AUTUMN ADVENTURE
You’ll find yourself feeling refreshed and renewed after taking it outside for a fall tour of some quaint mountain locales in the Canadian Rockies, Matt Mosteller writes.
The Japanese call it ‘Shinrin-Yoku’ and, simply put, it means spending time outdoors for better mind and body health. Some may think that’s not possible in autumn, with its darker days, more frantic pace and increased screen time.
While no more sand in the toes is sad, you can turn it around. Make time to get outdoors, try a new activity, move your body into the Canadian Rockies region, meet some quaint, funky authentic mountain towns and be inspired by this fresh renewal. Besides, there’s never enough summertime to do it all, so fall in line with these four adventures in four towns.
A Golden place to saddle up: Be humbled by big peaks. Wrangle into the Wild West with a horseback ride into Blaeberry valley, near Golden, B.C., with giant peaks rimming both sides. You’ll want to spend more time gawking, but best to listen to your trail boss who will show you how to ride, taking you back to a pioneering time. Bear Corner Bed and Bale offers time to take in the changing colours and hopefully a glimpse of Kokanee salmon spawning in some of the rivers you will be crossing. Reflect on how humbling it is to feel the goodness of being small in the great outdoors.
While the trail this time of the year won’t be hot, you’ll still kick up a bit of thirst, and a perfect place to pull up a seat and order your flight of tasters is at the new Whitetooth Brewing Co. Enjoy small-batch Belgian-inspired and West Coast-influenced brews.
Wet your line: Calm your heart. Many know Fernie, B.C., as that place for powder enthusiasts, but it’s also one of the best places to learn to fly fish. Float or walk the crystal clear waters and idle time away under the whispering cottonwoods. Hit up Elk River Guiding Company, as they have a team of talented fly fishing guides, ready to help you learn the art of 10 and 2 (that’s fly casting speak). Try their Fundamentals of Fly Fishing program, which will get you set up with casting, which flies to use and how to read the river. In short order, you’ll be enjoying the calm provided by this sport.
Let your feet take you away: Movement makes a difference. They’re right when they say taking the detour to Kimberley, B.C., is good for you. Lace up to head out for a walk and trail run in Kimberley Nature Park, one of the biggest municipal parks in Canada. Numerous trails and distance options exist and the fall foliage is in full display. All it takes to get you started is picking up your pace a bit, providing extra health and mind goodness.
If you haven’t been in a while, you’ll like what you see, as Kimberley has added cool new retail shops, a variety of great places to eat including Pedal and Tap, featured on You’ve Got to Eat Here, and there’s the new craft brewery, Overtime Beer Works.
Spin away the day: Fresh air and cardio good times. The Canmore Nordic Centre was the site for Nordic events during the 1988 Olympics. Its trails are geared to those learning how to mountain bike, or when the snow falls, how to navigate the corners on a fat bike. Either way, you’ll benefit from the cardio workout, gain enhanced balance skills and co-ordination from lessons provided by Trail Sports.
Bonus healing powers: Soak it up. Parks Canada has been busy with construction projects at Radium Hot Springs, which are slated to be complete in November. Plan a trip here then to Canada’s largest hot springs, with its natural minerals that will give your body a lift. Relax, you deserve it. Clear the slate, here’s where good old-fashioned heated water takes over.
Just down the road be sure to stop for some coffee at Kicking Horse Coffee Cafe in Invermere. Perk yourself up now or grab some beans to go for those stormy mornings ahead.
Road trip worthy goods: Pack an indestructible cooler from Yeti, with cold ones and healthy treats for a picnic riverside. If you try fly fishing, you’ll likely be hooked, but don’t forget to protect your eyes with polarized glasses from Smith Sport Optics.
Don’t forget the extras on your trail run and mountain bike tour, such as energy bars from Pro Bar to keep you fired up, an Outdoor Research Helium Hybrid jacket to keep the weather at bay, and a Tempo & Pace pack from Gregory Packs. Matt (Powder Matt) Mosteller is vice-president of sales and marketing with Resorts of the Canadian Rockies. He writes regularly on outdoor pursuits for the Herald.