Browsing “Unplugged”

SPRING IS ALL ABOUT REBIRTH. As the dark, cold winter gives way to longer days and warmer temperatures, it’s time to go play outside. Back when I was a teenager, I used to bust out my shorts on the first sunny day of March and head down to English Bay to shiver behind the logs at the beach. It was a tradition. While it’s not exactly shorts weather out there at the moment, there is something to be said about stepping out of hibernation and into a world filled with the possibilities ahead. Get out those Summer To Do lists and start planning for the most epic season yet. Here are four ways you can enjoy the great outdoors this spring.

HIKE

While many of the North Shore trails are open year-round, Spring is a fantastic time to get reacquainted with the Coast Mountain rain forest and stunning viewpoints like Lighthouse Park. Check out vancouvertrails.com for a complete inventory of local trails.

STAND UP PADDLE BOARD

Photo Courtesy of SUP Vancouver

Whether stand up paddling in the calm waters of Deep Cove or seeking a more adventurous surf session on the white caps of English Bay, it’s time to dust off the paddle board and get SUPing Deep Cove Canoe and Kayak is kicking off Tuesday Night paddle race season this April. The paddle sport events take place every Tuesday throughout the summer and there are competitive and non-competitive categories, for only $5 per night. If you haven’t tried paddle boarding, there’s no better time to start. Stay tuned to SUP Vancouver for a full list of lessons in May.
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Location: English Bay A sign of things to come… Thanks, Kissarissa!

It’s that point in your consciousness where you can feel at one with nature, escaping the trappings of the day-to-day to an almost dream-like place where nothing else seems to exist besides you and your natural surroundings. It is our opinion here at VIA that Vancouver holds a unique place in the civilized world in that reaching this state often requires no more effort than simply pulling off to the side of the road, pocketing your keys and taking a few steps into the forest

PILLOW FIELDS A PLENTY AND BURNT FORESTS GALORE, Whistler Blackcomb’s Crystal Zone is full of undiscovered pockets of pow. With so many secret stashes in its billowy folds, Crystal the go-to area for snow fiends. Quirky trail names, Belgian Waffles and great glades characterize the area.This is a very exciting time for little Crystal Zone, as a big lift infrastructure update paves the way for easier access to the area. Join me on a tour.PLACE: Crystal Zone LOCATION: Whistler, BC

Photo: Brooke McDonald

Everyone loves Crystal Zone for its many charms: a quaint (and rather slow) three-person chair, epic powder stashes, and amazing Belgian waffles at the Crystal Hut. But next ski season, this area is about to become even better with the introduction of a new high speed quad chair that will improve lift capacity by 65%.

The newly coined “Crystal Ridge Express” received its name in a chairlift naming contest to celebrate the biggest infrastructural change to Whistler Blackcomb since the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola. Crystal’s high-speed quad chair is one of two new lift improvements to Whistler Blackcomb’s vast chairlift network that services some 69,000 skiers per hour.  This particular lift is actually no stranger to the fair slopes of WB and will be making its way from Whistler’s Harmony – where a new six-pack will be installed. The new chair will originate 158 metres below the existing chair.  Check out the diagram below to see what’s in store:

With secret spots, such as The Grey Zone, CBC Trees, and Fraggle Rock, it’s hard not to love Crystal. Not to mention, the epic spontaneous snowball fights that erupt when powder seekers are waiting (im)patiently for the lift to open on an umpteen centimeter day. But all that aside, one of my favourite features of Crystal is the amazing burnt forest, affectionately referred to as “The Burn.”

A forest fire ravaged the area back in the summer of 2009 – just months before the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. At first, we were devastated that our all-time favourite mountain zone was ablaze. But, Nature ran her course and the hard working fire crews managed to snuff out the fire, leaving much mystery as to what that zone would look like come the following winter.

When the white stuff flew in 2010, we were treated to wider turns through previously tight gladed zones. On a perfect pow day, the stark contrast of pure white snow nestled against blackened trees is a magical site, adding a little bit of darkness and mystery to an otherwise pristine mountain environment.
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DOES THIS COLD, DAMP WEATHER HAVE YOU FEELING SQUIRRELY? Have no fear, Vancouver’s Outdoor Adventure Show is sure to reignite your passion for the great outdoors and give you hope that adventure is just around the next corner.WHEN: March 2-3, 2013 WHERE: Vancouver Trade and Convention Centre

Photo: WFJ, V.I.A. UPLUGGED Flickr Group

The Outdoor Adventure Show takes place this coming weekend at the Vancouver Convention Centre.  The show, which is the largest of its kind in Canada, will feature a guest appearance from Olympic medallist Adam van Koeverden.

Outdoor enthusiasts of all kinds are likely to find their drool-worthy niche, including a camping showcase, the Vancouver Bike Show, a board sports zone, a running and triathlon zone, and a SUP pavilion. There will also be a health and wellness pavilion, as well as a zone for junior adventurers.

Travel photo and video workshops will provide guidance on how to capture amazing adventures.

For more information, visit their website or follow them on Facebook and Twitter.

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Location: North Vancouver This is what winter means to me, too. Stark, cold, stripped bare but standing strong, just waiting to come back to life. Any day now. Thanks, Lisa.

It’s that point in your consciousness where you can feel at one with nature, escaping the trappings of the day-to-day to an almost dream-like place where nothing else seems to exist besides you and your natural surroundings. It is our opinion here at VIA that Vancouver holds a unique place in the civilized world in that reaching this state often requires no more effort than simply pulling off to the side of the road, pocketing your keys and taking a few steps into the forest

Location: Indian River Drive, North Vancouver Beautiful. Really, really beautiful. Thank you for this, Stijn and welcome.

It’s that point in your consciousness where you can feel at one with nature, escaping the trappings of the day-to-day to an almost dream-like place where nothing else seems to exist besides you and your natural surroundings. It is our opinion here at VIA that Vancouver holds a unique place in the civilized world in that reaching this state often requires no more effort than simply pulling off to the side of the road, pocketing your keys and taking a few steps into the forest