BC Summer 2025 Recap

This summer was epic but was definitely also interesting since we had only just moved to Canada in June and were trying to get set up for most of it. We spent most of June getting drivers licenses, SIN numbers, cell phone numbers, bank accounts, etc.. As well as trying to find somewhere to live and work. Thankfully I managed to get a civil engineering job within the first few weeks which helped alleviate any financial strain. Lucas was able to find casual work very easily as well. I actually already made two blog posts; one was getting set-up in BC and our first few adventures, and the other was our first trip to Vancouver Island.

Lucas and I hiked Golden Ears one weekend in September. It was such a slog, but well worth it for the views. If there weren't so many other campers (looked like there could have been like 30+ other tents...) then it would have been up there with one of the best camping spots in my opinion. The walk was about 17km and 1,650m vert, so a huge day, and the next day was the same but in reverse. We actually got up super early in the morning to try and get a tent pad as we weren't sure if there were other spots to camp. We ended up getting one of the several tent pads, but we soon realised that evening that there were actually endless nooks to camp in off the pads. We set up our tent close to midday so we had a nap in the sun before we hiked to the summit.

I entered the Women's North Shore Enduro bike race with some other girls. A very fun day out, but I probably wouldn't enter an event again as it was too stressful racing downhill, I just wanted to slow down and enjoy it. I was loving my new bike by that point.

We did another Vancouver Island trip in late September with a group of friends, over to Tofino again. I won't lie, the weather was pretty nasty. It was torrential rain for the first two days and finally cleared for the final day. We still made it an epic camping trip and met some new friends who we continued to hang out with over the following 2 years in Canada.

Our final adventure of 2025 before we hunkered down for Fall and Winter was Lord of the Squirrels. This is a cross-country / downhill MTB trail near Whistler. The circuit was about 31km, and we climbed 1,200m, rode along the ridge at the top, and then descended via a downhill trail. Such an incredible trail, particularly at that time of the year with the orange/yellow leaves. But boy was it a tiring one. I was not prepared for how tiring it was going to be riding steep up hill for 1,200m.

MacKenzie

28 Oct 2026