For those hikers that are looking for a pristine alpine lake, Lizard Lake might fall short looking more like a ‘muddy puddle’.

Dont’ stop here though! It’s best to keep following the faint trail up to Liverwurst pass for views back to Lizard Lake, Mt Fernie and the Elk Valley, as well as the Koocanusa drainage to the south.

Fall is the best time to go.

Getting to Lizard Lake

There are two trailheads.

1. From the Lower Island Lake parking lot (Mt Fernie Park Road) head out on the Rail Trail. After about 300m you will veer off the Rail Trail. Hike another 100m approx. and cross Lizard Creek. The creek is unbridged and may require getting your feet wet. Continue on until you meet the Lizard Lake Trail where you turn right. This section is approx 500m altogether.
2. Gorby Trailhead located on Mt Fernie Park Rd. Immediately cross Lizard creek on a bridge. Continue up the marked trail. This way is approx 700m longer than option one but has the advantage of keeping feet dry!

Distance to Lizard Lake: 4km

Elevation Gain: 540m

Trail conditions: The trail starts on easy single track for 1.5km. From there you travel through old growth cedars on a steep trail with little relief and no switchbacks! It is a challenging trail but obvious to follow. Eventually you pop out into the subalpine and Lizard Lake is nestled at the bottom of an alpine bowl.

Check out All Trails for more info.

Getting to Lizard Lake may feel a little anti-climatic. I highly recommend walking around to the south side of the tarn and up the slope a little where these next few photos are taken from.

Hiking to Liverwurst Pass makes this Trail one of the Best Hikes in Fernie

Keep going! Don’t stop at Lizard Lake!

There is a faint trail leading all the way to Liverwurst pass (once you know it’s there it is obvious!). Looking at Lizard Lake, hike on the left side and find a couple of rock cairns. Follow these up through the bushes. The trail could be a little overgrown but you don’t need to bushwhack.

Once you get to the bottom of the headwall, you are looking at rocky steep terrain. You aren’t hiking up there. Look for a larger cairn off to the right in the the grass/trees. This indicates the trail. The next part is more steep and challenging; a combination of looser rock and soil. As you get closer to the pass the trail switch-backs to the left and after another 100m or so, you are in Liverwurst Pass.

Distance from Trailhead #2 to Liverwurst Pass: 5.3km

Elevation gain from Trailhead #2: 830m

More Information for Enjoying other ‘Best Hikes in Fernie’

3 Sisters Hike

Mt Proctor Hike

Lizard Range

For years I was a ‘closet’ runner

I didn’t *feel* like a runner, therefore I didn’t often broadcast the fact that I ran.

When I ran on the rural country roads where I lived, I would dive into the ditch or stop running when a vehicle approached. It seemed like a legitimate way to deal with my self-embarrassment.

As a kid, I dabbled in sprinting and cross-country running. Oftentimes, as I approached a finish line, especially when there were crowds and people cheering, I would start getting lightheaded, my body would go numb and I would feel like I was going to stumble and crash to the ground.

This continued when I started running again in my early 20’s. If I passed a group of construction guys or other people that I thought were judging or criticizing my body, I would get that same woozy I-think-I’m going-to-fall-and-pass-out feeling. So I would simply stop and walk until the pressure was off and the weird body sensations passed.

I’m pretty sure that never happened to ‘real’ runners

Real runners also ran fast without feeling like they were going to die. Real runners went to events and got podium finishes. Real runners also liked tracking times, distances, and their pace. And real runners could most definitely handle running uphill.

I didn’t do any of that stuff

I just liked to run. Without any hoopla but it made me feel like I couldn’t say I was a runner. I would make my “Oh I just really love to run” disclaimer, which also included reference to the fact that I kept it cruisy.

One time I heard a runner exclaiming about how they loved hills and I thought they were taking the runners high a little too far.

I have learned many things about myself over the span of my running journey

Something that allowed me to believe that I could call myself a runner is learning that most runners don’t run up the hills. On the steep ones, it’s more efficient to walk since running uphill takes a lot of strength. Runners usually power-hike them which sounds all fancy, but really, it’s just walking.

That little revelation changed things massively for me. I could be a runner even if I walked sometimes. I could even say I was going for a run when there was elevation gain that I didn’t have the strength or fitness to run. My intention was to move quickly and run the flats and downs. That all still counts as running!!

So my friend, if you are in the same boat,

Don’t be intimidated by running uphill

If you want, train and get stronger to have more power and speed. But you can also get out on some beautiful trails, and have a fabulous time walking uphill and running what you can!

Pick an iconic trail like Crypyt Lake that you might typically hike and add some running! Maybe on the uphill portions too!

Crypt Lake Beta, so you can Run or Hike that Hill too!

Distance: 17km return (8km and 800m elevation gain to Crypt Lake. 1.8km around the lake and then 8.7km back down to boat launch via the waterfall trail)

Elevation Gain: 865m

Check out the AllTrails route description to find out more.

Getting there: A water taxi leaves from the Waterton Township boat launch that will transport you across the lake to the trailhead. It costs $31pp (2022). You can check the schedule here.

Other useful things to know:

There is a section of the trail close to Crypt Lake that involves climbing a ladder, entering into a tunnel that is dark and you have to crouch to fit through. Upon exiting, you are traversing a narrow ledge that is protected with a handline/cable as there is a cliff about 100m high that drops off below the trail (see 5th and 6th pictures above). A quick search online will reveal the whole spectrum of “easy, no big deal” to “so scary, I thought I was going to die”.

What you think will depend on your personal comfort zone. This section isn’t difficult or unsafe in my opinion but can be a mental challenge for some.

This is bear country. Carry spray.

Make sure you board the last water taxi home!

We talked about running uphill, which makes me think you might like these articles too!

Mountain Running in Fernie

Running Every Day for a Month

Trail Running in New Zealand

That poses the question;

HOW DO WE CHOOSE THE BEST ADVENTURE EXPERIENCES FOR OUR FAMILY?

I observe families wallowing around in a whole bunch of trial and error scenarios. Are we skiers? kiteboarders? whitewater rafters? hikers? sailors?

Trial and error is time-consuming and expensive, and even though we might feel we have years with our kids we really don’t. If we narrow the list down, we find our family adventure ‘sweet spot’ faster.

WHAT FAMILY ADVENTURES HAVE WORKED BEST FOR US?

We took our own experiences and the many adventures that we led with groups over the years, analyzed the whole lot and this is what we zeroed in on:

CANOEING & BIKING

Both can be done with babies, teens, and every age in between.

For the purpose of this writing, I’m going to focus on Canoeing.

The pros of canoeing:

1. The kids don’t have to paddle so it’s less likely to feel like a slog for them
2. Gets us into the wilderness easily and is a great way to enjoy multi-day outtrips
3. The gear is in the boat, no heavy loads need to break anyone’s back
4. Young kids nap in the canoe

The cons of canoeing:

1. High start-up cost (canoe, paddles, lifejackets, storage and safety equipment)
2. Skill and experience take time to acquire

What is the process to avoid all this trial and error business?

1. ANALYSE YOUR NATURAL INTERESTS

In our DINK life (Double Income No Kids) we were rock climbers, whitewater kayakers, and general adventure junkies.

After our first daughter was born we found that kayaking and climbing weren’t as simple and family-friendly as we needed. Sure, we could tag-team. One parent watches kid(s) and the other adventures, but we wanted something that was all-in-together so we made a pivot.

Many of us manage micro-adventures with our families quite well, but my desire is to pepper our lives with MIGHTY adventures that are age-appropriate for kids and enjoyable for parents. The kind that takes planning, resources and skill to accomplish and goes beyond throwing rocks in the river or wandering along a trail pointing at ladybugs.

So, grab a pencil and paper and jot down the answers to these questions!

1. What activities do/did you personally enjoy? Put an asterisk beside the ones that you could modify for family adventures.
2. What activities does/did your spouse enjoy? Get them to write their own list.
3. If your kids are old enough write down the activities they enjoy.
4. For each activity write down the pros and cons.
5. Circle the top 2 activities that are clear favourites.

2. HONESTLY EVALUATE YOUR SKILLS

The biggest key to fun AND safety is analyzing your skillset for strengths and weaknesses.

Using our canoeing example, this is what I came up with for our top strengths:

1. Vast skills and experience to draw on for decision making including flatwater and whitewater, ranging from a couple of hours to a few weeks on the water.
2. A knack for having just enough. Not too much and not too little (clothing, food, equipment)
3. Professionally trained in river rescue, wilderness first aid, crisis management, and canoeing technique.

Weaknesses: Fear. My mind can dwell on worst-case scenarios and that’s not very helpful when I stress about the ‘big’ rapid that is around the corner (that is well within our capabilities!) My hubby balances this out with his superpower to analyze real risk over perceived risk.

Social media can be helpful for inspiration or venturing into new locations. Compare your abilities with what the location/activity requires, not your friend who did that epic thing on Instagram.

If you find an adventure that would be great for your family, jump in at the appropriate level

If you have gaps in your skills do these things before diving in with your kids:

1. Take a course
2. Build your technique and experience with friends who are competent
3. Join a club with a great reputation
4. Hire a guide

WHAT GEAR DO YOU HAVE AND WHAT DO YOU NEED?

Once you have decided that you have the skill set for the chosen family activity, you need the gear. Frugal is our middle name. We live on hand-me-downs and thrift store clothing. We are careful what we buy at the supermarket and we never eat out.

But we do buy gear and adventure clothing. Our kids always have a thermal top and bottom that fits them, as well as a down jacket, raincoat, and fleece jacket and pants. For overnighters, they each have a down sleeping bag rated to -10C and a Thermarest.

Over the years we have accumulated group gear from reputable adventure brands that are engineered for the task and perform to high standards. Things like tents, tarps, stoves, cooking paraphernalia, water filter etc.

We generally don’t buy knock-off brands or department store substitutes.

SOME CAVEATS FOR FAMILY ADVENTURE

1. Family adventure is an ever-evolving process. What our family could do with four kids 5 years old and under is different than what we do now with five kids aged 8-18.
2. The virtues of innovation and creativity will come in very handy as you figure out what will work from week to week and year to year.
3. Some activities will stand the test of time, others won’t. That is a-OK.

IT CAN FEEL DAUNTING

to commit to being a skiing family or a backpacking family. If the goal is making quality relationships with our kids and shared memories to last a lifetime, and we are using outdoor adventure to achieve that, it makes sense to niche down.

THE PHOTOS

White Boar Lake, near(ish) to Kimberley, BC

Getting there

From Kimberley Riverside Campground to White Boar Lake is 46km on an FSR (Forest Service Road).

The final 4km is on a 4×4 track that was pretty gnarly when we visited – large rocks, steep and chunky. We did a little road building and nail-biting (me) but we made it!

A walk-in recreation camping site is at the end of the road and there is a 200m portage to get the canoe to the lake. Well worth it!

When to go

It’s best to visit after the snow has melted off the road and there are still icebergs floating in the lake that have carved off the tiny glacier at the south end. June or early July is great!

WANT TO KNOW MORE?

I have a bunch of canoeing articles here and many more to add

Check out some general adventure practical tips for families here!

People interpreted that to mean I was going to New Zealand to participate in a mountain running event/race.

Many people don’t run for any other reason than they talked to their friend who did a *crazy* thing and entered a race. They sign up too because their friend was uber persuasive. They spend the next three months punishing their body and their mind.

The race. They have to run because of the race.

But they hate running. They tell themselves they need the event to motivate the running.

LET ME TELL YOU: You don’t have to keep up with the Jones’ of the running world

I really love self-powered adventures.  Standing on a start line thought up by someone else’s vision doesn’t excite me like dreaming of the places I want to run and see for myself. I spend hours looking at maps, cross-checking routes and planning off-beat adventures.

Maybe it’s because I am a middle-of-the-pack runner with no hope of getting on a podium and I’m not really motivated by beating my own personal best.  Making my own mountain running objectives is far more compelling. 

And honestly. I’m cheap.  I don’t want to pay the $175 entry fee!

I train for a running season just like I’m training for an ultra. I still experience all the highs and lows of training.  Days where my legs feel like lead. Or I’m on a 4-hour run when it’s -30 with too-small shoes because of too-thick socks (yes, my big toenails did go black!) And those (not very often) days where you feel so fit and agile that it seems you are running on clouds.

Before you get to thinking that I’m a mountain running machine, let me assure you I’m not

I’m ordinary. I have no remarkable running prowess.

I never won races when I was young. I wasn’t a superstar college athlete.

I have 5 kids.

I struggle to eat right.

I struggle to get out of bed in the morning when I don’t feel like it.

I struggle to make some of my goals happen just like you.

I don’t have youth on my side. I am 45 years old.

I don’t have a lot of time.

Most of the time I don’t even have a lot of energy.

I just have a strong sense of inspiration. I know it is amazing out there. I know that running these mountain trails with beautiful scenery fills my cup.

I love to day-run just like I’d day-hike. I can stop and walk whenever I feel like it. I can snap pictures for 1 minute or 15 minutes or 5 hours if I want. I can leap (errrr, wade gingerly) into that pristine-looking (numbingly cold) mountain lake on a hot day.

I’m talking about mountain running for the pure adventure of it. For fun. For the exhilaration of few people, being with friends, the wind in your hair, the sweat on your brow and the photos of the awesomeness.

Going back to New Zealand to run in the mountains has been a dream I’ve held for years. I had very firm goals in my mind: To run and photograph as many trails as my fitness would allow.

Are you interested in Mountain or Trail Running rather than planned races/events?

Here is how I went about making my New Zealand mountain running plan happen.

1. Decide on a training plan

Where to even start in all the overwhelm of potential resources!

A few years ago I joined a group coaching program led by Jen Segger to prepare for my first ultra.

Following that, I read The Uphill Athlete which expanded on the principles I learned through Jen. 

As a result of that book, I purchased the 3 Day tour training plan, made an excel spreadsheet and meshed together Jenn’s beginner ultra training plan and the 3-day tour plan.  The mixture prepared me well for New Zealand.

If you are new to run training a good plan consists of running (a mix of cruise, speed, hills and long runs), runner-specific strength training, Prehab exercises (to help prevent injury) and cross-training.

2. Come up with a schedule of events

I put all of my ideas in writing. I made a project in Asana, titled ‘Mountain running in New Zealand’ and made two columns. Fastpacking & day runs.  I then added relevant links and information. I grouped my trails around 4 different areas. Central North Island, Glenorchy/Te Anau, Wanaka and Mt Cook.

I knew I was going to have to be flexible because of New Zealand’s fickle weather and the lists served as my contingency plans if the weather beat on me and I needed an alternative.

3. Put the support in place

I was very fortunate on this trip to have a wee support crew with my mum and dad. I communicated my hopes with them. The places I wanted to go, the routes I wanted to run. We travelled in their motorhome for 2 1/2 weeks with a combo of freedom camping and campgrounds.  It was amazing to have them drop me off at a trailhead and then pick me up again at the end of the day.  Bonus: they fed me and found all the laundromats and showers

Of course, my husband and kids were a crucial part of my support.  Their enthusiasm to support my dream and let me jetset halfway around the world during a pandemic for something as frivolous as running was so generous

The weather was amazing and I came close to achieving the top objectives on my list.

I ran 327km (which also involves a lot of walking when you are in the mountains!)

13,523m elevation gain

In the future I will write articles about some of the routes but here is a list of the trails I tackled; some shorter distances, some long.

Central North Island

• Waitawheta
• Tongariro Crossing
• Makakahi
• Old Coach Road

Queenstown/Glenorchy/Te Anau

• Arrowtown
• Earnslaw Burn
• Routeburn Track (Fast Pack)
• Kepler Track
• Pakituhi Hut & Breast Hill  (Fast Pack)

 Mt Cook National Park

• Mt Ollivier (Fast Pack)
• Mt Sebastapol
• Hooker Valley
• Ball Ridge

You can go mountain running in New Zealand (or anywhere else!) by participating in a race.

That would be a great experience too.  But there is a whole other world of adventure out there by figuring it out yourself Don’t forget it!!

If you need further convincing to ditch the race and head for your own mountain run, check out these articles:

START TRAIL RUNNING: 8 MOTIVATING TIPS FOR BUSY MOMS

WHY EVERY MUM SHOULD RUN

Tackled as a day trip to Elkford, Boivin Creek is a wonderful cross country ski for families. The kids might get tired on the way up but once you reach Wildcat hut, get a fire crackling in the woodburning stove and devour some gooey marshmallow smores, you have the ingredients for a happy day

The views are gorgeous and it has the feeling of being remote even though the trailhead is on the outskirts of Elkford.

The kids love the downhill ski on the way back to Boivin Hut. Such a blast!

What is the terrain like on the Boivin Creek trail?

Generally speaking, it is uphill to Wildcat Hut and downhill to Boivin Hut and the trailhead, with a few little bumps along the way. The views up the valley to Mt Phillips are stunning.

How far is it to cross country ski?

14.2km round trip and approximately 300m of elevation gain.

Here’s a breakdown for you:

• Trailhead to Lower left intersection: 2.3km, 115m elevation.
• Lower left intersection to upper intersection: 3.3km, 205m elevation
• Upper Intersection to Wildcat Warming Hut: 1.7km, 87m elevation
• Wildcat Warming Hut back to Upper Intersection: 1.7km 87m descent
• Turn left at upper Intersection to Boivin Warming Hut: 1.9km 156m descent
• Boivin Warming Hut to Lower Junction: 1km, 20m elevation, 35m descent
• Lower Junction to Trailhead: 2.3km, 115m descent

Anything I should be aware of?

I recommend taking a left turn at the 1st intersection (about 2.3km from the trailhead). It’s uphill for about 3km so take your time, settle into a manageable pace and enjoy those gorgeous mountains.

After leaving Wildcat hut and doubling back to the Y intersection, you will take a left to Boivin Hut. The trail follows Boivin Creek. It may feel a little steep in a couple of places for newbie cross country skiers. Getting your skis in a wedge just like a pizza slice, with bent knees will control your speed. There is a bridge on a corner- make sure you don’t overshoot it!

What should I take?

For a day trip, I would recommend that everyone has a backpack with extra warm clothes and water. It’s hot uphill work getting to Wildcat Hut and cold work getting back to Boivin Hut and the trailhead as it’s downhill – lots of wind and chilly fingers and faces.

Are the Boivin Creek cross country ski trails groomed?

The Elkford Nordic Ski Club grooms the trail a couple of times a week or after a snowfall and is track set for classic skiing. It is not suitable for skate skiing. You can check their Facebook page for the latest grooming updates.

Where can I rent cross country skis in the Elk Valley?

There is nowhere to rent cross country skis in Elford. Your best bet is at Gearhub Adventure Rentals in Fernie.

Is it easy to find your way?

Yes, take a map and/or have a mapping app on your phone. I like Gaia GPS but Trailforks works too. Alternatively, you could snap a picture of the map at the trailhead (as long as your phone battery has enough juice to last the day).

Could my xx-year-old cross country ski the trail?

You will need to decide this for yourself. We have taken a 4-year-old and towed her most of the way up on her xc skis and switched her to downhill skis on the way back (because she could downhill ski in control but not cross country ski in control!)

Do you have to pay to ski or use the Wildcat or Boivin Huts?

Donations from non-members are gratefully accepted and can be dropped off at the donation box located at the Boivin trailhead.

Trail users are encouraged to complete membership forms and become Club members. Membership forms with pricing information are available here

Is this Elkford cross country ski trail popular?

Depends where you are from and what you are used to, but no, not really. When we have been on the weekends we see a couple of groups but we have mostly been able to be leisurely at the huts and spend a good amount of time roasting hotdogs and warming bodies.

Are there any alternatives?

If 14km sounds like too far, it’s fun to do an out and back to Boivin warming hut. It is 3.3 km one way so 6.6km round trip. You don’t get the same views but it is still really worthwhile especially if you have younger kids.

How do I get to the cross country ski trailhead from Elkford?

• At the 4-way stop in Elkford turn left onto Alpine Way. Drive 450m.
• Turn right onto Fording Drive. Drive 500m.
• Turn left onto Natal Road. Drive 1.1km. The trailhead is on the left.

Now, back to the kids feeling tired on the way to Wildcat Hut and not wanting to go an ounce further?

You might want to read this article before you hit the trail

Many parents balk at the idea of camping with a baby. 

And rightly so. 

There are a lot of parts to coordinate and life with a baby isn’t quite as easy without an endless supply of hot running water and light to illuminate a room (er…tent) at the flick of a switch. 

If you are a first-time parent, it is even more intimidating. 

IS IT OK TO GO CAR CAMPING WITH A BABY?

Camping with a baby is totally doable if you value an adventure-filled lifestyle. If you don’t, the effort won’t feel worth it.

Car camping is a really great way to dip your toes into the waters of camping in a fun and non-committing way. 

1. You have your vehicle for a quick ‘abandon-everything-this-sucks’ getaway if needed! 
2. Car camping is an ESSENTIAL first step to taking our babies on bigger and bolder adventures in the wilderness.
3. As the kids grow (like the picture below), your feat will be rewarded with awesome family bonds.

Today I am going to share some tidbits with you! From our family to yours; things that we have learned along the way.

GET THIS ONE THING RIGHT AND EVERYONE WILL BE A HAPPY CAMPER

If the baby doesn’t sleep well, camping life is miserable and there’s no benefit to the colossal undertaking.

Sleep = success

Our most important piece of advice is this: help your baby sleep ANYWHERE! 

Not just on you, or in their bassinet but literally anywhere.

Everyday life is the perfect opportunity to practice.

We swaddled our babies from birth and they slept all over the place for their daytime naps. Right alongside squawking magpies, rambunctious siblings or the snarl of a Skilsaw on reno projects.

They would sleep:

1. on different beds, in different bedrooms,
2. in a little nest on the floor or under a tree,
3. on a mat beside the couch, or on the couch,
4. in their capsule car seat,
5. in a stroller,
6. in a front pack,
7. on a blanket at the park or beach

If we were intentional about this for the first 6-9 months of our kid’s life (for a couple of naps a week; doesn’t need to be every nap) they became acclimatized to sleeping wherever. 

IT’S NOT TOO LATE 

If you have missed this window with your child, start implementing a sleep-anywhere strategy now.  Practicing at home will make all the difference to the success of your car camping plans.

I guarantee your camping experience will be like Ben and his mom and dad’s if your sweet baby Lou has only ever slept in her crib with a white noise machine and black-out blinds.

MAKE DISPERSED NAPS SAFE

If your baby is old enough to roll or stand up, don’t lay them on a bed at Grandma’s house that they could fall off.  You would choose the floor or strap them into their car seat where they can’t harm themselves. 

If you are at the lake, don’t walk off and leave them while you go for a swim.

If there are older siblings on the prowl you may not be able to have the baby sleep on the couch where they may get an unsolicited haircut from big brother.

BE SOCIAL

After our babies were born we continued our social life. 

We accepted dinner invitations, went to church every week, had friends over to our house, went on outings and to other programs we were involved in.  These were the places that gave us wonderful opportunities to ‘practice’  sleeping and made car camping with a baby much much easier. 

Because our babies could sleep and stay on a flexible routine wherever we were, they were usually calm and happy rather than overtired and cranky. 

DON’T MAKE CAR CAMPING WITH A BABY HARDER THAN IT NEEDS TO BE

Our baby methodology and parenting philosophy were shaped by our desire to be an outdoorsy family. 

We avoided habits that weren’t easy to replicate while tent camping such as white noise machines, night lights, music or blackout curtains.  If a baby is able to fall asleep without ‘home comforts’ there is less parental anxiety and it’s much less stressful for baby.

Two of our kids were attached to their ‘blankies’ for sleep time and we have friends whose kids had a special stuffy (soft toy). Both options are easy to cram into the camping bag.

WHAT IS NAPTIME FOR?

Sometimes we used naptime to stay put.  It works at a climbing crag, beach or campsite. Our kids have slept all over the place!

Other times it is wise to use naptime to travel distance.  On a road trip, driving some of the miles while they are sleeping increases the number of hours you can get under your belt before they become unhappy and restless.

Or sometimes we will have a destination in mind while we are canoeing or hiking so we paddle or walk while the baby is asleep. 

HOW EARLY CAN YOU GO CAR CAMPING WITH A BABY?

People often wait until their kids are ‘older’ but if you have the choice, we say the younger the better.  There is no magic age, and there are so many factors that play into this decision, but if you are emotionally and physically up to it you could start car camping with an infant as young as 2 or 3 weeks old. The earliest we went camping was with a 6-week old baby.

I have seen some outdoor adventure ‘influencers’ flying the ‘this-is-so-easy’ banner, camping with their sweet 2-month-old cherub. I agree that camping with a newborn until about 6 months old is kinda *easy* but the difficulty factor increases substantially once they are eating solid food and want to move.

From 6 months to 18 months fistfuls of sand taste better than goldfish crackers, they make a beeline for the biggest puddle in all the land and they move faster than a toupee on a windy day.  They are busy, inquisitive and have to be watched like a hawk.

In our experience, this means one parent is on kid duty and one gets to pitch the tent on their own. “Job-sharing” with your partner becomes crucial. Or bring along the favourite Auntie or your friends that have a 12-year-old daughter

That is why I recommend starting early – get your processes down before toddlerhood.

GO CAMPING WHEN YOU HAVE ONE BABY. 

Honestly, car camping with a baby gets more challenging the more kids you have, so just DO IT!  Despite the baby fog.  Despite your tiredness. Despite feeling like having one baby is the absolute hardest thing in the world.  If you plan to have more than one child you will look back and say one kid was easy and wish that you had tried a few more things. If you have mastered camping with one child it will be a matter of refining your processes to include a 2nd or 3rd or 4th…….or even a 5th kid if you are crazy like us!!

BEFORE YOU GO, ASK YOURSELF THESE 3 QUESTIONS

1. WHAT IS YOUR GOAL?

It helps to think through why camping and/or an outdoor lifestyle matters to you.  What are you wanting to get from it as a family? What are your skills and experience before baby came along?  These answers will help reveal your motivations and pitch your adventure at the correct level.

Our goals are:

1. To have our kids grow up living outdoors.  We wanted travelling and exploring to be a completely normal thing.
2. Using vehicle-supported camping as a step towards our vision of spending a lot of time in the backcountry as a family.
3. To get away from the hustle and bustle of life into some quiet, beautiful and preferably remote locations.
4. To be able to adventure solo occasionally;  biking, hiking, running or canoeing while the other parent is hangin’ with the kids. Contrary to popular parenting culture, it’s not all about the kids! 

2.  WHAT ENVIRONMENT WILL ACHIEVE YOUR GOAL?

Choosing where to go is an important decision.  It might make or break your existence as a camping family.

Some things that we think about:

1. Choosing a campground with a bit of space between sites or lots of trees/bushes. That way neighbouring campers are less likely to be disturbed by baby crying in the night or the general rowdiness that comes with kids.
2. Avoid popular campgrounds on holiday weekends or other peak periods.
3. We look for somewhere that has neat trails, a creek for kids to play in, or a beach that can be accessed right from camp

3.  WHAT STUFF WILL YOU NEED?

Go simple. Make baby purchases that support your vision.

For us, essentials were:

1. Baby front pack
2. Baby backpack
3. We added a stroller when our baby was 5 months old once we knew what we would use it for (sleeping & baby 4x4ing

Other useful items:

1. An infant tent (like a peapod type travel bed). This can provide a familiar place to sleep.
2. Hammock
3. Dad’s down jacket makes a great sleeping bag for a baby. Just lay baby on it.  Zip it up and cinch the bottom drawstring below their feet.
4. 3/4 Ultralight Thermarest. We got each of our kids one when they were babies and they still use them now.
5. A tarp laid on the ground provides somewhere safe to keep a smaller baby out of dirt/rocks/leaves/water. It gives them a place to have some kicking/play/tummy time.

Invest in necessary specialty items and improvise the rest. It is also worthwhile thinking about what your future family plans are.  Do you want more kids? How many? And how will this impact what you purchase? Can you hand stuff down to the next child? Will your purchases be useful when you have two kids? (think tent size, stroller etc.)

I look back and see how incredibly blessed we were in our early parenting years with our car camping experiences.  We most often camped on private land.  There was never ever anyone else there.  It was beside a river and had the perfect mix of ingredients for kid-friendly adventures and parental adventures as well. One of us could play on the river in the rapids right by the campsite while the other watched the baby/toddlers.  There was tonnes of exploring for the kids.  It was beautiful and quiet.

Go find your own piece of paradise! And as usual, if you have any questions or need some encouragement please reach out!  I am always happy to connect

FUN PLACES TO GO CAR CAMPING WITH A BABY

Premier Lake Provincial Park, Columbia Valley, British Columbia

Tunnel Mountain Campground, Banff, Alberta

Kikomun Creek Provincial Park, Jaffray, British Columbia

This post was first published in May 2018 and was updated in December 2021

My stride lengthened and the leaves crunched faster underfoot. Could I really force my chubby body to run for 5 minutes?

BUT HERE’S THE PROBLEM

Our mom-mantra tells us we only run when we are chasing our kids, are super late for an appointment, or the forgotten pot on the stove is boiling over.

On any given day we are struggling with a child who wants to wear flip-flops when it’s snowing.

Or we need to rush to school because a different child forgot their clarinet for band class.

It takes all our energy to make it through the dinner hour and be a nice mom right to the final goodnight kiss.

Running feels entirely unnecessary. Maybe even impossible.

WHAT IF YOU KNEW THAT TRAIL RUNNING MAKES BEING A MOM EASIER?

I wouldn’t survive raising kids without trail running. Does that sound melodramatic? Perhaps, but it’s true.

Running makes me physically healthy, mentally sane and emotionally balanced. It helps me weather the storms of motherhood.

1. Running outside in the fresh air is the best mood enhancer.
2. It clears the cobwebs from my overwhelmed mom-brain.
3. My bone-weary body is recharged rather than depleted.
4. I can step back into the house less stressed, happier and you guessed it! A better mom.

Running is the most efficient way to exercise with the limited time I have available. And bonus; I can eat all the chocolate

The thing to do is

1. START running and
2. STOP overcomplicating it.

Running is simply having two feet off the ground at the same time. Over and over, for as long as you decide.

Sound too easy?

Let me share with you…

8 TIPS THAT HELP ME TRAIL RUN 3+ DAYS A WEEK AS A MOM OF FIVE:

1. I am crystal clear about WHY trail running matters.

In the beginning, I ran to feel better in my own skin and be fitter for the outdoor adventures I was passionate about.

Nowadays, I run for my mental health and being fit is a {significant} bonus.

I am confident to jump into any activity with my kids because I am fit, strong and agile. An impromptu soccer game? No problem! My eight-year-old wanting me to take a turn water skiing? You betcha!

Knowing your why gives the needed motivation when you don’t want to run in *another* rainstorm on a miserably cold day.

Your why could be:

1. to become stronger/more toned
2. alone time or friend time
3. to race your kid to the bus stop (and win!)
   

2. I have a rough plan.

My starting goal 23 years ago was to run slow (very slow!) for 25mins without stopping 3 days a week. Currently, I follow a 50k ultra marathon training plan.

To be successful:

1. Be honest about your fitness level. You may walk more than you run initially.
2. Make your goal realistic.
3. Go sloooow if you are a beginner, haven’t run in a long time, or you had a baby recently.
4. Google ‘couch to 5k’ and decide your attack plan.
   

3. I choose a time to head out trail running when my family needs me the least.

This is usually early in the morning before the kids are awake, or when my hubby is home. I suggest you schedule time each week for running and keep the appointment with yourself.

If you have a random life as I do, be prepared to go at a moment’s notice. Sprint away the second your spouse gets home.

Creative time management is essential. We can all find 30 mins to do something that matters to us. Even with a gaggle of kids.

4. I choose inspiring places or times to run.

Singletrack trails with mountain views? A sunrise sky with blazing streaks of pink, orange and purple? Ahhh, the most energizing way to start the day!!

• Does your city have a river valley with a trails network?
• Do you live near a national or provincial/state park?
• Mountain bike trails are a great for trail running (check out the Trailforks app).
• Move to Fernie (or Whakapapa Village in New Zealand where this trail in the photos is located!)
  

5. I recruit trail running friends. Or I run solo.

I have a friend that I’ve run with twice a week for 9 years. We run at 615am Monday and Thursday, through snowstorms, heatwaves or pouring rain.

I am also in a WhatsApp group of 8 local women runners. We trail run early in the morning, even in the dark of winter with headlamps. Running before kids get ready for school, or before us moms & dads go to work ensures it actually happens.

My local running club does weekly trail runs and I participate whenever it fits with my family schedule.

And then I have a few other random women that I love to run with, usually for a specific purpose such as a long run, or a mountain adventure run.

Here’s the caveat though. You don’t NEED people to run with. At least 50% of the time I am pounding the trails by myself having a grand ‘ol time.

6. I look at the thermometer.

At first, running is uncomfortable. Your heart is pounding out of your chest. That bung knee gives you grief. Your undies keep riding up.

Don’t let the temperature add to your discomfort. Running is HOT work. You may need fewer layers than you think. Check the outdoor thermometer and learn precisely what clothing your body needs for each increment of 5 degrees.

7. I Find my own joy in running.

There are many styles of trail running:

• cross country, hills, speed,
• marathons, ultras, mountain running,
• rogaining, spartans,
• fastest known time (FKT), fastpacking.

Trail running has evolved for me. I used to plod along on a 4×4 trail, the same route every run because my family needed me back home in short order.

Now mountain adventure running is my jam. I’m combining my love of overnighters with fastpacking and I have a long bucket list of destinations to check off.

8. I Reward myself.

For years I resisted spending money on anything except trail running shoes. And even then I compress them far beyond their expiry date. Now, a couple of decades into my running story, I like to give myself little rewards for the hard-earned miles.

Buy a new top once you’ve run a marathon or get that windshell jacket that you’ve had your eye on for a 200km reward. A new pair of runners at 600km feels like Christmas.

When the running bug really bites you, splurge on specialist gear such as a running vest, and nutrition gels, which makes you a *real* runner (JK, I never use gels!)

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU CAN’T MUSTER THE MOTIVATION

My 2-year-old is hanging off my leg with big crocodile tears on his cheeks, begging me to “please don’t go”.

The cat chewed on some plastic and proceeded to barf it up under the coffee table, along with the rest of the contents of his stomach.

And my body is numbingly tired and the LAST thing I want to do is find my running tights in the gigantic pile of laundry and head out for a run on the trails.

I. Just. Want. To. Stay. Home. And hide in the closet away from my kid, stuff my face with cookies and fall into a coma.

What then?

1. Don’t make it dependant on stuff* (AKA excuses).

1. It’s a million degrees outside
2. I’ve had a busy week at work
3. I got my period
4. The kids are sick
5. My husband is away for work. etc etc etc

Decide to run anyway. Problem solve. You are good at that because you are a mom.

I have been known to:

1. run up and down the driveway and around the house with a baby monitor in hand.
2. have my friend across the road watch my kids for 20mins while I go for a quick run.
3. get my husband to follow me in the van crammed with our children on a dark night because I was scared to run alone.
4. stop mid-run to puke in the ditch on bad morning sickness days.

You are capable of more than you can imagine. RUN ANYWAY.

2. It’s not going to be perfect

Some days are going to suck and that’s OK. Sometimes running hurts or your heart isn’t in it. You will naturally develop grit and good habits over time.

If I need a break from running I don’t stop when my body and mind say so. I aim to get to the top of the hill or a certain tree before I allow myself to walk. Once I catch my breath I get my tush running again.

WHEN THE DOUBT CREEPS IN…

Any BODY can go trail running. You don’t need a certain body type. When I started running my boobs were DD. I wasn’t particularly fit. I wasn’t particularly slim.

While I was breastfeeding my oldest daughter, I wore 3 bras to run.

My jiggly bits still jiggle.

Fight the urge to give up because you don’t FEEL like a runner. You are if you decide to be.

Your kids don’t need you 24/7. Shocking but true. They will be OK with Dad, Gramma or a babysitter even if they wail their heads off when you leave. They will stop as soon as you round the corner out of sight.

If your kids are a little bit older they will be fine if you plunk them in front of the TV for half an hour.

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

On that first unplanned run, my pace slowed back to a walk and I glanced at my stopwatch. 26 minutes!!! I beamed from ear to ear.

That chubby body of mine that I doubted could run for a mere 5 mins totally could. And yours can too.

Lace-up those running shoes and go RUN!”

I’m the 7th billion person to say that 2020 was like no other, but I’m feeling grateful for where we live that outside time was not against the heavy load of Covid-rules we had on us. We had freedom to explore our neighbourhood. And we did just that

In recent years, I have run some pretty big mileage (of course, from my experience and perspective!) but I still thought that my body needed to rest after 3 back-to-back days of running. I kept trying to motivate myself to at least go outside and go for a walk on these pre-winter, non-running days, just to get some fresh air. But walking…..meh. I would much rather run.

I saw the Capra 30×30 challenge come up in my Instagram feed and knew right away that I wanted to do it. 30 mins for 30 days didn’t sound that hard because I always run longer than that anyway. The time commitment felt do-able and I didn’t feel like my body would suffer too much and more than all of that I needed a reason to push myself in November. It is my least favourite month in the whole year…lots of dreary days, coupled with diminishing daylight. Lots of rain, some snow but not enough to be consistently useful for winter sports and it just feels like a recipe to be depressed. I mourn the passing of warm summer days and November feels like the reality check that I don’t want to face. Running every day? Sounds good to me! And I also decided to add a photography challenge to kick me out of a photo rut as well!

My take-away is that though I have been running for nearly 23 years there is still new perspectives and experiences to explore. I don’t know everything that my body and mind are capable of. I held the belief that I need to rest and cross-train but interestingly enough my body felt better after 35 days of running (I did a few more!) than it did before.

Let’s not limit ourselves to the things we *think* are true but are usually things where we can change our minds and habits. They become our reasons but are most often just excuses!

Fall was a season like that for me this year. We had a long stint of gorgeous weather (which is unusual for this Fernie mountain town!). I love the sun on my skin, light clothes and the freedom of summer, so I mourn the passing of warmth. I know pre-winter is just around the corner and it makes me kind of depressed! It was my full intention to go on lots of fun adventures and take advantage of the beautiful autumn light and colours for photography. I tried to give myself those motivational pep talks, but I just did a ‘few’ adventures instead of a ‘lot’ of adventures like I hoped. It is a busy and challenging season of motherhood having 6 kids homeschooling this year – thanks Covid

I was soaking up the nice weather while watching the forecast. I could see that our beautiful fall was about to come to an abrupt end with snow and a rapid decline in temperatures. Having the desire to do one last mountain run for the season, I messaged a friend and we made a quick plan for a circuit of the Mt Proctor (2360m) trail!

The first ‘peak’ is about 6km and nearly 1000m of elevation gain from the trailhead at the Fernie Visitor Centre parking lot. The run begins on the shared hike/bike Swine Flu trail, which is runnable to the upper bench. From there it is mainly hiking to the first peak, which also makes a nice out-and-back.

From here it’s 330m of elevation and about 2km through rocky terrain and alpine meadows to another ‘peak’.

From here you continue on the ridge to the north; Mt Proctor peak is close – only about 400m and another 80m or so of elevation.

Summit celebrations, and then you continue on the ridge to the north, to a saddle, before dropping into the valley between Mt Proctor and the 3 Sisters Mountain (Mt Trinity).

Extensive trail work is being carried out on this route, and in the upper part of the valley the trail is significantly diverted away from the old one. It goes through some neat Grizzly Bear country until you are right underneath the 3 Sisters. The new trail adds quite a bit to the original length – perhaps 2-3km. It is well marked with large rock cairns, red dots spray painted on rocks and triangle trail markers on trees.

The descent in the lower part of the valley is steep and loose, and then levels out once joined into the Fairy Creek Trail. From here it is an easy contoured 5km track back to the visitor centre with Fairy Creek Falls about halfway along

Total distance: 20km

Elevation gain: 1400m

Cheers to one last mountain adventure