Browsing “Unplugged”

PLACE: Jericho Sailing Centre (Click for Map) LOCATION: Vancouver, B.C. Flash back to the summer of 1997. A 28 year old me, living in Atlanta, Georgia, was just hired to work in the States for an up and coming start-up out of Burnaby named Creo Products, Inc. Until this time I had never traveled farther West than Salt Lake City, Utah but now I was being asked to fly out to YVR and spend three weeks in training. While the work days were long the weekends were my own and along with a rental car and a few other bright eyes newbies I set out to explore the lower-mainland. When I asked some of my local co-workers where I could pick up some hiking gear what do you think was the first place everyone said? If you guessed MEC you would be correct. I purchased my five dollar share with a crisp U.S. five spot, worth something like $7.50 at time (those were the days) and geared up for what was one of the best times of my young adult life. Now flash forward 11 years. Creo is purchased by Kodak and one of the guys who was responsible for hiring me in 1997 (thanks Karim) decides to offer me a role here in what was the original Creo building on Gilmore in Burnaby. Thoughts of my lower mainland adventures spin in my head and the decision is a quick one. I drag my wife, daughter and two dogs across the continent and resettle in beautiful British Columbia. Once again, exploring is the primary directive only this time with my family, we need tents, hiking and camping gear and wouldn’t you know it I had saved that little paper card with my MEC membership which was still good. I yanked that sucker out of a file and have not looked back since.

With MEC such and integral part of my Vancouver experience, when I heard I had the opportunity to do a piece on the 2011 MEC Vancouver Paddlefest I was ecstatic.

…READ THE REST OF THIS ENTRY>>>

LOCATION: Tofino, Vancouver Island (Click for Map) I thought we’d venture a little farther afield this week and take a trip to Tofino. Thomas Powell’s use of good old, not to mention expired film and a camera which was developed in the ’60s gives this image a distinctly Unplugged feel (no SD cards or USB ports here my friends) and the subject matter is simply one of the most awesome places in the world. Now, this could be any jetty anywhere but when you’re sitting on the end of it with your toes in the water you feel like you’re on the edge of everything, everywhere. You know there’s a world behind you and likely a bit of one in front as well but in that moment nothing exists but the horizon and it could carry on forever in all directions. I hear tell that a bit of surfing goes on in this part of the world. I can’t lie, I have never even attempted this fantastic-looking sport but I imagine the feeling to be similar to a much faster version of sitting at the end of a jetty, with nothing but water in front, behind or below you. Thanks for this Thomas. There is also a tonne of great work on Thomas’s website, Long Winter Shadows, check it out!

I’ve been asked to do a bit of a plug here which I have just realised is really quite funny considering the name of this feature but here goes…
YEAH! Films is Miguel Barbosa and a bunch of guys from Toronto who love making films. They also love the outdoors and have recently made film about our fair city and it’s surrounding awesomeness. ’168 Hours’ was shot on-location at The Grouse Grind, Burrard Inlet, Lynn Canyon, Mt. Fromme, East, West & Downtown Vancouver and Vancouver Island (Kennedy Lake, The Cathedral Grove) and will be up on You Tube on July 18th. In the meantime check out the trailer here and loads of their other awesome doings here. This promises to be a stunner of a documentary, thanks for showing us off so well guys! If anyone has any ideas about how to extend the reach of work like this (so even more people can know that Vancouver is Awesome) feel free to get in touch with us at @VIAUnplugged

There was a lot of amazing photography in the pool this week folks, please keep posting and spreading the word about the Unplugged Flickr Pickr.

If you’d like to see your outdoor photos featured at VIA, submit them to our V.I.A. UNPLUGGED Flickr pool.

UNPLUGGED is a state of mind.

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: Lions Bay, West Vancouver BC (click for map)  We’ve all seen the two iconic peaks towering over the city along the North Shore mountains. The Lions Gate Bridge was even named after them. Now imagine hiking up and standing on top of them. The Lions Binkert Trail is an 8 hour round trip hike (1,280 m or 4,199 ft elevation gain) starting from the small town of Lions Bay off the Sea to Sky Highway. The views are truly spectacular and well worth the sore legs the next day.

The flat section at the beginning, the steep parts are yet to come

Howe Sound and …READ THE REST OF THIS ENTRY>>>

LOCATION: Lindeman Lake at Chilliwack Lake Provincial Park (Click for Map)  There truly is no more effective way to Unplug than to get deep into the woods, nestle amongst the pine needles, leaves, rocks, roots and creepy crawlers on the ground, take a deep, fragrant breath and get lost in the awesome of what I like to call upsidedown vertigo. You can even stick your legs straight up in the air and pretend that you’re walking in the tree tops. Jayme had the opportunity to get the worms-eye-view recently at Lindeman Lake in Chilliwack Lake Provincial Park and I love the resulting photograph…there’s no such thing as too much fish-eye and this image is just so crisp and clear (check it out BIG) that we can really get a sense of what it felt like to lay at the feet of these majestic trees. Check out more of Jayme’s work here and learn more about this stunning region here and here.

It’s our awesome city’s 125th birthday and Summer Live is happening outside at Stanley Park all weekend in celebration. This is a free event with tonnes of amazing goings on…here’s a link to the festival schedule and the Vancouver125 website . Get out there, make some great photos and get them in the pool for next week’s Flickr Pickr!

There was a lot of amazing photography in the pool this week folks, please keep posting and spreading the word about the Unplugged Flickr Pickr.

If you’d like to see your outdoor photos featured at VIA, submit them to our V.I.A. UNPLUGGED Flickr pool.

UNPLUGGED is a state of mind.

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

PLACE: Richmond Dyke (click for map)   LOCATION: Richmond, BC Break time.   We all need to check ourselves into nature now and then and put the blackberries and iphones on hold. Sometimes all you need to take a break from the city is to look into your own back yard and enjoy the nearest escape into nature. We don’t always have a day or two or three to get away, but all you need is a couple of hours in the outdoors to really unwind.

Especially now that summer has supposedly arrived or at least we think it has, i’m keen on enjoying every bit of sunshine i can get. I start many mornings and wrap up many evenings cycling along the dyke in Richmond. My 10 speed and I have covered a lot of ground over the years. You can cycle over 15 kilometres along the dyke circling all of west Richmond. No red lights, no stop signs, just continuous trail. Take it at a leisurely pace or race like you’re in the Tour de France or find a happy medium in between. The flatness of the terrain makes it an easy trail for all. In addition to the serenity of the water and the lovely views, there are several distinct parts of the trail. South Dyke Rd boarders farmland, you then pass through the old cannery area, Steveston fishing village, Garry point park, West Dyke trail, and lastly Terra Nova trail up to the Olympic Oval.

Sunrise and sunset are both beautiful on the water and definitely my favourite times to cycle through. I like to enjoy as much of the trail as possible so i start where No. 4 Rd meets Dyke Rd and follow the Dyke all the way to the Olympic Oval.

The center point of this trail is Steveston Village, it’s a historical fishing village at the mouth of the south arm of the Fraser River. Along the trail you see remnants of its old fish cannery. Steveston harbour houses one of the largest fleets of fishing boat in Canada, currently over 700 and counting. There are some great deals to be had on fresh fish during the summer. Along the Dyke there are several public piers available for fishing for the leisure fisherman out there. Whale watching tours also depart from the village and for those of you who don’t have your own bike you can rent one.

The village is also a great place to …READ THE REST OF THIS ENTRY>>>

LOCATION: Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve (Click for Map) Another suitable title for this image would be “Madman and Maddog Tear-Ass It Down Hill With Crazy Person On Bike Taking Pictures”. Not even sure how you managed to pull off this grand feat of high-speed shooting Robert but it worked! This is a stunning example of man, machine and beast working together as one and having a pretty awesome time doing it, I’m sure! Check out Robert Fougere’s Flickr Photostream and his website for some more fine photography. Thanks Robert! Also, take some time to have a look at the LSCR on the Regional Parks page of the Metro Vancouver website to get some ideas for your future fantastic outdoor frolics. Aaa-aand there’s even an app for that so you can use the thing that keeps you plugged in to find a place to get you Unplugged! There was a lot of amazing photography in the pool this week folks, please keep posting and spreading the word about the Unplugged Flickr Pick.

If you’d like to see your outdoor photos featured at VIA, submit them to our V.I.A. UNPLUGGED Flickr pool.

UNPLUGGED is a state of mind.

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