A big goal for 2021 is to expand our hiking videos.
Subscribe on YouTube to get those as they are posted.
Click PLAY or watch the trailer on YouTube.
I’d Rather Be Hiking Highlights 2020
Due to the pandemic, I did a LOT of cycling and hiking on Vancouver Island in 2020.
One of the hikers I followed most closely — looking for inspiration — was David on the I’d Rather Be Hiking YouTube channel.
Check his I’d Rather be Hiking – Vancouver Island Group Facebook page, as well.
Click PLAY or watch David’s 2020 highlights on YouTube.
Lowepro backpack – Photo Sport 200
I FINALLY got a dedicated camera gear backpack. Paid CDN$ 150 for a LowePro Photo Sport 200. (Now discontinued.)
Easily fits my 3 small cameras and assorted add-ons.
As well as extra layers, snacks and water.
- 1.2 kg
- airplane carry-on size
- narrow profile
Click PLAY or watch it in action on YouTube.
There’s a larger version if you want more space. Also discontinued, so you’d have to shop around.
Click PLAY or watch a review on YouTube.
Click PLAY or watch the Lowepro pitch on YouTube.
Click PLAY or watch a review of the larger 300 on YouTube.
Glorious Rathtrevor Beach at Dawn
Dawn low tide at Rathtrevor Beach in Parksville on Vancouver Island.
I’ve been walking early morning at Rathtrevor for months during COVID lockdown. This edit gives you a good feel for the glorious setting.
I’ve not yet tired of taking a morning walk in exactly the same place each day. Every dawn is different.
Low tide here stretches nearly a kilometre out into the Strait of Georgia.
Thousands of birds are here Spring and Autumn during migration. This video shot in November.
Rathtrevor has a terrific campground, if you ever get the chance to visit.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
I love Autumn hiking
Chill in the air. Sun low in the sky. Autumn colours.
September & October are my favourite months for hiking Vancouver Island.
This video is composed entirely of still images. Transitions turn it from a normal (boring) slideshow to something more entertaining.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
NEW BestHike YouTube trailer is LIVE
This video is the first seen by visitors new to the BestHike YouTube channel.
An introduction.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube. And subscribe. 🙂 I’ve started over on YouTube from scratch, doing it right this time.
Sawtooth Loop Trail, Idaho
Kraig Adams hiked the Sawtooth Range in Idaho for the first time and was impressed.
Boise is the nearest airport.
Many hikers carry a fishing rod. Mosquitoes are a big problem here in 2020 as they are in much of the Pacific N.W.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Epic Trails TV show
Click PLAY or watch a trailer on YouTube.
BikePacking Wesley Ridge, Vancouver Island B.C.
Trip report by BestHike editor Rick McCharles
I tried and failed to do the Wesley Ridge traverse:
- close to tourist hotspot Cathedral Grove
- trailheads on highway 4 between Parksville and Port Alberni
- about 10km with 750m elevation gain/loss
- about 6-8 hrs from one end to the other
- additional hour or two walking abandoned rail tracks back to start
- not maintained. Hundreds of fallen trees.
- buggy but few mosquitoes
- route finding necessary
I started at the end closest to Parksville assuming it would be less busy than the Cathedral Grove trailhead.
I made a video of the BikePacking trip. Cycling to and from my parent’s place in Parksville qualifies this as a #MicroAdventure.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
I hid and locked my bike close to the trailhead. Transferred what I needed to my hiking pack — and headed up the railway tracks.
I missed the turn-off up mountain. It’s not obvious. On my return I flagged the start to make it more conspicuous.
Steep.
The strenuous 2km climb up to the telecommunications tower is called Wesley Tower Trail.
Many continue on to the first lake vista. It took me about 2 hours to get here. There are two benches, one named Forever Tuesday after the Tuesday Walkers Club in nearby Port Alberni.
Most turn back at this point. There’s no one path across the ridge from here.
I gave it a good try. You follow different (competing) sets of orange tape flags. Some lead to dead ends.
A bigger problem was scrambling hundreds of fallen trees. Not bringing long pants, I got quite scratched up. It was bushwhacking.
Another problem is water. I saw no flowing water — only remnant snow melt tarns.
With daylight failing, I finally decided to find myself a great tent site.
It doesn’t get much better than this. I had to HIDE in the tent at dusk, however, pestered by small non-biting flies.
From here I could see steam rising from Port Alberni.
Here’s where I stopped.
Good night.
Next morning, nearly out of water, I decided to hustle back the way I’d come. I’ll try the Ridge from the other end on some future trip.
related – Lonny Barr – Wesley Ridge Trail
Hiking St. George’s, Bermuda
trip report by BestHike editor Rick McCharles
St. George’s was the first part of Bermuda to be extensively colonized, and the town of St. George’s contains many of the territory’s oldest buildings.
It’s claimed to be the oldest continuously-inhabited English town in the New World.
While visiting I walked all parts of the island many times. Here are some highlights.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
That footage is shot using the Osmo Mobile 2 gimbal with an iPhone X.
Though the gimbal weighs 485g (17oz) I’ll be carrying it on many future hikes.
