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Last updated: November 18, 2018

Trip Planning Resources


Please note: newly added links are in bold font below.

Everyone has their own method to the madness of trip planning – some plan extensively, some don’t see the value in planning, and some may not know how or where to start. There is an abundance of information available online to help you decide where to go, when to go, how to pack, and more. I can’t comment on the accuracy of the sites out there, but I do have several go-to sites I like to check out for local updates and area-specific conditions before heading out. Personally, Ryan & I have dozens of links and webcams we pull up when making plans – especially during periods when weather can be marginal. And this was pretty much how we came up with the idea of creating this post – instead of googling different things for different areas, we decided to create a one-stop shop of links and resources for various adventure needs.
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Trip date: December 15, 2016

I just wrapped up the semester last week with final exams, and I’ve been hitting the mountains every day (all two of them) since. I’ve been warming up my legs for bigger winter trips later in the season, so far so good.

Stats

Area: Mount Seymour Provincial Park, North Vancouver, BC.
Objective: Dog Mountain

Cumulative elevation gain: 296m
Round trip distance: 4.9km
Trail type: Out-and-back
Nearby hikes: Mystery Lake, Dinkey Peak, First Pump, Tim Jones Peak
Good to Know: This trail is well marked and populated all year round. Dog mountain is “one of the least technically difficult summits in BC, if not the world” – as per bivouac.com.
Mt. Seymour road is a Class A Highway and requires winter tires in good condition or chains between October 1 – April 30.
Winter parking designations are in effect during peak times (P1 and lower P5 for snowshoers and backcountry users), more info can be found on the Mount Seymour site.

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Trip Date: November 6, 2016

With the record-breaking rain we’ve had to date this season, it was a no-brainer to find some waterfalls to chase a few Sundays ago. We recently hiked to Kennedy Falls  and Cypress Falls in the North Shore, and I’ve spent some time exploring various cascades on Burke Mountain, including Sawblade Falls. After some plan-devising, we decided to hike the Sigurd Creek Trail to Crooked Falls, located in Squamish, BC. Read More

Trip Date: October 2, 2016

I was scrolling online, as one does on a Thursday night in attempt to make weekend plans and get a sense of trail conditions paired with inspiration so they might get out somewhere during the upcoming weekend to take a break from the midweek grind, when there it was, a report of a hike to Blanca Lake. The area was new to us, it looked stunning in pictures, so Ryan & I went for it on the following Sunday.

Blanca Lake is located in the Elaho Valley, Squamish, BC. There isn’t a ton of info online so we didn’t know what to expect. Blanca Lake itself was great, but I fell in love with the nearby, smaller tarns. We could have easily spent a full day or two connecting the nearby ridges – we’ll be back for longer trips in the future. Read More