Though Iโve driven through Fernie, British Columbia, at least 100 times, Iโd never before stopped as a tourist. ย
It’s fantastic.
A.I.
A year round outdoor recreation mecca.
Hiking. Mountain biking. Rafting. River tubing.
Not to mention world-class fly fishing on the Elk River for cutthroat and bull trout.
Fernie is most famous for Alpine Skiing and Snowboarding.
There areย over 300 kilometersย of multi-use recreational trails accessible directly out of town.
The owner of Edge of the World snowboard shop pointed out that he can hike or bike in any direction from town โ and be on a fantastic trail in minutes. (He also had to deploy bear spray to dissuade a Black Bear on the day of my arrival. There is plenty of wildlife around Fernie.)
There are 4 dedicated bike and outdoor shops in a town of less than 6500 locals!
I stopped by Sun Country Cycle in Vernon to have them top up air in the tires and look over the bike for any potential problems.
The Okanagan Rail Trail leaving Vernon is fantastic. This is not part of the Trans Canada Trail.
As you get closer to Kelowna, the route is not nearly so good. I was hurting, as well, and could barely walk after only about 60km. I checked into the hostel in Kelowna wondering if I’d be able to continue. My muscles were cramping badly.
BUT I did make it to Penticton. Still hurting, but less and less.
AND was able to cycle up to the Myra Canon trailhead โย though the 945-meter elevation gain at never more than 2% grade in the HEAT was tough!
I crashed that night.
Myra Canyon Trestles & Tunnels
The 18ย trestlesย and 2ย tunnelsย are one of the highlights of the entire Trans Canada Trail. This was my 3rd time here and I enjoyed them as much as ever.
Fantastic views โ though the surface near Kelowna is very sandy & rocky. Those on eBikes were much happier than me. A good mountain bike would be better, as well, than my gravel bike.
On the other hand, I had the trail to myself most of every mile.
I stopped for coffee at Chute Lake, charging my electronics and filling up about 5 lites of water.
Up high on the trail, this was my brightest fire red sky at night. I was lucky to avoid any worse smokey air.
Columbia and Western Rail Trail
The KVR ends at Midway B.C.
I continued on towards the Columbia and Western Rail Trail. It’s about 162 km connecting Midway, Grand Forks, Christina Lake, and Castlegar.
Great sections, but not nearly as good as the KVR.
Highlights for me were sweeping views of the Granby Valley, Christina Lake, and Lower Arrow Lake.
And it offers ideal wild camping โ though there are not all that many water sources.
I enjoyed dinner every night, rehydrating meals frozen by my niece. Much tastier than any commercial camping dinners I’ve ever tried.
NEW for me is using a toy drone automatically following my bicycle.
Also new for me while bikepacking, is carrying a portable camping chair.
I love it!
Though rehydrating meals is ideal …
… I eventually had an urge for solid food.
Here I am saying goodbye to the Columbia and Western Rail Trail.
To Nelson & Crawford Bay
As we had a house in Crawford Bay B.C., I was keen to continue on to Nelson and the old homestead. But I was forced on to highways and rural roadways with … HILLS.
Why didn’t someone warn me there were HILLS in British Columbia? ๐
After flat rail trails, almost every ascent seems daunting. And HOT.
I love Nelson and checked into the hostel for a night. Happily, my friend Tam happened to be in Nelson at the same time and we were able to catch up for coffee.
Rather than cycle the dangerous tourist highway out of Nelson, I put my bike on the local bus to the Kootenay Lake ferry.
In 2020 the house my Dad built was in rough shape. Six years later it looks even worse.
I’m wondering when anyone actually last lived here.
Like 2020, I stopped for lunch at the fantastic Kokanee Springs Golf Course.
Busy, Dangerous 2-lane Highways
The highway from Crawford Bay to Creston is a favourite of mine. To drive.
On the bicycle it’s dangerous with very narrow shoulders in places.
I stopped at the Gray Creek General Store to inquire whether or not cyclists were taking the Trans Canada Trail up and over the Gray Creek Pass โ probably the most challenging section across the nation.
Not many, I was told.
Average of nearly 9% grade for 17 km from Kootenay Lake up to Gray Creek Pass
Average of nearly 6% grade for 12 km from Gray Creek Pass down to Parkerโs Creek
No service
Rough surface
Not recommended
As I did in 2020, I chickened out and cycled the highway to Creston.
My first flat tire EVER on this bike. After trying to add air with my (crappy) hand pump, I saw there was a bike shop only 4km distant. Rolling my bike there, the street was shut down by police.
This was a crime scene. Stabbing, I was told. Possibly murder.
The bike shop owner happened to drive past, informing me it was still possible to enter the shop from the back. With no customers coming in the front door, they fixed the flat immediately and at low cost. Whew.
Creston to Cranbrook
Mostly highway. No photos.
Crawford Bay to Cranbook was the least interesting section.
Adventure Ends in Fernie
I got coffee in Cranbrook. And then tried to find the trail out of town.
It’s confusing. And I never found even one good navigation app for the Trans Canada Trail.
The end of my trip on day 11. ย My rear rack broke off completely going over one of those bumpy cattle guards a few hours after leaving Cranbrook.
GMoney, a ski shop owner in Fernie โ whoโs a punk musician in his spare time โย picked me up while I was hitchhiking.ย
A big time hiker and cyclist, GMoney hosted me at his house and gave me advice on where I might get the bike fixed.ย
Turns out none of the 4 bike shops in Fernie had the kind of tools to repair the rear rack.
I stayed at the excellent Angry Elk Hostel, as well, for a couple of nights โ enjoying Fernie for the 1st time โ until my brother & his wife came to my rescue.
(Same day GMoney collected me, he and a girlfriend were 2 yards away from an angry Black Bear with cubs.ย Had to bear spray to stop her.ย Thatโs the closest bear encounter of anyone Iโve ever known.ย )
In the end, my cycling distance over the 11 days was around 750 km.
I Missed Fernie to Calgary
I broke down at the end of the worst highway sections, and the beginning of one of the best trail & gravel road parts of the entire Trans Canada Trail.
Located just southeast of Kelowna, this flat, wide gravel path crossesย 18 historic wooden trestle bridgesย andย 2 cliffside rock tunnelsย over a 12-kilometer span.
I’m cycling the Trans Canada Trail to Calgary for the second time. But this was my 3rd time riding Myra Canyon. In fact, I did it both ways this time. Twice the fun.
I have 3 cameras. iPhone 17. Action Camera. And a Drone.
HIGH priority for me is ensuring I can keep ALL the batteries charged. Here’s how I could recharge with just one electrical plug. In a library, for example.
Matein day pack
Anker Wall Plug & Charging Station
Neo 2 Drone & Case
Action Camera
Jaws GoPro Clamp Handlebar Mount
Cloth Shopping Bag
iPhone 17 Pro Max and cable (camera)
Flexible Tripod
iPhone 16 Pro and cable (phone) for Navigation
QuadLock iPhone 16 Pro MAG, Screen Protector
EarPods & cable
Extra EarPod for sleep
Apple Watch & cable
INIU 20000mAh battery x 2
AirTag in Hip Pack
AirTag in Laptop Bag
Air Tag in Bike
Razor and cable
M5 Macbook Air Laptop
External Hard Drive for Time Machine
Long Anker cables USB-C x 2
Laptop Dongle
Nitecore Headlamp & Cable
Unit 1 Batteries for Bicycle Lights
Electric Shaver & Cord
Red Electronics Accessories Bag
AllTrails Pro app
Gaia GPS Pro app
Trailforks Pro app
Rear Pannier 2 – Everything Else
Duffle (for airline / bus /car gear transport)
Waterproof Ditty stuff sack (green)
Denture tablets
Fingernail clippers
Asperine
Tums
Vitamin Gummies
Creatine Gummies
First aid kit
Sun screen
Hand sanitizer x 3
Prescriptions
Toilet paper
Toothbrush & toothpaste
Bandaids
Soap paper
Vaseline
Moisturizing Cream
Garbage bags
Fire Starter
Orange Cord
Mosquito Head Net
Zip ties
OrangeFlagging Tape
Bike Pump
Duct Tape pencil
Medical Gloves
Bike Tube x 1
Bike gear attachment cords x 2
Tiny Handlebar Bike attachments
Top Bag – Food
Ortlieb Rackpack 31 Top Bag
Tent Poles
Bear Vault
Ursack
FOOD
Fuel
Water Purification Tablets
Pot scrubber
PocketRocket Deluxe Stove
Titan Kettle
Mug
Bowl
Long Lighter x 2
Wash Cloth
Handlebar Bar
Ortlieb Ultimate Six Free 5L Handlebar Bag
Cameras
Snacks
Bike Lock
Sunglasses
Magnetic Knife & Fork
Combat Wipes
Sametop Clamp Tripod
Magnetic Lights & Clip-on Attachment
Repair Kit Under Saddle
Repair Tool
Army Knife
Tire Levers x 2
Oil
Plastic Glove
Hip Pack – Valuables
2 Credit Cards & Bank Card
Cash
Driver’s licence
Wallet
Travel insurance
Health insurance cardย
Metal Spoon
Clothing for Cycling
Varying day-by-day, most of the time I’ll be wearing this kit.
Only mad dogs and โฆ hikers go out in the midday sun? ๐
Surprisingly, when Las Vegas is sweltering over 100 Fahrenheit, an hour away you can hike Mount Charleston (11,916 feet or 3,632 m), typically 20ยฐF to 25ยฐF cooler than the city.
Click PLAY or get a glimpse on YouTube. Late June 2026, I tented 4 nights. This video is a compilation of several day hikes.
Strathcona Provincial Park, Vancouver Island, offers many challenging multi-day adventures. And many very challenging day hikes.
In this post, however, I focus on easy highway-accessible day hikes recommended for kids, families, everyone.
Campgrounds are often booked months in advance. I once got an overflow site at Buttle Lake marine campground. Designated for those on the water, IF space is available, you can sometimes get a spot for yourself at marine campgrounds. They are less busy.
Baรฑos de Agua Santa (Baรฑos) is a small mountain town, the nation’s gateway to the Amazon. And legitimately touted the Adventure Capital of Ecuador.
Activities similar to what you are offered in New Zealand, but for 10% of the cost. There MIGHT be some compromises on safety and liability, however. ๐
I came for the hiking and cycling. And for altitude acclimatization. It’s at 1,820 metres (5,971 feet). Three weeks at altitude conditioning in preparation for Kilimanjaro up next.
While traveling, I want to capture VIDEO and PHOTOS as quickly and easily as possible.
BEST for me in 2026 is to simply carry my iPhone 16 Pro. Typically I shoot video in the standard Camera app, 4K, 60 frames / second. HDR in automatic mode.
Only 5x optical zoom is a bit of a limitation, but it’s much better zoom than phones in the past. (I am tempted by the higher zoom in the 17 Pro.)
More often than not, I bring my inexpensive tripod from Fotopro. (Similar to JOBY GorillaPod โ but a little better.)
The tripod works like a selfie stick. Or I can quickly set it up almost anywhere.
That tripod has a simple ball head. To it, I attach the Ulanzi ST-27 Metal Phone Clip to keep my phone secure. It fits a large smart phone with cover.
I’m addicted to my Apple Watch โ and use the Camera Remote app as a viewfinder for taking photos and videos from a distance. I have that app as one of my Complications on the Apple Watch face so it’s always quickly available.
For multiple day adventures, I’ll bring one or more external batteries. . HEAVY โ YES. But they are the safest way to recharge my electronics on the trail. These brutes have saved me many, many times in the past.
Currently my travel favourite is the inexpensive INIU Charger 22.5W 20000mAh with attached USB-C cable as a handle. In fact I’m taking two of these on my next trip as I’ll often be away from electricity.
It can charge 5 devices simultaneously including a laptop, but I find the 4th and 5th (USB-A) really don’t get much juice compared with the first 3 ports in line. Almost all my devices now are USB-C.
If cycling โ where weight and bulk are less an issue โ I usually bring along a short extension cord. This makes it more convenient to plug into libraries, coffee shops, hostels, shopping malls, etc. (The UGREEN tends to fall out of a loose wall socket.)
The BIG decision for me last year was whether or not to take the DJI Mini 4 Drone. The Controller is essential. … In fact, so far I always bring the bulky carrying case and 3 extra batteries. A major commitment.
BUT I love shooting drone video. And I am often willing to suffer with the extra bulk and weight.
Actually, all this gear is not bad when I’m bikepacking. I add even more gear including the world’s best helmet. ๐
Sadly, I lost the Mini 4 in S.E. Asia on the last trip. And have now switched to the smaller, lighter, much cheaper, more durable DJI Neo 1. I call it a toy drone.
Mostly I’ll use this drone handheld. No phone. No controller.
For more complicated shots, I’ll take the time to use my phone as a controller.
For long trips, I bring along my old MacBook Air and 3-4 external 2TB SSD drives for back-up and video / photo editing.
I normally leave the Apple charging brick at home, using USB C charging, instead.
Critical for cycling is navigation. I use an old iPhone with a QuadLock attachment to the handlebars. And a rain poncho, when necessary. I keep my Canadian SIM card in this phone to ensure texts still reach me at the end of the world.
I’ll stop here …. though there are times I bring even MORE along in the bike saddle bags. ๐
IF I might need light at night, I’ll bring my tiny Nitecore headlamp and short charging cable.
Anker IQ wall plug for a quick charge at a coffee shop. ??
Bottom line? Show up with your phone and a back-up external battery. That’s what the smart folks do. ๐
Me? I’ll always have the phone and drone.
For example, for my last international trip (hiking, not cycling) this was my MAIN recharging set-up. One electrical outlet โ light extension cord โ International adapter โ my UGREEN Nexode 100W 5 Port USB C Charger Block โ 1) laptop, 2) INUI external battery (charging watch), 3) UGreen (charging phone).
Cables are long for convenience in awkward recharging locations. Cables are high speed. Priority is keeping my external batteries charged for use away from an electrical outlet.
In addition are my devices to be charged irregularly. I’ll do these once the MAIN group of devices is done.
In foreign nations, I’ll put a local SIM card into the 16 Pro.
This is the bulky, heavy drone with 4 batteries. (My next drone is lighter and smaller.)
I do have AirPods, as well. Normally I top those up from the external battery when needed. In fact, I carry a spare AirPod.
I rarely take the Flow Pro 2 Gimbal โ but that battery seems to stay charged almost indefinitely. ๐
Electronics are carried in my trusty old laptop case. Drone and accessories, separate.
For 2026 I’ve reduced bulk and weight of electronics. Next trip I’m going to try to combine my laptop bag and day pack into one.
NEW โ My day pack cable can recharge Apple Watch, old iPhone, USB-C, and USB-A.
besthike.com 