Finding Home
The following is my attempt at articulating my 36 day road trip adventure across Canada while I relocated to my new home in Squamish, BC.
Being tired of my life in Ontario, the politics, and the lack of care for our natural world that seems to be the norm in the over sized city centres, I decided to leave with permanent intentions and my eyes focused to the west.
I made the most of the trip, stopping at various beautiful destinations in Ontario before high tailing it through the Prairies in search of more elevation. My heart was satiated with joy when I reached Canmore, a mountain town nestled near the border of Banff National Park. Here Orion summited his first mountain Ha Ling Peak, officially expanded his resume to include mountain dog.
The smoke from the forest fires across Canada had been thick and mildly suffocating. Lake Louise is no different, what’s usually an amazing view of the mountains in the distance turned into an extremely atmospheric etherial scene that really worked for an interesting photo. The smoke created an ambiance for my photos, but it wasn’t without challenge. With my throat burning, eyes watering, and breathing laboured it made every task that much harder.
Ironically relief came in the Okanagan, what was the epicentre of the forest fires in Canada. Some friends invited me to stay for a couple days at their place in Penticton. So some caving, wine tasting, and catching up was in order. Lots of fun indeed!
From Penticton I continued west, eventually reaching Squamish. Bouldering, hiking, and just good times were had here. It’s my favourite spot we visited, and the location of my new home! I only stayed 5 days before dropping Liz off at the airport. Two and a half weeks with her went by quick, and it was sad to see her leave. What I didn’t notice after Liz left was that my laptop was stolen from my car while at camp in Squamish! Panic set in, but everything was backed up, and insurance ended up covering the majority of the cost of a replacement computer. All was mostly well!
So from the airport I made my way to pick up another friend, Mary. I stayed at her place for the night before we made our departure north to Prince George. We just stayed a night here, and moved on westward to Terrace. The goal for this leg of the trip was to reach Yukon, Tombstone Territorial Park, but after 5000km of driving I was exhausted, and with the added stress from the computer incident I was beginning to get sick. We made the decision to change the plans and continue west to Haida Gwaii, but first we spent a few nights in Terrace checking out some waterfalls, Canada’s most recent volcanic eruption, and some great mountains. In some ways Terrace is like a more remote version of Squamish. It’s an outdoor enthusiasts playground with tons to offer for those interested in having true adventures.
After our stint in Terrace we rushed over to Prince Rupert to hop on a ferry. There was a bit of an issue getting my car on the ferry, but Mary’s best friend happened to be living on the island! The serendipitous turn of events seemed to be paying off, as we were able to leave my car in Prince Rupert for a week, and board the ferry by foot.
Haida Gwaii is absolutely stunning! The amazing beaches, dense forests, and rich culture make it a an amazing place to experience. Here Orion summited his second mountain while doing the Sleeping Beauty hike. We saw countless eagles on the beach which is an experience I never thought was possible. The proximity and seer size of these birds blew my mind.
After a week on Haida Gwaii we made our way back to New Westminister where Mary lives, before I was able to get in my new place at the beginning of the month. I’m now residing in Squamish, with close proximity to everything I love, this was the best life choice I’ve ever made. The journey over here was unforgettable.
A special thanks to Elizabeth and Mary for keeping me sane during my travels.
