Chloe Ernst - Best Hikes Vancouver: The Greatest Views, Wildlife, and Forest Strolls

As a travel writer since 2006, Chlo Ernst has skied on the slopes overlooking her Vancouver home, retraced the Gold Rush in the Cariboo region, and caught waves on the Pacific coast. She loves to do the things she writes about, especially when it means canoeing in Widgeon Slough or reaching the summit of Goat Mountain. Chlo has written guidebooks for Globe Pequot, Fodors, and Frommers, as well as hundreds of articles for the Toronto Star, ZAGAT, and travelandleisure.com.

When standing nose to nose with a black bear, youre probably not too concerned with the issue of ethical behavior in the wild. No doubt youre just terrified. But lets be honest. How often are you nose to nose with a bear? For most of us, a hike into the wild means loading up the SUV with expensive gear and driving to a toileted trailhead. Sure, you can mourn how civilized weve becomehow GPS units have replaced natural instinct and Gore-Tex stands in for true gritbut the silly gadgets of civilization aside, we have plenty of reason to take pride in how weve matured. With survival now on the back burner, weve begun to understand that we have a responsibility to protect, no longer just conquer, our wild places: that they, not we, are at risk. So please, do what you can. The following section will help you understand better what it means to do what you can while still making the most of your hiking experience. Anyone can take a hike, but hiking safely and well is an art requiring preparation and proper equipment.

Leave no trace. Always leave an area just like you found itif not better than you found it. Avoid camping in fragile, alpine meadows and along the banks of streams and lakes. Use a camp stove versus building a wood fire. Pack up all of your garbage and extra food. Bury human waste at least 61 meters (200 feet) from water sources under 15 to 20 centimeters (6 to 8 inches) of topsoil. Dont bathe with soap in a lake or streamuse prepackaged moistened towels to wipe off sweat and dirt, or bathe in the water without soap.

Stay on the trail. Its true, a path anywhere leads nowhere new, but purists will just have to get over it. Paths serve an important purpose; they limit impact on natural areas. Straying from a designated trail may seem innocent, but it can cause damage to sensitive areasdamage that may take years to recover, if it can recover at all. Even simple shortcutslike cutting between switchbackscan be destructive, causing erosion and more damage that requires repairs or rehabilitation. So, please, stay on the trail.

Leave no weeds. Invasive species tend to overtake other plants, which in turn affects animals and birds that depend on them for food. To minimize the spread of nonnative invaders, hikers should regularly clean their boots, tents, packs, and hiking poles of mud and seeds. Also brush your dog to remove any weed seeds before heading off into a new area.

Keep your dog under control. You can buy a retractable leash that allows your dog to go exploring along the trail, while allowing you the ability to reel him in should another hiker approach or should he decide to chase a squirrel. Always obey leash laws and be sure to bury your dogs waste or pack it out in resealable plastic bags.

Respect other trail users. Often youre not the only one on the trail. With the rise in popularity of multiuse trails, youll have to learn a new kind of respect, beyond the nod and hello approach you may be used to. First investigate whether youre on a multiuse trail, and assume the appropriate precautions. When you encounter motorized vehicles (logging trucks, ATVs, motorcycles, and 4WDs), be alert. Though they should always yield to the hiker, often theyre going too fast or are too lost in the buzz of their engine to react to your presence. If you hear activity ahead, step off the trail just to be safe. Note that youre not likely to hear a mountain biker coming, so be prepared and know ahead of time whether you share the trail with them. Cyclists should always yield to hikers, but thats little comfort to those on foot. Be aware. When you approach horses or pack animals on the trail, always step quietly off the trail, preferably on the downhill side, and let them pass. If youre wearing a large backpack, its often a good idea to sit down. To some animals, a hiker wearing a large backpack might appear threatening.

Unless you want to be soreand possibly have to shorten your trip or vacationbe sure to get in shape before a big hike. If youre terribly out of shape, start a walking program early, preferably 8 weeks in advance. Start with a 15-minute walk during your lunch hour or after work and gradually increase your walking time to an hour. You should also increase your elevation gain. Walking briskly up hills really strengthens your leg muscles and gets your heart rate up. If you work in a storied office building, take the stairs instead of the elevator. If you prefer going to a gym, walk the treadmill or use a stair machine. You can further increase your strength and endurance by walking with a loaded backpack. Stationary exercises you might consider are squats, leg lifts, sit-ups, and pushups. Other good ways to get in shape include biking, running, yoga, body-weight exercises, and, of course, short hikes. Stretching before and after a hike keeps muscles flexible and helps avoid injuries, as does seeking medical advice before making big changes to your fitness regime.

Its been said that failing to plan means planning to fail. So do take the necessary time to plan your trip. Whether going on a short day hike or an extended backpacking trip, always prepare for the worst. You need to do your best to prevent problems from arising in the first place. In order to surviveand to stay reasonably comfortableyou need to concern yourself with the basics: water, food, and shelter. Dont go on a hike without having these bases covered. And dont go on a hike expecting to find these items in the woods.

Water. Even in frigid conditions, you need at least 2 liters/2 quarts of water a day to function efficiently. Add heat and taxing terrain and you can bump that figure up another 1 liter/1 quart or more. Thats simply a base to work fromyour metabolism and your level of conditioning can raise or lower that amount. Unless you know your level, assume that you need 4 liters/1 gallon of water a day. Now, where do you plan on getting the water?

Preferably not from natural water sources. These sources can be loaded with intestinal disturbers, such as bacteria, viruses, and fertilizers. Giardia lamblia, the most common of these disturbers, is a protozoan parasite that lives part of its life-cycle as a cyst in water sources. The parasite spreads when mammals defecate in water sources. Once ingested, Giardia can induce cramping, diarrhea, vomiting, and fatigue within 2 days to 2 weeks after ingestion. Giardiasis is treatable with prescription drugs. If you believe youve contracted giardiasis, see a doctor immediately.

Treating water. The most reliable solution to avoid polluted water is to carry your water with you. Yet, depending on the nature of your hike and the duration, this may not be an option4 liters/1 gallon of water weighs 4 kg/8.8 pounds. In that case, youll need to look into treating water. Regardless of which method you choose, you should always carry some water with you in case of an emergency. Save this reserve until you absolutely need it.

There are three methods of treating water: boiling, chemical treatment, and filtering. If you boil water, its recommended that you do so for at least 1 minute, and for 3 minutes if youre above 2,000 meters (6,562 feet). This is often impractical because youre forced to exhaust a great deal of your fuel supply. You can opt for chemical treatment, which will kill