January 5th, 2023: Pack smart by putting heavier items close to your back and higher up your pack.  Be organized and think of keeping important things easily accessible.  Having an accessible sweater makes you more likely to not put off your comfort by difficulty in finding it. Familiarize yourself with your gear before you go.  Setting up your tent in the living room will ensure you have all the parts and know where to put them.

Whistler & Garibaldi Hiking

Easy Hiking Trail WhistlerAlexander Falls  Moderate Hiking Trail Whistler Dog FriendlyAncient Cedars  Moderate Hiking Trail WhistlerBlack Tusk  Pay Use Hiking Trail WhistlerBlackcomb Mountain  Easy Hiking Trail WhistlerBrandywine Falls  Moderate/Hard Hiking Trail Whistler Dog FriendlyBrandywine Meadows  Moderate/Hard Hiking Trail Whistler Dog FriendlyBrew Lake  Easy Hiking Trail WhistlerCallaghan Lake  Moderate Hiking Trail WhistlerCheakamus Lake  Whistler Hiking Trail EasyCheakamus River  Whistler Hiking Trail HardCirque Lake  Whistler Hiking Trail EasyFlank Trail  Moderate Hiking Trail WhistlerGaribaldi Lake  Moderate Hiking Trail WhistlerGaribaldi Park  Moderate Hiking Trail WhistlerHelm Creek  Moderate Hiking Trail Whistler Dog FriendlyJane Lakes  Joffre Lakes Hike in Whistler in SeptemberJoffre Lakes  Moderate Hiking Trail Whistler Dog FriendlyKeyhole Hot Springs  Hiking Trail Hard Dog FriendlyLogger’s Lake  Whistler Hiking Trail EasyMadeley Lake  Moderate/Hard Hiking Trail Whistler Dog FriendlyMeager Hot Springs Easy Hiking Trail WhistlerNairn Falls  Whistler Hiking Trail HardNewt Lake  Moderate Hiking Trail WhistlerPanorama Ridge  Whistler Hiking Trail EasyParkhurst Ghost Town  Hiking Trail Hard Dog FriendlyRainbow Falls  Moderate Hiking Trail WhistlerRainbow Lake  Moderate/Hard Hiking Trail Whistler Dog FriendlyRing Lake  Moderate Hiking Trail WhistlerRusset Lake  Whistler Hiking Trail EasySea to Sky Trail  Easy Hiking Trail WhistlerSkookumchuck Hot Springs  Easy Hiking Trail WhistlerSloquet Hot Springs  Sproatt East  Moderate Hiking Trail WhistlerSproatt West  Moderate Hiking Trail WhistlerTaylor Meadows  Whistler Hiking Trail EasyTrain Wreck  Hiking Trail Hard - Whistler TrailsWedgemount Lake  Pay Use Hiking Trail WhistlerWhistler Mountain

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Testing your stove at home will remind you that you almost forgot matches or misplaced a vital part.   Also, you are less likely to forget a sleeping pad if you set up everything before packing.  Protect your gear from moisture by using a pack cover or bag liner.  Sleeping in a damp sleeping bag on a cold night is an experience you will regret.  Pack covers keep out the rain as well as keep your pack clean when taking it off in wet weather.  A pack liner is simply a plastic bag inside your backpack with the contents inside.  Another method is to put your gear in separate plastic bags which keeps everything dry and organized.  You can even buy “pack cubes” from hiking stores for this purpose.  Use all the adjustable straps on your pack frequently. Loosen them all when you take off your pack and make sure they are loose when you put on your pack.  Cinch up your waist straps first quite tight, and make sure they are over your hips and not on top of them.  You should have your shoulder straps loose and barely touching your shoulders.  Next tighten the two small shoulder straps below your armpits distributing the weight evenly between your waist and shoulders..  Finally tighten the two top straps above your shoulders.  This brings your pack tight with your back and you don’t get any energy sapping rocking from your pack.  Make any minor adjustments for comfort and even in the best quality packs you will have to frequently adjust all the straps to maintain comfort.

Bring extra layers of clothing and frequently layer on and off. If you can quickly remove or add a layer of clothing, you will ensure you stay comfortable and dry.  Sweat soaking your clothes can become dangerous if the temperature drops.  Get yourself a quality waterproof/breathable jacket.  You will pay a lot for a good jacket, but it may become a cherished item for years to come.  For those of us who have hiked or jogged in both waterproof/breathable and just waterproof jackets, the difference is astounding. A non breathable jacket will have you clammy with sweat almost immediately despite your efforts to open the pit vents(zippers under armpits).  An expensive, waterproof/breathable jacket will astound you with its ability to keep you dry and comfortable in everything but heavy and prolonged rain.  Being pounded with continuous rain will obviously render the breathability of the jacket useless, however pit vents will partially help vent moisture out. 

Wear good hiking boots/shoes. It is hard to distinguish between hiking shoes and hiking boots.  Some find the distinction between how high on the ankle they go.  So boots that cover your ankles are hiking boots and shoes that don’t are hiking shoes.  Whether you call them hiking boots or shoes, make sure that if you need them to be waterproof, get waterproof.  Modern advancements like Gore-Tex have enabled shoes to reach extraordinary levels of comfort, durability, lightness and waterproofness.  You can get away with hiking in normal walking shoes, however you will lack a hard sole, protection from wet weather and ankle support.  With normal, non hiking shoes you will feel every rock underfoot.  The much more rigid soles of hiking shoes provide a barrier against rough terrain.

New hikers often come prepared with outer layers and neglect the inner layers. Having an extra pair or two of hiking socks can be a wonderful luxury partway through the hike.  When hiking with novice hikers, this is the most frequently borrowed item.  I pack two extra pairs of socks for this all to frequent occurrence. A spare shirt and a thin base layer shirt are a luxury on the trail and take up an insignificant amount of space.  You will invariably sweat on the trail and when you camp and a dry new shirt and base layer are a lifesaver when the sun goes down.  I have always brought a thin base layer shirt and pants.  You could cram both into a coffee mug and they weigh almost nothing.   

One important, yet often overlooked item to bring on any hiking/camping trip is a toque. The added protection from the cold you get from a toque are way out of proportion to its small size.  Sleeping with a toque on is very comfortable as well and not just on cold nights. Know before you go if you will need to purify drinking water.  Many high alpine hikes have plentiful, fresh water that you can drink right away.  Other, lower elevation trails may lead to sickness if the water is not treated or filtered.  Always have water purification tablets in your first aid kit and you won’t get caught out unprepared. 

More Whistler Updates!

February 1st, 2023: The beautiful murals that make Whistler Train Wreck the magical place it is today began appearing in 2011 when this hidden place was ...
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May 18th, 2023: Summer has arrived in Whistler and though the mountains are still snowy and tough to hike, all the lower elevation hikes are snow free. Parkhurst ...
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Sept 11th, 2022: The notoriously difficult biking trail in the wilderness between Emerald Forest and Rainbow Park is a pretty fun place to wander around.  It ...
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March 25th, 2023: What trails are good this week?  If you are dying for summer to come, Lillooet Lake is paradise these days.  Just an hours drive north of ...
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Amazing Hiking Trails in Whistler

Whistler & Garibaldi Park Hiking Glossary A to Z

The Spearhead Range is a subsection of the Garibaldi Ranges that runs in an arc that connects Whistler Mountain and Blackcomb Mountain.  The Spearhead ...
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The Garibaldi Ranges are a subdivision of the Pacific Ranges of the Coast Mountains.  Deriving its name from Mount Garibaldi, the Garibaldi Ranges cover ...
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Tarn: a small alpine lake.  The word tarn originates from the Norse word tjorn which translates to English as pond.  In the United Kingdom, tarn is widely ...
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Corrie Lake is the surreal looking lake that can be seen across the valley from Whistler Mountain.  While hiking the High Note trail along Whistler ...
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Bivouac or Bivy: a primitive campsite or simple, flat area where camping is possible.  Traditionally used to refer to a very primitive campsite comprised of ...
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The Pacific yew or western yew is a coniferous tree that grows in Whistler and along the coast from Alaska to California. The Pacific yew’s unique ...
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Wedge Creek cuts through the valley that separates Wedge Mountain and Blackcomb Mountain and empties into Green River near the north end of Green Lake.  ...
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Western redcedar is a very large tree commonly found in the Pacific Northwest. Frequently growing up to 70 metres and with a trunk diameter of 7 metres, ...
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Whistler & Garibaldi Park Best Hiking by Month!

In the(usually) deep March snow of Whistler you have an amazing array of snowshoeing options.  If you have not been to the Whistler Train Wreck, you have ...
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April in Whistler is a wonderful time of year.  The winter deep freeze ends and T-shirt weather erupts.  The village comes alive with overflowing patios and ...
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May is an extraordinarily beautiful time of year in Whistler.  The days are longer and warmer and a great lull in between seasons happens.  Whistler is fairly ...
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June is a pretty amazing month to hike in Whistler and Garibaldi Park.  The average low and high temperatures in Whistler range from 9c to 21c(48f/70f).  ...
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Free Camping Gear Delivery to Garibaldi Park

Explore BC Hiking Destinations!

Whistler Hiking Trails

Hiking in Whistler is spectacular and wonderfully varied. Looking at a map of Whistler you see an extraordinary spider web of hiking trails that are unbelievably numerous. Easy trails, moderate trails and challenging hiking trails are all available. Another marvellous ...
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Squamish Hiking Trails

Squamish is located in the midst of a staggering array of amazing hiking trails. Garibaldi Provincial Park sprawls alongside Squamish and up and beyond Whistler. Tantalus Provincial Park lays across the valley to the west and the wonderfully remote Callaghan Valley ...
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Vancouver Hiking Trails

Vancouver is surrounded by seemingly endless hiking trails and mountains to explore.  Massive parks line up one after another.  Mount Seymour Provincial Park, Lynn Canyon Park, Grouse Mountain, Cypress Park and the enormous Garibaldi Park all contribute to Vancouver ...
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Clayoquot Hiking Trails

Clayoquot Sound has a staggering array of hiking trails within it.  Between Tofino and Ucluelet, Pacific Rim Park has several wilderness and beach trails, each one radically different from the last.  The islands in the area are often Provincial parks on their own with ...
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Victoria Hiking Trails

Victoria has a seemingly endless number of amazing hiking trails.  Most take you to wild and beautiful Pacific Ocean views and others take you to tranquil lakes in beautiful BC Coastal Rainforest wilderness.  Regional Parks and Provincial Parks are everywhere you turn in ...
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The West Coast Trail

The West Coast Trail was created after decades of brutal and costly shipwrecks occurred along the West Coast of Vancouver Island.  One shipwreck in particular was so horrific, tragic and unbelievable that it forced the creation of a trail along the coast, which ...
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