Urs Hole

What do you do when you find yourself very jet-lagged but unexpectedly available on a sunny Friday in November? Go ice-climbing obviously! Upon our return from overseas adventures, it didn't take us long to embrace the Canadian winter that had arrived while we were away. Urs Hole was a perfect early season objective thanks to the short approach and mellow grade (WI2). The 5 pitch route meanders its way up a deep canyon that collects the avalanche debris from Cascade Mountain's huge alpine bowls. As a result, it is only really climbed in the early season before much snow has fallen. With this years early ice formation and low snow in the alpine, it was a good opportunity to give this gem a go.

Looking up the drainage from the parking area

African Safari Part II - Chobe National Park, Botswana

From Victoria Falls, we hopped in a van to drive to the Zimbabwe/Botswana border, which was only about an hour away. Crossing into Botswana, we immediately noticed the improvement in infrastructure and that there seemed to be more going on. There were more people out working, driving or exercising and people seemed happier and friendlier than they had in Zimbabwe. This was most obvious when we arrived at our lodge. The staff greeted us with a shrill wavering sound called ululation (see/hear example here), which is used as a greeting and celebration noise. Throughout our stay, we tried to emulate the women and they tried to teach us, which usually ended in lots of laughter. The staff were cheerful, friendly and welcoming and genuinely excited to get to know us during our stay. The lodge was beautiful, situated on the bank of the Chobe River. Each couple had their own little river house and we shared a communal dining and lounge area with the other guests. The pool area was popular with lots of areas to relax between safaris, and there was even a swim cage in the river so if you wanted to go for a dip with the crocodiles, that was an option too!

Bakwena Eco Lodge near Chobe National Park

Rafting the Zambezi River in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

After our stay in Johannesburg South Africa, it was time for something completely different. We flew to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe (or was it Zambia?), where we immediately noticed the difference between the two countries. Getting through immigration was a nightmare as everyone had to fill out their immigration cards once they got off the plane, then wait in a long line for their visa which was filled out by hand. After making it through customs, we collected our luggage, another disorganized ordeal. Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia) is a very poor country with significant government and economic issues throughout its turbulent past and up to present day. Their currency has undergone crisis after crisis with hyperinflation and multiple re-denominations in the 2000's. The eventual demonetization of the currency in 2015 in favour of the American Dollar occurred after it become one of the lowest valued currencies in the world where a 100 trillion dollar note was worth about 40 US cents!

Rural Zimbabwe

African Safari Part I - Chisomo Game Reserve, South Africa

Chisomo Safari Camp was our first safari destination. Located in the Limpopo Province of South Africa near the Drakenburg Mountains, Chisomo is a camp located within the Karongwe Private Game Reserve. 

Drakenburg mountains

South Africa - Cape Town and Johannesburg

To celebrate an number of special occasions, John and Connie organized an amazing trip for the family to Southern Africa this fall. An African Safari was always something I thought I would want to do, but didn't think it would happen anytime soon. As a result, I showed up with no expectations and was totally blown away by the people, cultures, and African animals that we were luck enough to encounter on our whirlwind trip. Here is the first installment of a trip of a lifetime (split into 4 so I can share more photos!) I cannot thank the Milino's enough for the amazing experience of traveling through Africa together.

Excited for the 26 hours of travel ahead!

Goldilocks Hike - Island Lake Fernie

12.3 km

835 m elevation

3.5 hrs

On a trip down to Fernie this summer, Kyle and I tagged along with the Milinos to hike at Island Lake.

Hiking up Spineback to the start of the Goldilocks Loop

 The Goldilocks trail is a new route that has been developed high in the Lizard Range above Fernie. To access the loop, you park at Island Lake Lodge and follow signs for Spineback Ridge Trail. The well maintained trail starts by meandering past the lake and across streams before starting to climb steeply up the ridge. After 3.5 km, we had climbed 600 m above the lake and lodge. We watched pikas scurrying around in the scree and spotted birds soaring overhead as we hiked.

18 Mile Island Canoe Trip - French River Ontario

18 Mile Island Round Trip

72 km

33 hrs

Paddling through the fog

The alarm goes off at 5am. It is still dark out so we use headlamps to finish packing and load up the canoe from the dock. As we cast off, the water is perfectly calm and a mist is descending. It is a good thing we know the river well on this stretch between Horseshoe Bay (home to our family cottage) and Lost Child Bend because you can't see a thing. The dense fog gives us vertigo as we paddle across the main channel of the French River, losing sight of the south bank. We hear the campers before we see them and the sight of our canoe emerging from the fog causes them all to come down to the rocks to shout hello. Then we pass them and it is quiet again.