Wilderness Stories
The Incan Capital of Cusco
By Raghbir "Raggy" Jin Part two: The Incan Empire
Stepping into the historic downtown district of Cusco feels like stepping out of a time machine. Dogs pass as I walk through one car-less neighbourhood, stretching my arm out every now and again to brush the large stone walls left over from Incan times. Ladies in traditional Quechua clothing walk llamas over the cobblestone sidewalks, past open-air markets that give an equally powerful feeling of nostalgia. ...Full Story
You Aren't Supposed to See Cougars
Story & photos © Elise Mallory
This is the first thing that people usually tell me every single time I tell this story. “A cougar could be stalking you as you hike in the bush and you will never even know!” - another very popular statement that seems to attach itself to tales of cougar encounters (or lack thereof). This animal seems to be a ghost on Vancouver Island. Everyone I talk to has never actually come across one while camping or hiking, but everyone knows the eerie feeling of wondering if something is watching you in the dense environment of BC’s wilderness. Full Story
The Incan Empire in South America
Part One of a series by Raghbir Jin
When people hear about the Incan empire, usually the first thing that comes to mind is the stone city of Machu Picchu nestled high in the Perú's Andean mountain range. Sadly, this is often the only thing that comes to mind. The sanctuary of the city, built around 1400 A.D., exemplifies the extraordinary craftsmanship and architecture of the time and remains one of the leading tourist destinations on the continent at 858,000 visitors per year. Full Story
Beyond The Surf
Story & photos © Elise Mallory
Tofino feels like it is on the edge of the world. Like if you drive through the quaint, enclosed town and just keep going you will eventually tip off the end of the map into oblivion. Once you drive through the pass just beyond Port Alberni and begin snaking along the coastline, going through what we call the ‘angry 30s’ feeling like you cannot possibly get further along the rugged west coast by car, you come to Tofino... Full Story
Memories of the Mountains
Story & photos Beth Bower
When I was a little kid the build up of excitement before a big camping trip was almost as good as Christmas Eve. There was the tent to pack, sleeping bags to stuff, and fleece pants to dig out of the very back of the closet. There were rogue pairs of Wigwam socks to track down... Full Story
Hiking Juan De Fuca Trail
Story & photos by Alistair Cochrane
The morning air was cold and my breath hung in the air. I shivered as I stuffed my rain jacket into my backpack, but starting out cold and warming up is better than sweating for the rest of the day. My packing method for this trip can only be described as “disaster light.” If something went wrong, all I had was my rain jacket, a fleece hoodie, 3 liters of water, some energy bars, and a bagelwich to survive on. Full Story...
Looking through the Alpine Hourglass
Story & photos by Ben Ferrel
As you climb from Kicking Horse Pass, up through the lower reaches of Cataract Brook, you occasionally catch a glimpse through the canopy of Engleman spruce, subalpine fir, and the occasional pine tree. The sight of the north summit of Mount Victoria causes your heart to flutter, the dramatic glaciers on its north face look like they could come crashing down at any instant. Full story...
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