Check out my previous adventures:
  1. The Panoramic Views of Panorama Ridge
  2. The Golden Larches of Frosty Mountain
  3. The Winter Snow of Pump Peak at Mount Seymour
  4. Sapphire Waters and Azure Skies of Battle Bluff
The year 2023 is coming to a close and this will be the last adventure post of 2023. I hope everyone had a good year in 2023; and wishing you all health and prosperity in 2024. Happy new year!
As I was looking back at my hiking photos to decide what to post this week, I came across the time when we went hiked up Hollyburn Mountain in December 2020. This trail is a 7.9km long out and back trail with about 430m elevation gain. Moderate in terms of difficulty, this trail is supposed to boast beautiful views at the top. My wife and I were both very excited to hike this one and see the amazing views; that is, until we saw the weather on the day we planned to hike. It was a cloudy, foggy, and rainy day with very low visibility in the mountains. I told my wife that we will probably not see any views as we cannot see the mountains from the city. My wife, however, is the type of person who will continue to do something once she decided to do it, even if it was to be done under unfavorable or difficult circumstances. So, naturally, we continued to go on the hike, knowing that we will not see a view, knowing that we will walk in slippery and wet snow, knowing that we will get soaked from the rain. We made our way along the well marked but foggy trail. Eventually, we reached a section which was quite steep, but with the help of trekking poles, we were able to climb past the steep section to reach the view point. As expected, there was not view to be seen, so we had our lunch in the rain and quickly headed back to our car.
As the title suggests, our hikes are not always sunshine and blue skies. We don't always get to see the views at the end of the trail either. But we continue to go on hikes, in the snow, in the fog, in the rain, just because we want to go hiking.
Start of the trail, quite foggy
Completely soaked. My son still managed to fall asleep in the carrier, so I tied his head down with a belt. Shouldn't have brought the snowshoes, because snow was packed and we ended up not using them; dead weight.
Steep section
End or trail and view point
Suppose to have a nice view here, but everything blocked off by fog
I sometimes find it thrilling being out in the bad weather, as long as you are appropriately dressed for it. Knowing that while everyone else if hiding out in their homes you are doing something uncomfortable and challenging.
It was freezing rain the other night and I went to take the dog on her late night walk. I put on a podcast and started walking the trail by the golf course near our house and the it was dark and cold and getting pelted in the face by freezing rain. I stayed out for the whole 1.5 podcast. When I came back my wife was so pissed at me. "you want to walk around in the dark in the freezing rain, you don't take "my" dog with you". haha.
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Haha, she does have a point.
I sometimes find it thrilling being out in the bad weather, as long as you are appropriately dressed for it. Knowing that while everyone else if hiding out in their homes you are doing something uncomfortable and challenging.
As a runner who starts marathon training in the middle of winter, I know exactly what you mean. Walking or running in freezing rain and strong wind is no joke, but that feeling of accomplishment afterwards coupled with a hot shower just feels great!
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missed this one...damn nothing like a hike in a torrential downpour. ive been there before lol.
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Wow, I'm impressed, I admire your wife for being as passionate and determined as you say. I find these activities fascinating, I would like to incorporate that lifestyle into my daily life. I also stand up and applaud the fact that you are taking her baby with you. Those family moments are priceless. I apologize for my English, it is not my native language.
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Thank you for your comment. Your English is very good. It is exactly as you say, those family moments are priceless and are worth putting my son's weight on my back every time.
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