Squamish at its heart is about its surroundings. It鈥檚 the granite walls, the ocean, the rivers and dense rainforest. These environs are inspiring. Who can鈥檛 stare up at the sheer walls of the Stawamus Chief and be awestruck, or feel the ferocious wind coming off the Howe Sound and get a true sense of the power of the natural world?
It鈥檚 this constant reminder of the natural fervour going on in the wild lands around me that motivates me to move, get outside and be amongst it.
Many naturalists throughout history have written of the importance of wild spaces and interacting with them deliberately and thoughtfully. In Squamish we are very fortunate to have the majesty of the natural world on our doorstep, and many people understand how to spend their time in nature 365 days a year.
Something I quickly realized as I experienced my first four seasons in Squamish was that regardless of the time of year or the weather, there was always something to do outdoors.
Most people wait for summer for wilderness adventures, but if you鈥檙e tenacious you can make any season or conditions work in your favour due to the magnitude of outdoor activities available here in Squamish.
Through winter, if it鈥檚 snowing, I backcountry ski up to Paul鈥檚 Ridge or Elfin Lakes in Garibaldi Provincial Park. When the weather was clear, I鈥檝e snowshoed up to Garibaldi Lake.
When it is cold and dry, rock climbing at the Smoke Bluffs or the Chief or bouldering in the forest are good choices.
To non-climbers, the idea of cold weather being preferable for climbing seems odd. But your fingers sweat less on the granite allowing for a better grip and the rubber on rock shoes stick better in cool temperatures.
While some might imagine climbers wait for a warm summer to climb, they actually are waiting for a cold and dry fall and winter, which is when they can best climb.
As the year progresses into spring, I lace up my mountaineering boots and sharpen my ice axe. Spring is usually the season for ascending alpine mountain routes. Avalanche risk is usually low as no new snow is changing the snowpack.
Overnight freezing temperatures harden the snowpack and make it perfect for climbing in crampons. It鈥檚 for this reason that you see mountaineers heading out in the dark of night, as traveling in the cooler hours of the night and morning are safer on snow.
As summer comes around, I begin thinking of heading higher into the mountains for hiking and camping. The temperatures are cooler and I can usually get high enough to not be bothered by the bugs. At this time of year, canyoneering is also good. Squamish has world-class canyons that can be seen to the west from Nexen Beach.
These offer a cool reprieve from the sweltering heat as I rappel on ropes inside waterfalls.
The long days of summer also allow for rock climbing and bouldering through the evenings. Usually after finishing up my work for the day I鈥檒l meet up with friends to climb rock routes or just hang out in the forest with friends and boulder.聽
As the days begin to shorten and that distinct, crisp feeling of fall permeates the air, I plan for longer trail runs. The cooler temperatures aid in not overheating, and the bugs have begun to die off again.聽 Fall is also a good time of year to finally complete any climbing projects I鈥檝e been working on through the summer.聽
Which brings us back around to winter again, and the wait for the first snows.聽
There hasn鈥檛 been much snow this year, or cold weather for that matter, but that hasn鈥檛 stopped me from being inspired to get outside and move, whether it鈥檚 trail running in the rain or simply taking photo walks along the spit and estuary.
I look at a trail map from the Squamish Adventure Centre, find somewhere I haven鈥檛 been before and head out to explore it.
I almost always find a new viewpoint or an interesting trail made by the exceptional trail builders who live in this town.聽
I know that, even with all the ways I experience the natural world here, there are many more I have not mentioned such as the world-class kitesurfing, mountain biking and kayaking that this location affords us.
Squamish and its surroundings inspire me to move and find new adventures every day of the year. How does living in this wild west coast town inspire you?
