Tag

hiking

WIN a copy of Calgary’s Best Walks Guidebook!

February 2, 2015
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What is your favourite place to walk in Calgary? Why do you walk? Write to me and send you photos!

There are so many reasons to take a walk in Calgary, in any city. Urban walking can be about art or wilderness, sidewalk shopping or training on stairs. Perhaps your favourite walk leads you to a diner with a great breakfast or maybe you get away, into nature and enjoy fewer distractions.

I want to hear from everyone and anyone about their favourite Calgary walks. I want to see your photos. I hope to learn about hidden pathways and stairways that only the locals know about.

I will give away 10 copies of my upcoming guidebook, Calgary’s Best Walks and the winning stories and photos will be posted on my blog for everyone to read about.

 

Art Brotherhood of mankind

 

How to Enter

Tweet your stories or photos to @lorifitfrog with the#calgarysbestwalks and #yycwalk

Or write a longer story on the Calgary’s Best Walks Facebook page at www.facebook.com/calgarysbestwalksBe sure to Like the page while you are there!

 

 

Winners will be announced on March 9, my guidebook release date! 

The Joy of a Good Walk this Holiday Season

November 29, 2014
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Snowshoeing Rawson Lake, Kananaskis Rockies, Alberta

 

With the Christmas season is upon us, things start to get a bit hectic. The malls fill up with shoppers (including you), family come from afar to stay in your guest room, you cook and bake for said family, you make lists, and look for parking at Chinook mall, and then you start to wonder WHAT exactly what is so great about the “holiday” season. I am here to tell you that a good walk is all that you need.

 

Turn off your texts and in fact, leave the phone behind and walk away. Keep walking until you feel alive (sane), relaxed and refreshed. And most importably, until you feel happy. It works, I do it everyday.

 

The Huffington Post had a great article this listed some walking quotes. Here is an excerpt.

 

Here are 17 eloquent literary quotes that remind us of the simple, restorative power of a good walk:

“I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in.” — John Muir

“Now shall I walk or shall I ride?
‘Ride,’ Pleasure said;
‘Walk,’ Joy replied.” — W.H. Davies

“To walk is to lack a place. It is the indefinite process of being absent and in search of a proper.” — Michel de CerteauEve snowshoeing in the Kananaskis

“If I couldn’t walk fast and far, I should just explode and perish.” — Charles Dickens

“Only thoughts won by walking are valuable.” — Friedrich Nietzsche

“Walking and talking are two very great pleasures, but it is a mistake to combine them. Our own noise blots out the sounds and silences of the outdoor world; and talking leads almost inevitably to smoking, and then farewell to nature as far as one of our senses is concerned. The only friend to walk with is one… who so exactly shares your taste for each mood of the countryside that a glance, a halt, or at most a nudge, is enough to assure us that the pleasure is shared.” — C.S. Lewis

“I am alarmed when it happens that I have walked a mile into the woods bodily, without getting there in spirit.” — Henry David Thoreau

“After a day’s walk everything has twice its usual value.” — George Macauley Trevelyan

“I would walk along the quais when I had finished work or when I was trying to think something out. It was easier to think if I was walking and doing something or seeing people doing something that they understood.” — Ernest Hemingway

“I find more pleasure in wandering the fields than in musing among my silent neighbours who are insensible to everything but toiling and talking of it and that to no purpose.” — John Clare

“We ought to take outdoor walks, to refresh and raise our spirits by deep breathing in the open air.” — Seneca

“I always feel so sorry for women who don’t like to walk; they miss so much — so many rare little glimpses of life; and we women learn so little of life on the whole.” —Kate Chopin

“Thinking is generally thought of as doing nothing in a production-oriented culture, and doing nothing is hard to do. It’s best done by disguising it as doing something, and the something closest to doing nothing is walking.” — Rebecca Solnit

“Above all, do not lose your desire to walk: every day I walk myself into a state of well-being and walk away from every illness; I have walked myself into my best thoughts and I know of no thought so burdensome that one cannot walk away from it.” — Søren Kierkegaard

“Perhaps the truth depends on a walk around a lake.” — Wallace Stevens

“Walks. The body advances, while the mind flutters around it like a bird.” — Jules Renard

“[Walking] is the perfect way of moving if you want to see into the life of things. It is the one way of freedom. If you go to a place on anything but your own feet you are taken there too fast, and miss a thousand delicate joys that were waiting for you by the wayside.” — Elizabeth von Arnim

Why I love an urban hike

June 11, 2012
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This is a piece I wrote for the Calgary Herald. They were asking readers about their favourite urban hikes and also wanted to know what the difference is between a hike and a walk.

 

Why I love an urban hike

What is the difference between a walk and a hike? Good question.

Most people think of hiking as something you do in nature, in the parks, the wilderness. You pack a lunch and head out for an active adventure.  Walking is something you can do anywhere, like walking around the block for exercise or walking to the corner store for some milk or walking to your a neighbourhood pub. Urban hiking in Calgary is the perfect mix of walking and hiking; an outdoor adventure that dips into green spaces, parks and nature and ends with a good cup of coffee.  And while most Calgarians head to the Rocky Mountains for adventure, they need not. Calgary is a top notch outdoor destination in itself.  For intrepid urban hikers, Calgary’s concrete jungle is more than office towers, SUVs and suburbia. It’s parks like Fish Creek and the Weaslehead, Edworthy, Nose Hill and Bowmont Natural Environment Park, a park with its very own waterfall.

Pockets of nature are scattered throughout the city. When I head out on foot, I step off the sidewalk and onto the dirt and paved pathways at every opportunity. Scenic Acres Ravines, Erlton Bluffs, Britannia Slopes, McHugh Bluffs are just a handful of green spaces that add a taste of nature to a city trek.  Urban hiking is a diverse adventure; a mix of funky shopping districts, architecturally-interesting neighbourhoods and tasty local eateries. It’s the vast range of treasures in a small, easily navigated space that makes exploring the city on foot so appealing.

And if you are one of those time-crunched urbanites that are over-booked and under-vacationed, urban hiking is your ticket to being a tourist in your own city. Self-propelled urban mini-vacations keep your body fit and your mind intrigued. And there’s no better time than the long days of summer to start your walking habit. You’ll get landscaping and gardening ideas en route, soak up the smells of wild roses and barbecued steak, shade yourself under the canopy of full grown poplars that line inner-city streets, and enjoy a picnic lunch on the top of Nose Hill Park, Calgary’s highest point.

Inglewood and Ramsay is my suggestion for an eclectic urban hike. Calgary’s oldest neighbourbood is a mix of trendy and gritty. Its character results from the wide variety of housing styles, people, and the independent shops that line 9th Avenue. From Scotsmans Hill you can soak up the awe-inspiring views of Stampede Park, the Rocky Mountains on the western horizon and the downtown core prominently reaching out of the concrete.  Descend in an easterly direction towards 9th Avenue and the Bow River. Roads go this way and that, and street names like Bison Path give a hint of Calgary’s earliest days. The back streets and alleys of Ramsay are home to war-time bungalows with car sheds and clotheslines. Enjoy the feel of a multi-generational neighbourhood; homes here date back to the late 1800s and the community feel is strong.

If you’d like to do a bit of shopping on your trek then detour along the commercial core on 9th Avenue.  Rejuvenated historic buildings are home to the city’s largest collection of antique and home decorating shops, a scattering of cafés and ethnic eateries and an eclectic mix of independent shops.  Walk closer to the Bow River, along 8th Avenue, to view homes with bay windows and verandahs; decorative widow’s walks on rooftops, and fine woodwork. Head to the Bow River Pathway and go east to explore Pearce Estate Park, the Fish Hatchery, the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary or the new Bow River Weir Project called Harvie Passage; anatural water park that replaces the hazardous weir.

Or venture north across the Bow River and follow paved paths past the zoo, over the wooded St. Patrick Island and then east to the new East Village Development. With any luck, the food trucks will be parked in the East Village and you’ll have lunch on one of the new comfy lounge chairs overlooking the Bow River. Take the Elbow River Pathway south and walk south towards the Saddledome. Watch for Great Horned owls perched in the Poplar trees. A set of stairs, across from the second bridge that leads to Stampede Park (marked by an area enclosed by a chain-link fence), is your secret passage back to the top of Scotsman’s Hill.

Walking goes against the grain of our multi-tasking car culture. The purpose of an urban hike is observation and exploration. Your walking pace enables you to change your route mid-stride, investigate a side-street, stop for a coffee or appreciate a view. Walking is also a wonderful time to go solo and think, to visit with friends, and to improve your fitness level. It’s this change of pace from your jam-packed city life that makes urban hiking potentially habit forming. So the next time you need a break, a mini-getaway from the routine of life, a new perspective, just step out in your own city. You won’t believe what you’ll find in your own backyard!

Urban Hike and Bike, Douglas Fir Trail, Bow River to Elbow River Pathways

June 11, 2012
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On a beautiful June day I headed out on my bike from my home in Marda Loop area, through South Calgary, Bankview and Scarboro to the Bow River Pathway. My destination was Edworthy Park to hike the Douglas Fir Trail. Urban hikes are one of my favourite pastime and the Douglas Fir Trail is a top notch wilderness trek in the heart of the city. Above the Bow River Pathway and the train tracks is a hill of stairs hidden amongst a stand of Douglas Fir trees. This challenging hike is a good spot to train for upcoming mountain hikes or multi-day wilderness adventures. It’s also an ideal summer hiking location since it is shaded throughout.

 

 

 

 

 

The vegetation is lush, by Calgary standards, due partly to the springs that trickle through the soil from the community of Wildwood above. These springs have also made the escarpment trail somewhat unstable. Mudslides have occurred and part of the trail is closed but it is easy to divert around the closed area, past the frog ponds and continue on your trek. Signage is clear and route options are easy to follow.

 

 

 

For an optimal fitness outing, head back up and over the Douglas Fir Trail on your return to your bike or for a relaxing flat return, follow the paved Bow River Pathway. Above the Edworthy Park parking lot of the south side of the river is a favourite training hill for all those people who are planning to hike the West Coast Trail or Nepal or for cross-country skiers in the Fall. Climb this hill and enjoy a fantastic view of the downtown core and the Bow River.

 

 

 


Back on my bike, I cycled to the north side of the Bow River. If you need a snack break, stop at Angel’s coffee shop for breakfast, lunch or a homemade muffin and coffee.  Post snack break it’s eastbound along the Bow, past downtown to the East Village near Inglewood. Head south along the Elbow River Pathway, past the Stampede Grounds, through Lindsay Park, back to Elbow Park and home.Another successful active urban adventure!

The combination of cycling and hiking is a great way to get a 3 or more hour active outing in Calgary. When you don’t have the time to head out of the city for a full day of wilderness adventure, or you don’t feel like driving, why not fill your morning or evening with an active urban adventure? You won’t believe what you’ll find in your own backyard!

 

A family spring break in the Rockies!

March 26, 2012
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My family and I are spending spring break in the Rockies! Our kids are 10 and 7 years old and are very used to being on foot, self-propelled, active, on their holidays.We make the outings fun by being flexible; it’s about time exploring outdoors on the trail, pathway, or sidewalk, not simply the destination.

An important part of self-propelled activity for our family is having lots of tasty food along and many rest breaks to enjoy the sights and the snacks! Yesterday our lunch consisted of leftover rice, salmon sandwiches,turkey sandwiches, peanut butter and honey sandwiches, ketchup chips, ruffle chips, lots of really good dark and light chocolate, homemade monster cookies, oranges, apples, carrots and tea. Phew! I didn’t realize how much food we took until I wrote it down. No wonder my backpack is always so large and heavy!

We left Calgary and headed west for 45 minutes to the Mount Yamnuska trailhead on Hwy. 1A, just east of Canmore.  Yam is a wonderful early season hike but yesterday it was still a bit snowy and icy. I recommend that you carry some icers to attach to your boots if you head out on the Yam hike anytime soon. We spent a few hours on the trail, trying to stay upright, and then headed to Banff. Ahh, a hotel with a pool! Swimming was followed by a fantastic meal at Nourish Bistro. This vegetarian restaurant has such variety in flavours, and beautiful presentation. And the music they play is so interesting and varied. One of the chefs is a DJ and creates the soundtrack. The bohemian feel and their attention to detail in this hole in wall spot is a welcome respite in touristy Banff.

A buffet breakie fuelled us up for a few hours of xc skiing in Lake Louise today. Spring conditions made it a fast ski and I was down to a t-shirt for most of the day. We did the Fairview- Moraine Lake Road loop near the Lake at Lake Louise.

The snow is falling now and we are gearing up for a steakhouse meal at Melissa’s at the request of my kids. Vegetarian is okay for one night, the kids say, but now a burger and fries are  in order. It’s all about balance. Bring on the Alberta beef!

p.s Melissa’s has the best burgers in Banff! What a wonderful spot for families.

 

While most Calgarians head to the Rocky Mountains for adventure, it seems unlikely that Calgary could be an outdoor destination in itself.  For intrepid urban hikers, Calgary’s concrete jungle is more than office towers, SUVs and suburbia. It is a mix of funky shopping districts, architecturally-interesting neighbourhoods, pockets of nature, parks, pathways and tasty local eateries. It’s the vast range of treasures in a small, easily navigated space that makes exploring the city on foot so appealing.  And if you are one of those time-crunched urbanites that are over-booked and under-vacationed, urban hiking is your ticket to being a tourist in your own city. Self-propelled urban mini-vacations keep your body fit and your mind intrigued. And there’s no better time than the long days of summer to start your walking habit. You’ll get landscaping and gardening ideas en route, soak up the smells of wild roses and barbecued steak, shade yourself under the canopy of full grown poplars that line inner-city streets, and enjoy a picnic lunch or supper that you purchased at a local shop. A cultured walk could include pit-stops at galleries, the Glenbow Museum or, yee haw, the Stampede grounds in July.

Mother Nature is easy to find in Calgary, so if you prefer solitude and earthy terrain then point your walking shoes to the Glenmore Reservoir, Nose Hill Park in the north, or Fish Creek Park in the south. And for the ultimate mix of the urban vibe, breathtaking vistas and architectural variety, start your travels on the populated shopping streets of Kensington, Inglewood, Bridgeland, Mission, 17 Avenue SW or Marda Loop. Keep walking year–round and see how neighbourhoods change with the seasons and with renovations.

Planning Your Urban Adventure
When you travel to Paris you take maps and guidebooks to help you choose the areas to investigate.  This is the same approach to take with your Calgary adventures. Pick the area of the city that you’d like to explore, grab the map and guidebooks, and start to walk. Check my route suggestions to get started!