outdoor | Nourished Journeys

Tag: outdoor
- Pushing for New Heights in Taiwan
  
  Posted at 4:13 am by nourishedjourneys, on November 10, 2018
  The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.
  ― Eleanor Roosevelt
  
  It has been a couple of years since we last visited Taiwan. Taiwan is a small island country with friendly people, mouth-watering local cuisines, and a plethora of exciting outdoor experiences. A perfect combination for any traveler and outdoor enthusiast. For those who have been following my blog, you probably know that roaming in a modern city is not my traveling style. I like old towns with colorful cultures and unique architectures, but most of all I want to immerse myself in the natural beauty of the place and challenge myself (and sometimes my family) with new experiences. I crave for the fresh air and serenity of the outdoors. With my new-found passion for rock climbing, I searched high and low on the internet for a place to climb in Taiwan and found Longdong (龍洞), situated at the Northeast corner of the country. I was drawn to this place because of the rock formation and its proximity to the ocean. Words can’t describe what I felt when I actually arrived and saw the place. The blue sky and water are just pure bliss. After months of research, I finally found Qxadventures, the rock climbing guide service in Longdong. Choosing a good and qualified guide/instructor for rock climbing is no small feat. You can check out my tips at the end of this post for choosing a guide.
  
  Qxadventures is owned by a couple of rock climbers, QX and his wife Kelly, originally from Singapore. Maybe I am biased because of my root in the neighboring country Malaysia or maybe it’s the passion for climbing that I felt from perusing their website, I just had a gut feeling that they are the right people for this trip. I then enlisted my brother-in-law, his brother, and two other friends to join in the fun. Since this is their first time rock climbing, we decided to split into two groups. Kelly led the beginners and I went with QX for one-on-one instruction/guiding. It was a sunny and hot day (temperature is probably close to the 80’s) even though it’s November. I am glad we chose to come on a weekday and awarded with the crags to ourselves the whole day. We started at the School Gate area and after a couple warmup climbs, QX and I split off from the group and headed to the Music Hall area. I think we were only about an hour and a half since we arrived at the crag but I was starting to feel weak and light headed from the glaring sun. It was about a 30-minute hike between the two areas and I had to just lie down under the shade until the dizziness passed. I was glad to have my Nuun tablets with me to give me the boost to go on. We must have stopped and rested for about 45 minutes until I came ‘alive’ again. During that time I had some good conversations with QX and learned more about them and their passion to improve the quality and service to the climbing community, and help create awareness for the public to take care of our environment so that the future generations can still enjoy what Mother Nature provided.
  
  I have not been climbing or hiking a lot since my knee injury in August. After quite a few physical therapy sessions and a resting period, I was able to hike up Mount Washington back home which is 8.5 miles roundtrip with a 3250 feet elevation gain hike. The Longdong climb was another test and I was ecstatic that I did not experience any pain during my climb. The sandstone cliffs here are amazing sights to see, and I love listening to the waves hitting the rocks during the climbs. These climbs were the highest I had done and perching on the ledge admiring the scenery from above was unbelievably soothing. It felt like home and I didn’t want to come back down.
  
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  What’s a better way to live life to the fullest than to do what you are passionate about every day and to live life with a purpose? Those who know me know that I don’t give recommendation lightly unless I felt strongly about something or someone; and I do highly recommend climbing with Qxadventures while you are there. Meeting QX and Kelly during this trip truly gave me something more to chew on than just a rock climbing experience. Thank you for teaching me new climbing skills and opening my eyes to the myriad possibilities out there.
  
  Here are the tips I promised:
  1. Do your research by searching the internet for reviews, reach out to the relevant community or group often on Facebook for recommendations.
  2. Ask all the questions before committing and know what you want to accomplish during the trip.
  3. During any activity, know your limits and listen to your body for a safe and pleasant experience.
  4. Most of all be prepared with your ten essentials or some sort of modifications and practice Leave No Trace (LNT) on the trails, rocks, beach etc.
  5. Lastly just enjoy the experience.
  My previous posts about Taiwan:
  1. Holiday Adventure Part 1: Escaping the Urban Hustle and Bustle
  2. Holiday Adventure Part 2: The Food
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  Posted in lifestyle and reflections, photography, the great outdoors, world travel | 0 Comments | Tagged featured, Life changes, outdoor, reflection, rock climbing
- Unplugged from a World Away
  
  Posted at 12:58 am by nourishedjourneys, on October 7, 2018
  Sometimes you have to disconnect to stay connected. ~Regina Brett
  
  At this day and age, our daily lives consist of everything electronics and online. Computers, laptops, smartphones, video games, social media connections etc. With all the sensory overloads, there comes a time when enough is enough. We must leave time to unplug, disconnect and head to the mountains, both metaphorically and literally speaking. Last week, we joined some good friends and headed out to Ross Lake Resort in the recreation area of the North Cascades National Park. This place totally fits the bill for ‘unplugging’ because it is remote where there is no direct road access, no internet, cell service, or television. One can opt to hike in or ride the ferry-boat. A few from our group decided to hike in and the rest of us took all the supplies such as food, happy hour drinks (no food or drinks provided at the resort) and went with the boat ride. We started with an almost three-hour car ride from the Seattle area to the ferry-boat ride near the Diablo Lake trailhead. The ferry only runs twice a day so be punctual and don’t miss it. The ferry ride took us up Diablo Lake and lasted maybe about 20 minutes and we arrived at a landing waiting for an open-air flatbed truck to take us up Ross Lake. It was an experience of its own riding on the truck up and down a winding road. After another 15 to 20 minutes we were finally at the landing on Ross Lake across from the resort. A water taxi/speedboat from the resort transported us across the lake in less than a minute, or at least it seemed that way. It took us about 5 hours in total to get there.
  
  The ferry that took us in the first leg.
  
  Everyone pitched in loading the flatbed truck
  
  Waiting to go across, our home for the next few days
  
  The speedboat
  
  The weather was perfect all those days with blue sky, blue lake, the trees, the mountains with a dusting of recent snow and the beautiful floating cabins.
  
  Who could resist views like this everyday
  
  Rental boats at the resort
  
  I like to pretend that’s my waterfront property
  
  Needless to say without the interference from our electronics, we spent our days talking, laughing and just relax on the deck in front of our cabin. There is a plethora of awesome activities available at the resort and surrounding. There are boats, kayaks, canoes, paddle boards for rent at the resort, fishing and an abundance of hiking trails in the area. It was a change of pace from the busy city life to days of no schedules. We watched sunrise, sunset, moonrise, moon set everyday. We ate all our meals on the deck with one of the most beautiful backdrops.
  
  Beautiful scenery
  
  Watching sunset
  
  Watching sunrise
  
  A short hiking trail to Green Point
  
  The color of fall in the air
  
  Love this place!
  
  We came home totally happy and recharged. We can’t wait to go back or even find another secluded place like this to get away. I know that time generally slips by us when we are so engrossed in work, family or just the day-to-day living. However, taking the time to unplug even just for a few hours or a day a week will reap more benefits than you could imagine. I hope you find some inspiration and challenge yourself to start this and make it a ritual.
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  Posted in lifestyle and reflections, local finds, photography, the great outdoors | 0 Comments | Tagged featured, Hiking, lifestyle change, North Cascades, optoutside, outdoor, reflection
- June is for New Beginnings
  
  Posted at 4:16 pm by nourishedjourneys, on July 4, 2018
  The only thing you can do in this life is pursue your passions, celebrate your bloopers and never stop following your fear. —Grace Helbig
  
  June had been a busy month for us, from work to all the activities in between. It also signifies a lot of new beginnings and most of all we get to spend some time together. We have a birthday, prom, graduation and short family trip all in the same month.
  
  In this June my son graduated high school, it’s a bittersweet event for us because of what it symbolizes.
  
  “If you can imagine it, you can achieve it; if you can dream it, you can become it.” —William Arthur Ward
  
  He is stepping into adulthood and will be moving out of the house to attend college before summer ends. It is yet another big step for us as parents to let go. We are proud of both our children pursuing their passions in life and hopefully building their own bright future. On the other hand, there is that immense feeling of sadness that our little family will not be living in the same household. The consolation is that they both will still be in Seattle, close enough for now.
  
  With four different schedules to coordinate, I was finally able to plan a short out of town trip to Leavenworth for rock climbing and hiking. Leavenworth is a Bavarian-styled village town in central Washington’s Cascade Mountain. It offers plenty of outdoor activities, good food, and proximities to wineries. The scenery surrounding the area is just unbeatable. It is on the dry side of the mountain which makes it a great place for rock climbing.
  
  A family affair at the Icicle Creek Canyon cllimbing!
  
  My son and I had been climbing in an indoor gym since the beginning of the year. We were exposed to outdoor rock climbing in early June and at the time still not quite comfortable with it since climbing outdoor is completely different than climbing indoor. For this trip, we were more comfortable and able to relax and let go more when climbing. This was my husband first time climbing and even with his fear of height, he was able to make his way up a little. Although, it still might not be enough to get him excited about the sport.
  
  The next morning, we did a moderately long hike to Colchuck Lake. The Colchuck Lake trail is one of the entrances to the Enchantments, a beautiful Alpine Lakes Wilderness area in the Cascade Mountains.
  
  Beautiful and serene Colchuck Lake with the view of Aasgard Pass, Dragontail Peak, and Colchuck Peak.
  
  The trail turned out to be a little over 11 miles round trip according to my GPS, and close to 2300 feet elevation gain. We were already a little worn out from the climbing the day before so this hike seemed to go on forever, especially those grueling uphill steps. But, the rewards at the end sure made up for it. For all of us though, the downhill hike was the worst. I felt and heard every creak from my knees. One of these days, we hope to hike the entire Enchantments and I sure hope my joints can sustain the hike when the time comes.
  
  With the start of this summer season, we hope to go on more climbing and hiking trips together. Here are some tips to make those trips more enjoyable;
  1. Plan ahead for any outdoor adventures, other than the ten essentials for hiking, always leave your itinerary with someone. Check out the parking permits, camping permits or any other permits needed for the places you intend to hike or stay.
  2. Check out the condition of the trail before you go so you can be prepared. There are many websites or APPs available, locally or nationwide.
  3. For rock climbing, find a course or route that compliment your ability. Making those initial climbs would certainly give you a boost to move forward.
  4. Make good judgment and know your limits. I know most of us to like to push ourselves to go further but in the outdoors that can be a life and death decision. So don’t feel disappointed that you do not complete a climb or a hike, and do feel accomplish that you made it that far.
  5. Lastly just go out there and enjoy!
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  Posted in lifestyle and reflections, the great outdoors | 0 Comments | Tagged featured, optoutside, outdoor, Washington state trails
- A Bucket List or A To-Do List?
  
  Posted at 10:42 pm by nourishedjourneys, on March 10, 2018
  “Unless we take that first step into the unknown, we will never know our own potential!” ― Allan Rufus, The Master’s Sacred Knowledge
  
  Since the beginning of 2018, I have been more active physically and pushing myself to try new things that I have always wanted to do but had managed to find all the reasons in the world to not do. Growing up I was not particularly athletic and I always wished that I could do this and that but never acted upon those wishes. Something inside me changed in the last few months and motivated me to feed that fire. I think as I am getting older, I view life a little differently than before. I learn to put myself first and although it may sound selfish, it is a crucial act that ensures my longevity and happiness.
  
  I have a bucket list in my head for many years. However this past weekend I learned more about managing to-do list and priorities. So my mind was spinning and to me, a to-do list sounds far more exciting and reachable than a bucket list. I found the definitions of to-do list and bucket list and my interpretation is that a bucket list is a wish but a to-do list is something you must tackle and complete.
  
  Definition of to-do list – a list of tasks that need to be completed, typically organized in order of priority. Definition of bucket list – a number of experiences or achievements that a person hopes to have or accomplish during their lifetime.
  
  This realization creates a new sense of excitement and motivation for me. The ‘beast’ in me came out of the shell and penned this exhilarating to-do list. My hope is in time I will be able to cross them off.
  1. Travel and see the world but especially to the world of my ancestors. I have not been very keen on traveling to China until recently. I have been watching a lot of Chinese television shows on YouTube to be more familiar with their culture and their daily lives to prepare myself for our first trip very soon. I want to explore all of China in the years to come. It is a vast country and it will definitely take us quite a few trips to complete the journey.
    China
  2. Be more active and try different types of activities. I am fortunate to have good friends (you know who you all are) who love the outdoors and push me into many new adventures.
    1. Start to run – with the longer days coming our way this is the perfect time to start running outdoors. Our first goal is a family 10K run in August. 10K won’t be a lot to most people but it is going to be a never-ending run for me.
    2. Start to bike – I had never learned to ride a bicycle when I was young. As a beginner, I did a 14-mile journey on my bike and survived with only some minor scratches. Of course, having a winery as the destination is a huge incentive.
      Chateau Ste Michelle Winery
      
      My friend started talking about STP 2019 (Seattle to Portland ride) on our way home and it sounds just a tad scary to me. My goal right now is to overcome the fear of riding a bike and especially sharing the road with cars. However, I won’t rule out that possibility when the time is right.
    3. Start to climb – I love climbing. Since I started rock climbing in an indoor gym in January, I have been thinking of climbing outside. It may take a little while to learn the ropes but I believe one day I will reach that goal.
      Found a climbing wall
    4. Improve hiking endurance – the goal is to reach Mailbox Peak this year, a favorite among local hikers. If you can hike Mailbox, you are golden.
    5. Ultimate goal – Spartan Race 2019? We will start this process by cheering on our friends this April and a preview tour in September. If my body can handle it, I will do it.
  There are a lot of unknowns on this journey but my new motto is “I can and I will” and who knows where this list will bring me in the next few years. Even if I don’t cross off everything on the list, I think by making this list, enjoying and exploring the possibilities out there is just as good as reaching the goals.
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  Posted in lifestyle and reflections | 2 Comments | Tagged bucket list, featured, Hiking, Life changes, lifestyle change, optoutside, outdoor, reflection
- A Sunny Winter Morning in Discovery Park
  
  Posted at 6:00 pm by nourishedjourneys, on January 16, 2018
  All those hours exploring the great outdoors made me more resilient and confident. ~ David Suzuki
  
  After a couple of weeks of rainy and gloomy days, we finally saw the sun this weekend. It was a little warmer than usual, at least for me a two to three layers of clothing day is a warm day in winter. We decided to head out and soak up some much-needed Vitamin D from the sun, a key factor to boost our immune system and fight off winter blues. One of my New Year’s resolutions is to explore more around the areas that we live in for so many years. Discovery Park fits the bill with trees, birds, scenic views and best of all, beaches and lighthouse.
  
  Discovery Park is the largest city park in Seattle on the Magnolia Bluff, with a great view of the Puget Sound, the Cascade and the Olympic Mountain ranges. It has a 2.8 mile loop trail and that connects to a few other trails. We followed the loop trail from the visitor center and was greeted with some amazing views.
  
  The open field on the trail
  
  Overlooking Puget Sound from the bluff
  
  I love those bare trees
  
  It was still foggy in the morning so we could barely see Mount Rainier in the distance. What I love in the winter is looking at the bare trees with their branches extending into the sky, and I definitely saw plenty of that there. About half way into the loop trail, we hiked another half mile all the way down from the bluff to the South Beach where the West Point Lighthouse is situated. Although old, I can still feel the presence of the lighthouse, picturing all those years ago, shining its light and guiding those who were passing through.
  
  West Point Lighthouse
  
  The living quarters at the West Point Lighthouse
  
  Another view of the grounds at the West Point Lighthouse
  
  The word “landmark” is from the old English “landmearc”, meaning ‘an object in the landscape which, by its conspicuousness, serves as a guide in the direction of one’s course. ~ Robert Macfarlane, Landmarks
  
  It was the first time I visited a beach in the winter and the morning sun created the perfect warmth for the day. There were families picnicking by the beach, little kids playing in the sand and looking for shells and sea glass, and quite a few photographers trying to capture the beauty of our city.
  
  A family picnicking
  
  South Beach – walking towards the West Point Lighthouse
  
  The North Beach
  
  After wandering for some time on the beach, we now had to make our way back up. We went up a lot of muddy stairs to join the loop again and completed our visit. This is definitely a must see place in my book if you are visiting Seattle.
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  Posted in local finds, photography, the great outdoors | 0 Comments | Tagged Hiking, Life changes, optoutside, outdoor
- Bringing You the Holiday Season: Pacific Northwest Style
  
  Posted at 7:32 pm by nourishedjourneys, on January 1, 2018
  I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes. Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You’re doing things you’ve never done before, and more importantly, you’re doing something. ~Neil Gaiman
  
  Unlike the past holiday seasons, we teamed up with friends and decided to embark on a different version of celebration for this season besides the usual social gatherings. We started with snowshoeing at Gold Creek Pond Trail.
  
  Spotted a snowman on a snowshoeing trip
  
  The day we went was raining and not the best snow condition for snowshoeing but it was still a great outing to inaugurate our winter outdoor activities. Growing up in another part of the world accustomed to tropical climate, I don’t like cold weather and winter is usually the season that I tend to ‘hibernate’. But no more hibernating. In order to enjoy myself outdoor in the winter, I invested in quality clothing and gears that keeps me warm, dry and comfortable. I am able to shop and get healthy at the same time. A definite win-win in my book.
  
  On Christmas Eve, we hiked the Chirico Trail to Poo Poo Point. This is a short trail but because of the elevation gain of 1700 ft in less than 2 miles, it is classified by my friends as their favorite outdoor cardio gym. One definitely needs a pair of strong legs to get oneself moving up those oversize stairs formed by rocks. That was the third time I hiked this trail and I was still struggling. Your reward though for working out those muscles is an amazing view of Mount Rainier in the foreground before reaching Poo Poo Point. The Point offers a great view of all the surrounding cities and a place to watch the paragliders launching.
  
  The perfect place to rest and reflect
  
  Mount Rainier at the foreground
  
  View from Poo Poo Point
  
  A week later on New Year’s Eve, we embarked on a quest to find a true winter wonderland. The result? Waking up at 5:30 am, reaching the parking area for Franklin Falls before 8 am and started our journey. This is not a difficult hike and it is usually just 2 miles roundtrip from the trail head to the Falls. However the road to the trail head is closed due to the icy condition so this time around it is a 7.5 miles roundtrip hike. This trail is truly a winter wonderland with some cabins in the woods, snow-covered grounds and trees, a creek and the grand finale being the half-frozen Franklin Falls. This is on my list of possibility to come back when the Falls is completely frozen.
  
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  Adding to the excitement of welcoming 2018 and doing something new, we decided to take on a new challenge. We hiked up to Poo Poo Point again around 10 pm new year’s eve after a few hours of resting from Franklin Falls. We rang in the new year at the top of the Point with a million dollar view. City lights and fireworks twinkling simultaneously above the clouds. Two hikes in one day which is a first and overall we raked up about 12 miles of hiking, another first for me to reach double digits in a day. We finished 2017 and started 2018 on a high note. This is going to be a great year.
  
  New Year celebration at Poo Poo Point
  
  Some personal tips for a successful winter outing:
  1. Don’t forget your basic ten essentials or the winter version
  2. Good quality clothing – base layer, fleece, downs, waterproof outer layer (jackets and pants), warm hat/beanie, face cover, gloves, warm socks
  3. A good pair of waterproof hiking boots – I love my pair of Asolo for fall and winter hikes (it gets too warm for summer)
  4. Microspikes or crampons for your winter hiking boots for those icy and slippery trails
  5. Snowshoes and poles with bigger baskets to prevent the poles from sinking into the snow
  6. Insulated flask for hot drinks – nothing beats having a hot cup of tea or hot cocoa on a cold day
  7. Packs of hand warmers
  8. Bring family members, friends or anyone who would encourage you along the way
  2018 here we come!!!
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  Posted in lifestyle and reflections, photography, the great outdoors | 0 Comments | Tagged bucket list, featured, Hiking, lifestyle change, optoutside, outdoor, Washington state trails
- Experience Banff from New Heights – Mount Norquay Via Ferrata
  
  Posted at 10:13 pm by nourishedjourneys, on September 10, 2017
  The mountains are calling and I must go. ~ John Muir
  
  I couldn’t have agreed more with this famous John Muir quote. The mountains are magical. I love the feeling of being high up soaking in the sun, the air and just breathe in the surrounding. During our recent Banff trip, we decided to experience the highly recommended Mount Norquay via ferrata. Via ferrata means ‘iron road’ in Italian. There are steel cables secure to the mountain/rock with steel bolts and when you climb you will be attached to the cable at all times. At Mount Norquay, they offer several routes with different lengths, heights and difficulty levels. We did the 4 hour ‘Ridge walker’ route which was just right for our first time climbing. My husband is afraid of height so we were being conservative just in case he couldn’t do it. Our route includes some steep hikes, a suspension bridge and lots of climbing.
  
  The first challenge – the suspension bridge
  
  One of the steep climbs
  
  Just hanging!
  
  Reaching the first rest stop
  
  Water, snack break and enjoying the view
  
  Our guide was absolutely wonderful in making sure that we were safe the whole time. After this trip, I fell in love with climbing. Nothing beats the feeling of being able to suspend yourself by the cliff and marveling at the creations below your feet. We all enjoyed this activity so much that we didn’t want it to end. Next stop, the via ferratas at the Italian Dolomites, maybe?
  
  Beautiful view from the top
  
  At the top of the ridge walker route at about 8000 feet.
  
  Some tips before you go:
  1. If you are afraid of heights, know your limits. Maybe try the shorter route. The guides are really nice and they will do their best to take care of you if they aware of your condition.
  2. Hiking poles are definitely a plus for those steep sections especially for the hike downhill.
  3. Bring water, snacks, extra clothing and rain jackets and wear sturdy hiking shoes/boots. It is breezy up on the mountain and weather can change quickly. A storm was heading our way when we were at the top but the ground crews and the guide were in constant contact to assess it and made plan to get us down quickly if needed.
  4. Relax and enjoy yourself.
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  Posted in photography, the great outdoors, world travel | 0 Comments | Tagged featured, Hiking, NationalParks, optoutside, outdoor
- Sentinel Pass – a must do Moraine Lake Trail in Banff
  
  Posted at 5:59 pm by nourishedjourneys, on September 3, 2017
  Between every two pine trees there is a door leading to a new way of life. ~ John Muir
  
  Other than Lake Louise, Moraine Lake is probably the other glacial-fed lake that is most photographed. What can be more beautiful than a lake that is situated in the Valley of the Ten Peaks surrounded by mountains, trees and rock piles. There are many trails in the Moraine Lake area. The closest and easiest is the Rockpile Trail, which led you up the top of the rock pile with a stunning view of Moraine Lake and the Ten Peaks. There is a well-marked trail with switchbacks near the lake but we observed a lot of people fell into the water by taking the short cut from the parking lot. This short cut consists of logs floating on the lake at the bottom of the rock pile. They seem innocent and easy to maneuver but one has to be agile to go through these logs. Falling into the cold water will definitely put a damper to your visit.
  
  Moraine Lake area trails map
  
  Moraine Lake
  
  Logs near the rock pile
  
  We decided to challenge ourselves and took the difficult hike through the Larch Valley and up to Sentinel Pass. The hike is about 7.2 miles round trip with about 2370 feet elevation gain. The first part of the hike is a steady climb to the Larch Valley with peekaboo view of Moraine Lake in between the trees at the beginning of the trail. As we hiked to the higher elevation, the Ten Peaks were getting closer and closer.
  
  The larches will turn golden in autumn
  
  Larch Valley
  
  The scenery is just too beautiful to describe. The meadow of wild flowers was amazing too. Once we passed the Larch Valley, the climb to Sentinel Pass began right after the Minnestimma Lakes. It was such an intimidating view looking at the switchbacks to the pass. We had to climb about 1.5 miles and about 650 feet up. Hiking poles will definitely help especially coming down the trail. Once we reached the summit, we were welcomed by the views into Paradise Valley and the back towards Larch Valley and the Ten Peaks. I would consider this the best hike of all times, difficult yet rewarding.
  
  Sentinel Pass Trail
  
  Minnestimma Lakes, when the uphill climb begins
  
  On the way up, getting closer
  
  View from Sentinel Pass
  
  View from Sentinel Pass
  
  View of Paradise Valley (Sentinel Pass hike)
  
  Tips before you hike Sentinel Pass:
  1. Parking is limited at the Moraine Lake area. We were there in August and by 8am the lot was full and we found roadside parking. Roadside parking is limited and the road to Moraine Lake will close when it gets crowded and parking full.
  2. This is bear country, check the Parks Canada website before you hike if there is a restriction on hiking party size. Carry bear sprays with you and know how to use it.
  3. The weather can be unpredictable on the mountains. Pack enough water, food, hiking poles and extra clothing. It is breezy and cool up on the pass.
  4. Give yourself plenty of time to fully enjoy the views and experience.
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  Posted in photography, the great outdoors, world travel | 1 Comment | Tagged featured, Hiking, NationalParks, optoutside, outdoor
- Hit the Road – Banff National Park/Lake Louise
  
  Posted at 8:12 pm by nourishedjourneys, on August 17, 2017
  We must go beyond textbooks, go out into the bypaths and untrodden depths of the wilderness and travel and explore and tell the world the glories of our journey. ~ John Hope Franklin
  
  Our summer road trip has finally come to an end. We started from Seattle, drove to Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada and continued on to Glacier National Park in Montana, USA. It was such a wonderful trip to the outdoors that it will take a few posts to recount all our adventures. We did a brief stop at Yoho National Park en route to Banff visiting Emerald Lake and the Natural Bridge. The weather was just perfect throughout our journey. There were a lot of forest fires in the area but luckily the air was still clean and fresh where we headed.
  
  Emerald Lake, Yoho National Park
  
  Natural Bridge, Yoho National Park
  
  Natural Bridge, Yoho National Park
  
  We rented a condo in Canmore, which is about 20 minutes from Banff and about 40 minutes away from Lake Louise area as our base. Canmore is a picturesque little town with lots of mountains and trails. The town center houses a lot of good restaurants and grocery stores which are all within walking distance from where we were staying. We are not big fans of hotels and the two rooms condo provides enough space to move about and definitely a sanctuary to go back to after our long hikes. If you are into biking, the Legacy Trail connects the town of Canmore and Banff and is a well paved biking trail.
  
  Lake Louise was our first stop in Banff National Park. I have no words to explain how beautiful and serene it is especially in the early morning hours. The lake is surrounded by mountains and glaciers on one end and the famous Chateau Lake Louise on the other.
  
  Beautiful and serene Lake Louise with Mount Victoria as the backdrop
  
  Chauteau Lake Louise
  
  We decided to hike to the less crowded tea house at the Plain of Six Glaciers trail. Round trip from the trail head along the Lake Louise shore to the tea house is 6.8 miles with about 1180 feet elevation gain, which we considered as a moderate hike. The scenery is just stunning as we get closer and closer to Mount Victoria. I think the hike seems easier because of the food reward at the end. The vegetable soup and cakes at the tea house were amazing. This is definitely an unforgettable experience for us.
  
  Almost there – Plain of Six Glaciers hike
  
  Plain of Six Glaciers hike
  
  Plain of Six Glaciers Tea House
  
  During the descend we have a peak-a-boo view of the Chateau and Lake Louise far away.
  
  View of Chateau and Lake Louise from the descend
  
  Some tips for your visit:
  1. If you are visiting during the summer peak season, start your hikes early. Most parking lots in the popular areas are full by 9am. We started our day before 8am and ended early afternoon to avoid crowds.
  2. Be sure to bring the ten essentials for hiking in the Canadian Rockies, especially bring layers of clothing, the weather can change in an instant in the higher elevation.
  3. Most of the Canadian Rockies are bear countries. Be prepared and bring at least a bear spray and know how to use it. Don’t hike alone. Visit the Park Canada website for daily updates on bear sightings and know which areas require you to hike in a tight group of at least four people.
  4. Lastly, have fun and enjoy what nature has to offer.
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  Posted in photography, the great outdoors, world travel | 6 Comments | Tagged featured, Hiking, NationalParks, optoutside, outdoor
- A Leisure Weekend in Vancouver, B.C.
  
  Posted at 1:47 am by nourishedjourneys, on July 22, 2017
  A life of leisure and a life of laziness are two things. There will be sleeping enough in the grave. ~Benjamin Franklin
  
  Since we are living in Seattle, a weekend or day trip to Canada is typically painless unless you encounter the endless lines of cars waiting to cross the border. Recently my mother and sister had a stopover in Vancouver before joining a tour so we decided to head north and meet up with them for the weekend. We usually stay in the Richmond area because of the abundance of authentic Chinese food. For this trip we stayed at the Radisson Hotel and tried the sleep number bed. I must say that it was very comfortable and probably the first time I did not experience back ache from sleeping in hotel beds. Aberdeen Centre, primarily a mall with Asian vendors, located right across the hotel. The mall has shops and a food court with yummy Asian food. If you are a first time visitor, this is a great hotel to stay in.
  
  We visited Capilano Suspension Bridge Park which was very busy on a summer weekend. There was a long line of people going across the suspension bridge to the forested area with nature walks and Treetops Adventure. Caution, if you are prone to motion sickness, go when there are less people on the bridge. There is also a Cliffwalk which is a steel walkway around the edges of the mountain. Overall it’s a nice place to visit for a few hours and younger kids will probably enjoy it more.
  
  Capilano Suspension Bridge
  
  Another great place to visit is the Steveston Fisherman’s Wharf. When we visited in March, it was cold and most of the shops were closed. This time it was sunny, warm and breezy. The perfect weather to take a leisure stroll and browse the shops. This is also the place to get some delicious fish and chips, sushi or fresh seafood right off the fishing boats.
  
  Steveston Fisherman’s Wharf
  
  We will be passing through here again on our way to Lake Louise/Banff National Park in a couple of weeks. To help plan for our trip, I bought a highly recommended book “Don’t Waste Your Time in the Canadian Rockies”. I searched high and low for the book locally and through Amazon but it was too expensive. The only way to get a reasonable price is to get it in Canada. I love this newest edition because of the separate little booklets that you can just take on the hikes with you. More incentives to visit Canada.
  
  A great hiking guide
  
  Most of the time, we are so consumed by our work during the weekdays that when the weekend roll around, we are just too tired to do anything. However relax and spend some leisure time with friends and family on the weekend will usually cure the workday weariness. I hope you can go outside and enjoy what nature gives us this wonderful summer.
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  Posted in world travel | 0 Comments | Tagged outdoor
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  “I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order” ~ John Muir. First hike of the decade with my baby. An otherwise crowded trail was quiet and beautiful, very refreshing hike. It’s good to be finally back amongst nature!#hikingadventures #hikinggoals #washingtontrails #winterhike #snow #explore #optoutside #ospreypacks #hikingfamily
  
  It’s just the beginning of winter and I’m already longing for the warm summer hiking days. Where’s the ☀️? #washingtontrails #explorepnw #optoutside #hiking #hikingadventures #forest #summer
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