I thought I would take another brief break from the Japan posts to stay current with other fun things going on. After getting back from Taiwan, we had a brief trip over to Galiano for the remainder of the weekend. We got some things done, relaxed and then came home for a busy week. Thursday was Justine’s birthday, on Saturday we went to Reifel and had a Skydigger concert in the evening and Sunday we went up Sea to Sky Gondola with Alex and Matt. Oh and we’ve started packing up to move most of our stuff out for the reno.
Read MoreA Last Glorious Day in Kamikochi
A relaxed last day in Kamikochi after two huge hikes! We enjoyed the best weather of the trip, with clear views of the Hokta Range and Mt. Yakedake. After a final French toast breakfast, we explored the north path, spotting a rare Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker. The highlight was encountering a troop of macaques near the village center. A slice of apple pie later, we boarded the bus to Kyoto.
Read MoreThe Dakesawa Grind
A punishing but rewarding day in the Japanese Alps! Waking at 5:30 AM, we did an 8km hike to Taisho-ike Pond for sunrise views of Mt. Yakedake. The "easy" part done, we tackled the ascent to Dakesawa-goya Hut. The vertical climb was brutal on tired feet, but the views from the hut were stunning. After a hot lunch, a treacherous descent, we were rewarded with beers and an essential onsen soak.
Read MoreA Big Day in Kamikochi
An early start in Kamikochi led to stunning mountain views, a 30.5km hike to Yokoo camp, and unforgettable encounters with Japanese macaques. We savored a gourmet breakfast and a well-deserved onsen soak, capping a day of breathtaking alpine scenery and invigorating adventure.
Read MoreOff to Kamikochi
Today we made our way from Tokyo to Kamikochi in the Japanese Alps. It was a 5-hour bus ride that took us from the urban chaos of Tokyo to what may well be one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen.
Read MoreHiking on Cypress
A short post on a fun hike that I did with my friend Bill up on Cypress Mountain. It had been months since we had managed to catch up, so we were long overdue. We met up after work one day and headed up Cypress for a walk in the woods and then some dinner at this great lookout afterwards.
Read MoreExploring the Bay of Fundy
Our first real day in New Brunswick was spent exploring the Bay of Fundy, at Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park before driving up to Fredericton to spend some time with Tabitha and Colton. It was another full day spent exploring, and a long day of driving. But I finally got my lobster!
Read MoreOur Last Day on the Cabot Trail
Today was going to be a big day! We were starting at Inverness on the Cabot Trail, had plans to hike the Skyline Trail, and then we had about a 4 1/2 hour drive across Nova Scotia and into New Brunswick to end up at our cool geodesic dome on the Bay of Fundy. As usual, we were trying to cram in way too much.
Read MoreThe Start of the Cabot Trail
Our Cabot Trail day started early, with a bunch of new birds added to the life list (you’ve been warned). We spent the day driving, admiring the stunning beauty of the place and making a couple of stops to do some short hikes (and to feed the bugs….) It was an amazing day.
Read MoreA Visit from Mackenzie - the Final Chapter
A final post - and likely a fairly long one… Mackenzie’s visit was coming to a close, but we had one last epic day in us! Justine and I both took Friday off, and we were doing the double shot of outdoor fun - Squamish and Whistler! We had a morning up the Sea to Sky Gondola, followed by an afternoon/evening in Whistler as a way to round out Mackenzie’s visit and enjoy the last of the sunshine.
Read MoreA Short Trip to Pune
The year is off to a busy start. I had originally planned to go to Pune in November, but after my knee surgery got scheduled, I had to push it into January. I was there for only a week, with a very busy agenda and a lot to cover. There was not much time for personal activities, but we did have a holiday on the Tuesday, so there is a bit to share from the hike we did.
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