SOUTHWEST ROADTRIP

The American Southwest feels like the spiritual home of the roadtrip. Our culture is steeped in these landscapes from our movies to our very foundational myths, and your first visit will likely feel like a homecoming. Whether it’s the vast sagebrush highlands of Nevada, the stunning sculpted red rocks of Utah, or the sprawling canyons of Arizona, the landscapes and sun-bleached colours evoke an awesome sense of desolation and possibility. It’s a trip everyone should take at least once in their life, and with the great variety of sights and stops you can fully customize it to your time and interests. 

This was our first trip to the area, and with just over a week we admittedly bit off more than we could chew. We wanted to see it all! From Zion to Arches to Monument Valley to the Alabama Hills, it was a whirlwind trip of beautiful locations, but next time I’d prefer longer stays in fewer spots. And pretty dang sure there’ll be a next time, yes yes

See more on the blog: Journey thru the American Southwest

WINTER IN THE SHUSWAP

What makes an ideal winter day? Snow-draped vistas, some skiing or snowshoeing, a hearty meal, maybe relaxing in a sauna, or warming up by a crackling fireplace? This March we experienced all this and more on a weekend getaway to the BC’s Shuswap. Long a popular summer destination, it was nice to take a few days and savour the area’s cozy winter comforts.

From delicious meals at Quaaout Lodge to skiing in the Larch Hills, and from the Tin Poppy cabins to exploring the magnificent and frozen Foreshore Trail, it was a relaxing mini-vacation and a perfect winter getaway.

More info on places and itinerary on the blog: Winter in the Shuswap

Photos from last week’s trip to the Shuswap. We were also there October for the salmon run, so it was neat to return so soon and see the familiar landscapes covered with snow. Plus this time we got to stay in the coziest cabin.

More photos on the Field & Forest blog

THE BEATEN PATH

Located in southern Montana just above the eastern edge of Yellowstone National Park, the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness encompasses nearly a million miles of pristine backcountry. Featuring two distinct mountain ranges there are dozens of superlative treks and trails to explore, but there’s probably no better introduction to this area than the Beaten Path.

Capping out at 3000m (~10,000ft), the Beaten Path is a 26-mile high-elevation  trail of towering granite cliffs, sparkling trout-filled alpine lakes, crashing cascades, and lush meadows through some of the tallest mountains in Montana. It’s a shuttle hike, so the two trailheads are several hours’ drive apart, and the logistics add a little bit of extra adventure. We hiked it over three days last August following our trip to Big Sky, and highly recommend it.

For more info (and photos), check out the full post on the blog

One of my new favourite hikes ✨

THROUGH THE FOG-FILLED FOREST

This summer we hiked Vancouver Island’s Juan de Fuca Trail. Just south of the famous West Coast Trail, the JDF offers a similar experience in a slightly more approachable package. Following the stunningly rugged coastline, you’ll see waterfall-carved canyons, grottos and gullies and groves of giant trees, wave-swept beaches, and — if you’re lucky — plenty of iconic BC wildlife.

At 47km long, it can be hiked in as little as 2 days but we recommend 4 or even 5 days if you can spare them. There are some long and muddy sections, and despite starting and ending each day near sea level you can still experience substantial elevation gain. Besides, it’s just nice to savour wild trails like these, to give yourself ample time to explore and enjoy the area.

More photos and info about the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail on our website

KAMLOOPS

Leaving the Shuswap, we turned west to follow the scenic South Thompson River down towards the city of Kamloops. Surrounded by dazzlingly barren hills, Kamloops has some of our favourite landscapes in all of BC: craggy hoodoos rising above lush vineyards, sparkling blue lakes nestled in golden rolling rangeland, sweeping vistas of ponderosa pine and sagebrush steppe. 

We explored a couple trails in the city’s Kenna Cartwright Regional Park, then headed over to hike Battle Bluffs in the Lac du Bois Grasslands. We popped into two local wineries, delicious restaurants, and the farmer’s market. And then we visited an abandoned and crumbling sanatorium for a tour…

Read the full post on Field & Forest