My Journey: Love for the Outdoors

I was recently asked how I fell in love with the outdoors and how it became such a significant part of my life. In this post, I want to share how that happened and why my mission in life is to inspire families to do the same. I developed a love for nature at a young age, thanks to my parents’ willingness to immerse us in the outdoors. We participated in various outdoor adventures, both in warm and cold weather, throughout the year. The picture above shows us hiking along Lake Minnewanka as a pre-wedding get-together for my brother and his wife. Outside is where we like to spend a lot of our time. Over the years, my family has been my safety net and my safe haven, and at thirty-eight years old, they are still my go-to people for outdoor adventures.

Starting Out

The first backpacking trip I ever did was the Berg Lake Trail at six years old. My brother was four years old. It took us approximately seven hours to walk seven kilometres. My parents had to carry most of our belongings, as we could only fit a couple of things into our small school backpacks. We found ourselves wanting a snack every hour. It took a lot of patience from my parents, but eventually, we arrived at the Kinney Lake campsite, which sparked my desire to create memories in the outdoors with my family moving forward.

Tip #1: I understand that going backpacking can be daunting if you’ve never done it before or haven’t taken your children yet. I suggest taking on various hikes of different lengths and difficulties to practice. This will make an eventual backpacking trip easier. You can also hire a guide to show you the ropes if that makes you more comfortable.

Tip #2: Bring plenty of snacks for your children, as they may want to eat frequently, especially if they are younger. There is a great variety of available snacks.

Tip #3: Be fit parents to carry items for yourself and your child. Start with an overnight trip to share your experience with your child or children and get a taste of the outdoors together.

Love Doing Outdoor Activities

I grew up in the outdoors with my family. I participated in various activities, such as canoeing the Bowron Lakes when I was twelve years old. We were small enough at this point for the four of us to fit in one canoe. At times, my brother and I would hang on to the gunwales of the canoe and sit at the bottom, while my parents maneuvered through the rapids. We were able to paddle forward on the lakes. We had the privilege of learning different paddling techniques at a young age.

My family and I went cross-country skiing to Shadow Lake in the winter when I was ten years old.

We went into the backcountry to the Bryant Creek shelter, towards Mount Assiniboine, with our cross-country skis when I was seventeen. We learned that we could experience a weekend in seclusion by travelling fourteen kilometres on our skis. Sometimes, we would go to bed looking at the beautiful, glowing stars under a clear sky and wake up to a moose in front of the hut. Most people will never get to experience that, and I did at seventeen!

We backpacked the West Coast Trail for the first time when I was fifteen.

My love for the outdoors continued into adulthood, as I kayaked in Desolation Sound with my family. My parents sought opportunities to immerse us in experiences that people would never do themselves or with their children, and in turn, I gained experiences of a lifetime! I’m so grateful for the memories!

Family Bond Created Through Our Love for the Outdoors

The outdoor activities that we participated in together created a bond between us, like nothing I’ve experienced anywhere else in my life. I couldn’t wait for the next trip, for the next adventure, whether it would be close to home or abroad. I’m experiencing an adventure of a lifetime! At the end of our trips, we would always have a family hug. That became a tradition. Now, we include Kris in our family hugs when we finish a trip together. It was fantastic to experience a variety of different activities. We always knew our summers would be packed with fun. I was happy that we had the opportunity to spend it with my parents and brother.

We also went downhill skiing, snowshoeing, and skating in the winter. In the spring, summer and fall, we participated in events such as hiking and camping. We never ran out of activities to do as a family.

Adventure Planning

My dad loves planning. I inherited that trait. He took us on many adventures, both near and far from home. We acquired many skills through a variety of outdoor activities that have come in handy throughout our lives. It offered us perspective and to be adaptable when things didn’t go as planned.

Tip #1: It’s essential to be adaptable and ready to change at a moment’s notice when dealing with the weather outdoors or when campsites are closed on a backpacking trip, causing you to hike longer that day.

Tip #2: My best memories were created through activities we did together. Don’t worry about the expensive trips. Remember, quality time over materialistic items will win your children’s hearts for life. If you’re not comfortable with overnight trips, day trips such as hiking to Laughing Falls, kayaking, or cross-country skiing are just as wonderful. Your children will be happy you took time off to spend it with them.

Love for the Outdoors With Family

Growing up participating in outdoor activities with my family taught me that I could be vulnerable, honest, and open about how I felt, regardless of whether I was happy, sad, or defeated. Doing outdoor activities with them made me feel secure. It was a safe haven surrounded by people I trusted my whole life. I didn’t have to put up a brave face and pretend when I wasn’t happy or feeling challenged.

We created a routine. I know what to expect when we explore together and can be vulnerable with them.

Love for the Outdoors Helped My Mental Health

My love for the outdoors helped me through tough times. My parents always had the mentality that I would feel better mentally and physically when I spent time outdoors. So that’s what we did. Additionally, the benefits of regular exercise help me feel in shape for upcoming trips.

Friends

Occasionally, I enjoy hiking with friends as well. Kris and I had the pleasure of joining our friends on a hike to the Athabasca Glacier one year. It was a gorgeous day that enticed us to take many pictures. Hiking with friends allows me to explore different regions and engage in diverse conversations. It’s amazing the topics that can be covered throughout an adventure. No one is distracted by technology or other things going on in our lives. I enjoy planning hiking events, but it’s also nice to be invited on trips. I think exercising in the outdoors with my friends is a great way to spend time together. It also promotes positive mental and physical health.

Career in the Outdoors

I’ve thought of pursuing a career in the outdoors, but I don’t have an interest in being a backpacking guide all summer. I enjoy changing up my activities. When the weather is miserable on a family trip, it’s manageable for one week, and then I know it’s over (there’s an end in sight). On the other hand, if it rains all summer while guiding people, that’s less enjoyable.

I’ve considered the possibility of organizing private trips when I’ve some free time in the future. I could offer a couple of trips over the summer, with either a one-day hiking or kayaking trip, or a two-day introduction to backpacking trip. These could be possibilities. It would offer more flexibility to work around my schedule. Even if the weather isn’t the greatest, I would know that it’s a short time under those circumstances. The trips I’d offer would be comfortable for me, making it easier to maintain a positive outlook, and would be nice to inspire families to get outside as well. The rest of the summer would allow me to participate in various activities with my family. I’ll see where the future takes me and what I want to consider.

Inspiring a Love for the Outdoors

My brother and I are backpacking the Rockwall for the first time at nine and eleven years old, respectively. We did parts of the Rockwall three times throughout our childhood. It is such a gorgeous hike with wildflowers over the summer months. I’ll need to do it again sometime as an adult to compare notes. We were able to carry most of our equipment and supplies at this point, including a sleeping bag, sleeping pad, pillow, clothes, and some food. My parents carried heavier items such as the tent, pots, and fuel. I always enjoyed these trips, getting away from it all (the hustle and bustle of the city) and being with family in nature.

Canoeing Murtle Lake, in British Columbia

My brother (at seven years old) and I (at nine years old) helped my parents paddle on the lake. We learned the endurance it took to canoe long distances at a young age, as well as the skill required to reach our destination. I loved learning about many different activities throughout our lives.

Love for the Outdoors: Cross-Country Skiing

I started cross-country skiing at the age of nine. The picture above shows me cross-country skiing to Shadow Lake. The smile says it all. I loved being able to ski long distances into the wilderness, away from cities, and spend time with my family in the snow-covered landscape.

Kayaking Near the Copeland Islands

We kayaked here after I graduated from grade twelve, at eighteen years old. I learned to kayak later in life (not as a young child). I loved the feeling of being free to kayak wherever we wanted on the ocean, without a specific trail to follow. We just had a general paddling direction while staying close to shore. Wearing our PFD made it easy to move our arms while travelling long distances. I love watching sea otters and sea lions play in the ocean. They inspired us to slow down and take pictures, and distracted us from rushing to our destination by kayaking quickly. The spectacular purple and orange starfish in the water were gorgeous to look at as well.

Final Thoughts

I want to inspire families to get outdoors by realizing the benefits of doing activities together. It won’t always offer sunshine, rainbows and butterflies, but having a place to be yourself, be honest, have fun and learn about the outdoors with each other is priceless.

When people tell me, you’ll stop having a life when you have kids. I have always been shocked by that comment. “You’ll have to put your life on hold,” I was told. My response is “really?” Throughout my entire life, we enjoyed outdoor family adventures. My brother and I canoed the Bowron Lakes when we were 8 and 10 years old, respectively, and backpacked the Rockwall Trail when I was eleven. I was fifteen years old the first time we backpacked the West Coast Trail.

That’s a far cry from my parents having to stop living their lives. I feel they lived an even greater life, passing on their passion and love for the outdoors to us. Don’t let anyone tell you that you’ll stop living your life. You are capable of living the life you want. You have to make that decision to spend time in the outdoors! Start with small trips and build on your skills and abilities.

Additional Links

• Epic 4-Day Jasper Summer Itinerary for Adventurous Couples
• Banff Unique Experiences: 3 Days Summer Itinerary
• Where Can I Find Spectacular Waterton Fall Hikes?
• Ultimate WCT Packing List

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