kininarimasu!

This trail is not for the casual cardio hiker. It is rated D for Difficult on the Vancouver Trails website. Unless you really want to wreck your ankles, potentially slide down rocks and slippery tree roots, or kill your toenails, proper hiking shoes are a must. I did see some hikers in their runners, which instantly made me cringe. Poor toes. I even saw someone wearing sandals. Bless his soul. I recommend high-cut shoes that have good ankle support because unless you are a pro (in which you should have the proper gear), you will twist your ankle at some point during the 5 hour hike up or the 4-ish hour hike down.

The first third or so of the hike wasn't so bad, in my opinion. A problem we encountered was that Chris' back was hurting like an old man and we had to stop every few minutes or so for it to subside. Having to stop kind of kills your momentum, since your body will cool down and then warm up again. That's how you start to feel the fatigue.

It is quite a steep hike, elevations rise within only a few meters, and your lungs will definitely notice the thinning air. You also have to navigate around tree roots, fallen trunks, makeshift steps, and huge boulders. Around halfway through, you will see an area of landslide filled with rocks. And mosquitoes.

After a couple more hours, when you're almost at the top, be prepared to slink through a couple tiny streams, and eventually, boulders that you'll have to carefully climb up. You will be forced to use your hands at some point, find something to hold on to, because no matter how much of a Spiderman you think you are, you never know when a rock wouldn't be so anchored to the ground or someone from above might send one rolling down. Plus, you will have to step through some little streams of water, so your shoes and the footprints left by the people before you will be wet.

Them hobbits on a journey

Once you reach the top, though, prepare your camera for stunning glacier views and the pristine turquoise waters of this small lake. The sights make the grueling hike worth it.

We even saw a cute little chipmunk that we were giving nuts to. Chris decided to take a nap on the ground and we used him as a plate :)

I am not a city girl. Although I did grow up in a city up the mountain. My home was located on the farther outskirts of town, a good 30 minute commute from the city proper. I was surrounded by trees, mountains, a good view of the valley, lush greenery, and fresh air. Though sometimes that fresh air was nonchalantly pierced by the neighbor's aromatic piggery on our right, the sweet scent of the chicken coops across the house, and a small, humble bakery on our left. I did not get an everyday view of tall buildings and a morning dose of engine exhaust.

When we moved to Vancouver, I knew it was a major North American city. I imagined views of an Americanized Manila, like in the movies. I always thought everything was like the movies. I mean, who didn't?

That's why I was mildly surprised--and relieved--that the city that I was probably going to spend the rest of my life in was not that of a sharp contrast against the lush rurality I left behind. Vancouver, or BC itself to be exact, was the mountainous utopia that satisfied my nature cravings. Although I could do without the horrendously expensive cost of living, I'm glad that some of the best that nature has to offer is just in my backyard.

Since about four years ago, my friends and I have taken into going on hikes every summer. BC is littered with trails to explore and you will never be short on nature trips. There are always lakes, waterfalls, mountains, and breathtaking views to see.

That photo was taken during last year's hike up Garibaldi Lake in Squamish, BC. It was quite the hike--not  just in terms of trail difficulty, but the length will test your drive and your mind. It's a mental as well as a physical battle. It's a good five hour hike on a slightly steep trail...if you hardly stop for a water break. But once you endure all of that seemingly endless dirt trail walking, the sights will astound you. Just seeing a glimpse of those gorgeous blue waters against a snow-capped mountain background will leave you stunned. It's a bloody lake up the mountains. I'm not exaggerating, but if you can, see it for yourself. After the lake, there is an additional trail to go even further up, called Panorama Ridge, or even further up, Black Tusk. That's another 6 hours of hiking and another 7 km. At least.

We didn't go up that extra trail that day (that would require us to camp since we can't make it back in a day), but I'm curious as to what I could see up there. It's practically those mountains in the backdrop. That would be like a bird's-eye view almost. Then again, that's more advanced hiking shit, so...maybe not yet.

There are other easier, more popular trails like the evil Grouse Grind (stairs galore) or the *slightly* more rugged Stawamus Chief. But they both have gondolas to go down now, so that kind of killed the fun. And those trails are so swamped with people, you can smell their sweat and see their garbage and... Yeah, it's not as fun as it used to be. I like going on lesser-known trails, like Garibaldi, although it's slowly starting to gain popularity. Boo-hoo.

I hike, not just to keep my cardiovascular health in top shape, but to appreciate and experience mother nature. I used to hike the Grind for times and crazy "health" purposes like my other friends, but now I just want to take my time and not rush the journey. It's not a race, and I don't want to treat it the way other people who hike the trails do. It's like they're racing with this invisible competitor for bragging rights to no one but themselves. Enjoy the trail, people. Enjoy the trail.

I just recently went on a long hike with friends, on a different trail, and I want to blog about this soon, but I felt like an introductory post was mandatory. I want to include this as a travel log because I'm a tourist in my own country--both the Philippines and in Canada. And traveling by foot is still considered travelling. There's so much in the world that I want to see, including in my adoptive country.

It's summer, so hike with me!

<3