky TR~Tree Roots BF~Boulder Field ST~Steep SC~Scrambling on hands CC~Creek crossing/s WC~Waterfall crossing/s F~Flat V~View/s RH~Rolling hills O~Outhouse FT~Toilet PT~Pit toilet D~Dog friendly KF~Kid friendly R/C/L~ropes, chains or ladders RO~Rocky outcrop H~Hills S~Steps PT~Picnic tables C~Camping |
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I was 1 of 21 women chosen out of 200 women worldwide to be an Ambassador for Hike Like a Woman for 2017-18. I completed my year and now am an alumni Ambassador (August 2018). Follow me along with HLAW as I continue to write and gear test. I have my own section in the monthly magazine called Twisted Trails. I am actively looking for Canadian brands to gear test.
https://hikelikeawoman.net
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2018: I am currently updating all the hikes and always adding new ones.
A few years ago my mom and I traveled up to Smithers & Old Hazelton, BC. When went to meet our 'Hann' family and see where my grandparents were from. We drove for 13 hours and over two days. There was a moment when we were on the highway and we saw the first glimpse of the Hudson Bay Mountain in Smithers, BC. My great gramma, Hann's favorite mountain. It was breathtaking. I am not sure if I ever saw a mountain like that before or I just wasn't ready to see them, until that day. I had hiked many times with my dad and liked it but didn't see, what I see now. I guess you just appreciate certain things in your life at different times.
We drove into Smithers and met our Hann family. Later that day we drove 30 minutes to Old Hazelton. It was in Old Hazelton, that I got out of my car and time stood still when I looked up and saw Roche de Boule Mountain. I looked up at her beauty; nestled on the edge of town, standing tall and covered in ice and snow and in that moment, that mountain spoke to me. I am not really sure what she said but I had instant respect for her. Call me crazy...perhaps it was a spiritual moment? Soon after, I would want nothing more but to hike and be in that moment each time I was in the presence of such beauty.
There were many challenges...I have an intense fear of heights. As I climb every mountain, it was almost ruined by my endless fear of how I would get down. I vowed never to return only to be in that same fear over and over again for the love of mountaineering. Fear has had such impact on me and I feel I have lost some good people due to it. Having short legs also brought challenges for me as a hiker...I would read all about the hikes and they would say some hands scrambling. More times than I can count the entire hike I was on my hands climbing up tree roots and up big steps. Boulder fields and logs perched high were near impossible to cross. My legs were covered in scratches after each hike. Back then the only thing that would get me off the mountain without having a panic attack was my friend, Kiki and now it's patient friends that I continue to explore with. Being overweight but fit also slows me down but doesn't stop me. If I am afraid of these things...then there must be others like me out there?
I want to tell you that you can do it if you are short, overweight, slow or scared...it doesn't matter. I will guide you through hikes and I promise if I can do them then so can you. A few years ago we saw a 8 year old on his way to summit The Black Tusk at Mount Garibaldi and met a man on crutches with Cerebral Palsy, and his kind friend carrying all their supplies, who were also on their way to summit The Black Tusk...they inspired me! Now I want to inspire you...
I love writing, I will tell you about the beautiful 2011-2018 hikes I have been on in Bellingham, USA & in Canada...Vancouver, North Vancouver, Squamish, Whistler, Chilliwack, Hope, Manning Park, Pemberton, Deep Cove and Howe Sound. I mostly focus on the trail conditions so you know what to expect when you are hiking.
Please join me on my adventures through my writing and maybe I will give you the courage to climb, burn some calories and see what nature has to offer. I promise you I will tell you exactly everything you need to know about the hike from The Scaredy Cat's point of view for the terrain (sheer cliffs, steep sections, rocky outcrops, boulder fields, waterfall crossings, rooty & rocky and/or goat trails (which for me are just skinny trails).
In closing, I want to say how lucky I am to have had such a great dad. He is the person who started me running & hiking years ago which brings me here now. Even though he will never know...I dedicate this site to my dad, Llewellyn. I love you dad.
One of my favorite quotes by John Muir is..."The mountains are calling and I must go." Join me!
Happy & safe trails!!! Lori aka Scaredy Cat.
2018: Please continue to follow along with HLAW, I am now an alumni Ambassador for Hike Like a Woman. I will continue to blog, gear test and write for the quarterly magazine. hikelikeawoman.net/
A few years ago my mom and I traveled up to Smithers & Old Hazelton, BC. When went to meet our 'Hann' family and see where my grandparents were from. We drove for 13 hours and over two days. There was a moment when we were on the highway and we saw the first glimpse of the Hudson Bay Mountain in Smithers, BC. My great gramma, Hann's favorite mountain. It was breathtaking. I am not sure if I ever saw a mountain like that before or I just wasn't ready to see them, until that day. I had hiked many times with my dad and liked it but didn't see, what I see now. I guess you just appreciate certain things in your life at different times.
We drove into Smithers and met our Hann family. Later that day we drove 30 minutes to Old Hazelton. It was in Old Hazelton, that I got out of my car and time stood still when I looked up and saw Roche de Boule Mountain. I looked up at her beauty; nestled on the edge of town, standing tall and covered in ice and snow and in that moment, that mountain spoke to me. I am not really sure what she said but I had instant respect for her. Call me crazy...perhaps it was a spiritual moment? Soon after, I would want nothing more but to hike and be in that moment each time I was in the presence of such beauty.
There were many challenges...I have an intense fear of heights. As I climb every mountain, it was almost ruined by my endless fear of how I would get down. I vowed never to return only to be in that same fear over and over again for the love of mountaineering. Fear has had such impact on me and I feel I have lost some good people due to it. Having short legs also brought challenges for me as a hiker...I would read all about the hikes and they would say some hands scrambling. More times than I can count the entire hike I was on my hands climbing up tree roots and up big steps. Boulder fields and logs perched high were near impossible to cross. My legs were covered in scratches after each hike. Back then the only thing that would get me off the mountain without having a panic attack was my friend, Kiki and now it's patient friends that I continue to explore with. Being overweight but fit also slows me down but doesn't stop me. If I am afraid of these things...then there must be others like me out there?
I want to tell you that you can do it if you are short, overweight, slow or scared...it doesn't matter. I will guide you through hikes and I promise if I can do them then so can you. A few years ago we saw a 8 year old on his way to summit The Black Tusk at Mount Garibaldi and met a man on crutches with Cerebral Palsy, and his kind friend carrying all their supplies, who were also on their way to summit The Black Tusk...they inspired me! Now I want to inspire you...
I love writing, I will tell you about the beautiful 2011-2018 hikes I have been on in Bellingham, USA & in Canada...Vancouver, North Vancouver, Squamish, Whistler, Chilliwack, Hope, Manning Park, Pemberton, Deep Cove and Howe Sound. I mostly focus on the trail conditions so you know what to expect when you are hiking.
Please join me on my adventures through my writing and maybe I will give you the courage to climb, burn some calories and see what nature has to offer. I promise you I will tell you exactly everything you need to know about the hike from The Scaredy Cat's point of view for the terrain (sheer cliffs, steep sections, rocky outcrops, boulder fields, waterfall crossings, rooty & rocky and/or goat trails (which for me are just skinny trails).
In closing, I want to say how lucky I am to have had such a great dad. He is the person who started me running & hiking years ago which brings me here now. Even though he will never know...I dedicate this site to my dad, Llewellyn. I love you dad.
One of my favorite quotes by John Muir is..."The mountains are calling and I must go." Join me!
Happy & safe trails!!! Lori aka Scaredy Cat.
2018: Please continue to follow along with HLAW, I am now an alumni Ambassador for Hike Like a Woman. I will continue to blog, gear test and write for the quarterly magazine. hikelikeawoman.net/
- This site is only a guide. I am not responsible in anyway, I am only here to help you to have a safer hike and to give you suggestions of places to see.
- In my Hiking Key I refer to the hikes as kid friendly or dog friendly. Keep in mind it all depends on if your child &/or dog listen well. Kids must stay close to their parents on every hike. You know your child better than I. I recommend that dogs are leashed for you and other people's safety while on the trails. Please take your dog waste bags out with you. If you don't have bags then just bury it off the trail a few feet. Dog waste bags are haunting many trails I hike on and I'm afraid we won't be able to bring our furry friends on any mountain with us if this habit continues...