Mistaya lends a helping hand to her camera-laden momma (Me).
Last weekend, on my birthday, my family escaped to Whistler, BC for an exhilarating break of hiking, hiking, hiking in the coastal mountains and then swimming, swimming, swimming and relaxing at the Chateau Whistler Fairmont Hotel. It was a dream escape, we played hard! I fell into bed each night, nearly in an exhausted coma–we averaged 8km mountain hikes each day with all three daughters.We never took a picnic but if we’d stopped for a lunch, we determined we could pull off at least ten km a day easily with Pip (age 7). We like to be the first ones on the hike in the morning (best chance to enjoy quiet forest solitude and spot wildlife). By the time we finish a hike, the rest of the hiking-world is just beginning it.
The scenery was beyond spectacular: lush, towering cedar forests, turquoise blue rivers and lakes; massive, whitewater rapids on those turquoise rivers that crashed over colossal waterfalls. The forest scents–a dream perfume that fills the mind with peace.
One of my very favourite spots on earth is the coastal mountain range of British Columbia. My daughter Mistaya’s name means Grizzly Bear, in West Coast Salish (a language of the aboriginals of the Pacific Coast of British Columbia).
I hope you enjoy the pictures from the first of our hikes in the Coastal Mountain range, about ten km north of Whistler, through an ancient, ethereal cedar forest.
Me, temporarily leading the way. I’m always the first one up a mountain but the last one down–I hike like a bear, walking down hill I’m slow (I think it’s because I have a very high centre of gravity).Peter and PipBuilding an inuksuk in the middle of the forest.Hi-Ho, Hi-Ho is off to explore we go!Waterfall and mountain stream deep in the forest near Whistler, BC.TabsMe on ledge overlooking falls.Mist, climbing ancient cedar.Pip climbing ancient cedar.Mist and Tabs stop to dance on a fallen log deep in the cedar forest.Pip joins her sisters for a groove session on an ancient log in the forest.Three forest fairies, paused for a break in the ancient cedar forest.Tabs, Mist and Pip–climbing amongst ancient cedars.The Outsiders of the Forest.Pip emerges from within the hollow core of an ancient cedar.Hommies of the forest.Pip, trying to keep up with her forest hommies.Once upon a forest…Mom joins in on the forest log grooving.They got dad to hang out with them but will he dance?Wild raspberry in ancient cedar forest.Peter and Pip stop for a break on a breathtaking alpine lookout of the coastal mountain range.Mist strikes a pose while high on a mountain ledge.Tabs on lookout above coastal mountain range.Coastal Mountains, near Whistler, BC.Peter taking a well deserved rest on the hike (he periodically had to carry Pip on his shoulders throughout the 8 km alpine hike–the steep inclines made her legs feel “tired.”
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