Are you a fan of cozy layers, hot chocolate and cozying up by the fire after a trek outdoors?
Same here! We find embracing the chilly temps and simply getting outside is just so refreshing.
Wintertime exploring has it’s perks including your choice of accommodations, smaller crowds and plenty of creative adventures. If you get just as excited about wearing rainproof boots and bright jackets, you’re in good company here.
2020 started with some awesome local travel, hitting up the mountains every two weeks.
To give ourselves a boost of confidence in the backcountry, we signed up for The Great Escape in Squamish while we visited with our talented friend and published author, Cait Flanders.
Having embarked on a few snowshoe adventures over the last few years on Mt. Washington, Whistler and Nederland, Colorado, there are some of our top choices that make for an fun experience.
On one of these treks, we stumbled upon Frozen Dead Guy days after snowshoeing around El Dorado in Colorado a few winters back. Imagine Rifflandia meets an ice skating rink filled with Food carts, and this sums up the festival pretty well.
Last February, we joined in on a backcountry survival class where we learned 5 ways to get an injured person out of the wilderness with only the gear on your back. We learned the value of having a trip plan (including how to use webbing to pull someone out of the bush if they were injured + 4 other ways to carry someone out of the backcountry if needed).
It was fascinating! I now look at my Gore-tex jacket and MEC pack with an entirely new affinity. We were taught how to fashion a makeshift stretcher using 3-4 inch branches and a ski jacket.
Knowing winter weather can change quickly we feel much more equipped to handle ourselves in the event of trouble on the mountain with the insight learned from this 2 hour course.
Leaders of the workshop requested brave volunteers who could demo the validity of the setup. One brave soul even allowed another participant to drag him on the floor using only nylon webbing as a pulley.
We couldn’t help but be reminded of the overarching theme of experience over stuff. How being in a position to help your fellow trekker with the key items to have on your person can mean the difference of a casual adventure day and a much more intense rescue scenario.
Discovering the multi-use advantages of ski poles, the versatility of the straps on your pack and making use of warming blankets has heightened our awareness of venturing into the backcountry confidently and safely.
We can’t speak highly enough of the people who shared their first-hand knowledge along with the appreciation we felt afterwards. Trusting we could be capable of rescuing someone in the backcountry adds another layer of competence and excitement into the trip plan.
Amazing BC Winter Destinations
Mt. Washington Alpine Resort
Whistler and Squamish
Mt Cain, Vancouver Island
Strathcona Park, Campbell River BC
The Cowichan Valley
Golden BC, especially Kicking Horse Resort
When it comes to making the most of winter adventuring, a little extra trip prep makes a world of difference.
If you’re new to winter sports, start with groomed, well laid out trails at local mountain resorts like Mount Washington or Whistler.
Ahead of embarking on any backcountry exploring, we recommend exploring paper maps or referring to an app like AllTrails to get a sense for the topography and orient yourself to the area before you head out.
After snowboarding for many years and feeling the thrill, we’re all about strapping on our snowshoes to experience the beauty of the wild.
The adventure brand, MSR has a detailed breakdown and Winter Pack List here along with a summary of snowshoeing safely. We are not experts, but here are a few items we’ve found to be valuable to have on hand for a winter snowshoe.
Winter is incredible for colourful skies and remarkable sunsets, which makes it a beautiful time of year to get married for these reasons:
Snowy landscapes offer beautiful scenery and lighting for better photo and video captures
You can layer with beautiful blankets and scarves — no need to freeze your buns!
Enjoying snow-centred activities like snowshoeing, skiing and boarding
Helicoptering to a glacier atop a mountain
Snowshoeing to a warming hut like Elfin Lakes (once it’s open again!)
If you are thinking of getting married in the mountains, we believe you can create a once-in-a-lifetime memory. How amazing would it be to snowshoe to a viewpoint, share your vows and wrap up the day with a fondue by the fire?
When designing your plans, consider inviting a few snow-loving friends or family members who can double as day-of helpers. Aside from helping make your day memorable, they can help by making sure you are hydrated and have everything you need.
As photo/videographers we’re happy to port your bouquet, bring some extra goodies and help with direction along with location scouting beforehand. carry rings, vows, set up champagne or snacks for a post-ceremony treat in front of the fire at your Airbnb.)
Local hiking blogs are an amazing resource for sharing insight on snowy trails and suggestions for finding routes that match with your skill level.
Winter Snowshoe Pack List:
waterproof jacket/pants
toque/ear warmers/buff
gloves and pocket hand warmers
wicking base layers
extra warm clothing/socks
hiking boots/snowboarding boots
warm, synthetic or wool blend socks. We love our Darn Toughs!
headlamp
whistle
avalanche beacon
emergency blanket
2L of water per person
hot chocolate packs
energy bars, oatmeal chocolate chip cookies and Noble Jerky (the teriyaki flavour is YUMMY)
our favourite addition - a snow-happy dog (like Raven, the VHS foster dog featured we had in 2020)
It’s important to recognize we all play a part in taking care of these breathtaking locations by following Leave No Trace principles and planning ahead to minimize our impact. We are so lucky to have nature so wildly available and the onus is on us to ensure it’s available to explore for years to come.
We’d love to hear about your favourite winter activities and places to visit in B.C. And, if you’re thinking of infusing more adventure into your elopement plans we’ve got plenty of ideas to share for making your dream day a reality!
You can read about how to plan an elopement and explore more of our films here. Happy Adventuring!
— Bre & Grady