The best summer hikes call for the best summer rewards鈥�
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If you live in Vancouver, you鈥檙e acutely attuned to the changing of the seasons. The cold, wet winters let up slowly: sunny days that stretch upwards of 10 degrees start cropping up, the bike lanes begin filling with winter鈥檚 hibernating cyclists and English Bay Beach starts getting a little more, um, lit.
There鈥檚 a reason why summer is so hotly anticipated in Van. Long, bright days, just the right amount of heat and a virtually endless wealth of natural playgrounds keep the city and surrounding area close to the hearts of residents and visitors alike. The area is projected to enjoy a milder and drier summer than usual this year, which bodes well for those looking to pound trails across the Pacific Coast.
Of Vancouver鈥檚 many naturally occurring advantages, the lush, magnificent mountains that hem in the city top the list for many folks. They鈥檙e not just eye-candy: they contain some of the country鈥檚 best and most accessible hiking trails for folks of all skill levels. With that said, here鈥檚 a crash course in conquering British Columbia鈥檚 most wondrous summer trails!
PACK SMART
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Just like every trail is different, so is every hiker. But there are a few old standbys to check off your list. Trail snacks and refreshments are sacred things; they鈥檒l provide the sustenance and energy required to commune with nature on an all-day walkabout in the woods. Additionally, be conscious of your wardrobe. Even if it鈥檚 a sunny day out, a good rule to follow is 鈥榙ress for the best and pack for the worst鈥� 鈥� especially on the 鈥淲et Coast.鈥�
The must-haves of hiking will depend on which trail you鈥檙e tackling, who you鈥檙e with and what kind of experience you鈥檙e chasing, but these general suggestions will help you keep the bases covered for a solid, well-rounded day outside of the city:
鈥� Protein and carb-rich snacks
鈥⒙燗 half litre of water for every hour of hiking
鈥⒙燗 cooler packed with feel-good snacks (and a victory bevvy like SoCIAL Lite Vodka's Grapefruit Pomelo or Peach Spiked Iced Tea!)
鈥⒙燬unscreen and a hat
鈥⒙燫ain jacket or poncho
鈥⒙燤ap and compass
鈥⒙燜irst aid kit
Now, where to go...
Mount Crumpit
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You might not find the Grinch on Mount Crumpit, but you will find stunning views of the Squamish area. The trail begins from a side street not far from the famed Stawamus Chief; but while the Chief boasts crowds all summer, Crumpit is a hidden gem 鈥� which means you鈥檒l enjoy a bit more solitude on the trail. The entire loop takes about seven hours to complete, but if you start at the Raven鈥檚 Plateau subdivision and hike the Deep Ends trail, it鈥檒l only take you one hour and 45 minutes to reach the summit.
Conflict Lake
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is an excellent summertime jaunt that will take you through the beautiful Callaghan Valley just west of Whistler. This is a there-and-back trail with little incline that runs 12-kilometres through valleys and forest with fantastic views of nearby Powder Mountain.
St. Mark鈥檚 Summit
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is a 麻豆传媒映画classic for good reason. The 11km trek takes about five hours and offers spectacular views of Howe Sound and Gulf Islands like Bowen. The reward-to-effort ratio is quite favourable for this intermediate hike.
Garibaldi Lake
is another fan favourite, wedged in the wonderland between Whistler and Squamish. The hike to the lake is arduous, spanning 18km for a round-trip, but the turquoise glacier waters of Garibaldi are worth the sweat. The lake allows campers and makes a stellar home base from which to tackle countless other hikes in the region.
Crown Mountain
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You鈥檝e probably heard of the 鈥� a literal grind of sheer incline on a stairway up Grouse Mountain 鈥� but nearby , a challenging summit itself, offers the same but better: views of the city along with a panorama of North Shore mountains after a true hiking experience. You鈥檒l access Crown Mountain via the Grouse Mountain Skyride 鈥� unless you dare attempt the Grind as a warm-up for Crown. This is a difficult, nearly 10km trail, so perhaps plan to make your attempt after bagging some intermediate hikes.
Photo: Social Lite
When you finish that hike and are taking in the view, there鈥檚 nothing quite like cracking open a victory bevvy to celebrate. Our drink of choice these days? . Their new soda flavours, field strawberry and blood orange, are a must-try 鈥攁nd the best part is, there's zero sugar. If you're more of a spiked iced tea person, their new line of iced teas (which come in unsweetened Lemon and Peach) will hit the spot just as well.
