A-Life BC Travel Blog

By Ross Collicutt

Vancouver Island and BC's Lower Mainland are chock full of all forms of outdoor racing. There are mountain bike races, road bike races, road running races, kayak races, sailing races, and even trail running races ominously called the Gutbusters. But these are more warm weather events. What happens when the ground is covered in snow?

You put on some snowshoes and go for a run, of course!

Since 2001, The Yeti Snowshoe Series has brought snowshoe racing to Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland at locations like Mount Washington, Mount Seymour, Grouse Mountain and Whistler/Blackcomb. 2012 marks the first year organizers have expanded beyond BC with a new venue at Scenic Caves, Blue Mountain in Ontario.

So what exactly is snowshoe racing?

By Ross Collicutt

Driving through Duncan one day, on my way home to Nanaimo, I was looking for a nice spot to stretch my legs and take some photos. The sun was casting a beautiful glow over the valley as it started dipping behind Mount Prevost.

They say just before sunset is one of the best times to get out and take amazing photographs, so I kept my eyes open for a nice location. Some interesting trees and landscapes or maybe some different kinds of wildlife would have all made for some great shots in the fading light.

I was passing Somenos Marsh at the north end of Duncan when I realized it would be a perfect place to wander the beautiful, recently-installed boardwalk out into the marsh and maybe even get some photos of a few of the 200+ bird species that frequent the area. There is a helpful map on SomenosMarsh.com, the digital home of the conservation project.

By Ross Collicutt

I've always been interested in sailing, but I could never see myself out on the water and so always favoured the land based sports. That all changed this year.

I learned the basics by taking some dingy courses this year and soon found myself crewing (helping sail) a 43-ft keelboat. The keelboats can be much larger than a 14-ft dinghy, but the idea behind sailing them is similar.

The local regattas held a few times per year are part of what makes sailing fun on Vancouver Island.

By Ross Collicutt

Memory Island is a nature sanctuary on Shawnigan Lake, founded as a memorial to two young soldiers. The Mayhew and Scharff families lost their sons during World War II and wanted to do something to commemorate their memories and those of other downed airmen.

Their sons loved to explore Shawnigan Lake and the island when they were young, so when the war ended, the families bought and donated Memory Island to the province. Since then, countless families have explored its banks and nooks.

By Ross Collicutt

When I was recently in Vancouver to visit friends, we spent a couple of hours at the Capilano Suspension Bridge.

First we tried out the brand new Cliffwalk. If heights make you queezy, this one may not be for you. A narrow walkway about 600m long is suspended from the side of the cliff. You are literally walking on the edge of a cliff with nothing but the rocky canyon bottom over 20m below.

By Ross Collicutt

When I think of aquariums that I’ve visited over the years, I think of smaller businesses that are having trouble staying afloat and keeping their animals happy, all while attempting to make a difference in the world.

The execution can be a little lackluster, but the idea—providing entertaining shows and valuable education about our planet’s animals while making a huge difference in their lives—is still a very admirable one, and the Vancouver Aquarium proves it can work.

By Ross Collicutt

The many small islands around Vancouver Island make for great trips no matter what you’re doing. Whether you like hiking, mountain biking, scuba diving, sailing or just laying on the beach, there is an island that is perfect for you.

Hornby Island is a great example. Even though it’s relatively small, it’s easy to fill your days with endless outdoor activities.

Helliwell Provincial Park sits at the north-east corner of Hornby Island, forming the northern bluffs of the beautiful Tribune Bay. You can’t mountain bike in the park, but it’s a great place for a stroll along the well-maintained trails.

By Ross Collicutt

I was riding my motorcycle home from a great day at Shawnigan Lake this past weekend when my legs and arms started to go a bit numb from the vibrations. My motorcycle isn’t the most comfortable vehicle to ride long distances, so I decided to find a nice place to stop and stretch my legs.

I had driven by Chemainus Lake many times but never stopped there to take a look. It’s close to the highway near Chemainus, about halfway between Nanaimo and Shawnigan Lake. It's a great place to stop and check out the view on a wonderful warm afternoon.

There’s a 2.5-kilometre trail that winds its way completely around the lake. There are benches and viewpoints at various spots around the trail, great for catching your breath or just taking in the scenery. The trail begins on either side of the parking lot and connects back up to the other side after circling the lake.

The north entrance is also an off-leash dog park, so you can let the dogs stretch their legs as well. It’s not fenced in, so keep an eye on your pooch if they like to stray far—the highway isn’t too far away and is quite busy with traffic most days.

By Ross Collicutt

In 1911, the Canadian Northern Pacific Railway began a 250-mile line through Vancouver Island with the intentions of linking Victoria with Port Alberni. Freight and logs would be hauled along the line, making it easier to transport goods.

A major section of the line, the Koksilah River Trestle, was completed in 1920, spanning the 614 feet across and 145 feet above the Koksilah River below.

By Ross Collicutt

Imagine building a massive three storey structure by hand with no cranes, power tools or even nails.

That’s what the pioneers of Nanaimo, originally called Colville, did in 1853.

To create a store as well as a safe fort in tense times, two French Canadian axe men hewed 16-foot beams with adze and axe then connected them with wooden pegs using a technique called “poteau-sur-sole."

The first floor became the store and the second floor was used for storing grapeshot and other munitions in the case of attack from water or land. Slits in the walls and an overhanging wall created the perfect vantage point to fire down on attackers from the third floor.

The two six-pound cannons were kept on the second floor behind heavy shutters. They were used primarily to fire salutes and announce that the governor had arrived. Occasionally they would be shot across the bay to warn oncoming tribes or to break up fights between neighbouring groups.