San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
The British Columbia Effect
A different kind of West Coast: Mountain adventures in BC
The research is in. Spending time in nature benefits us in profound ways, from calming our nerves to increasing our cognition and transforming our perspective. But this isn’t really news, is it? We all agree we always feel invigorated when we take a forest hike or pause on a mountain walk to scan the horizon. In the North, they call this mixture of exhilaration within sublime nature “The British Columbia Effect.” It’s the aura that appears after bathing in the brilliant energy of the province’s abundant nature combined with significant cultural discoveries.
In this land of alpine expanses, mountain immersions are less than one hour from Vancouver International Airport (YVR). YVR also provides access to regional airlines that will carry you deeper into the Coast Range, to the Northern Canadian Rockies and the Kootenays. The mountains of BC await however you plan to adventure.
The Sea-to-Sky Corridor
Highway 99 is most famous for connecting Vancouver with Whistler. The 90-minute route is better known as the Sea-to-Sky Highway, climbing from the Pacific Ocean, beside Howe Sound then into the alpine wilderness. Be Wild Adventures takes small groups on a variety of full-day excursions along the Sea-to-Sky corridor to experience Shannon Falls and other magnificent cascades.
Whistler visits receive consistent accolades for good reason, but those in the know also make time to visit Pemberton and Lillooet located just a few miles north. The Range Beyond Range Circle Route introduces visitors to the rich cultures of various Indigenous Peoples including the Lílwat, St’at’imac, and Tšilhqot’in Nations.
Seasoned hikers can trek from North Vancouver into Squamish via a series of mountain trails. An easier way to go deep into the alpine is via a helicopter tour. Librico Helicopters elevates guests into a variety of impossible-to-reach places throughout the Lower Mainland. Indigenous storytellers share their culture, the fascinating geologic history comes into focus soaring over ice blue glacial fields, and passengers set down in the Cheam Mountain Range.
The Cariboo Chilcotin Coast
“Big Country” awaits around seemingly every corner in BC, especially when you travel into the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast region. Tyax Adventures takes guests deep into this varied land, known for mountain peaks and vast meadows, lakes, and wild rivers. Guests explore hundreds of miles of trails on horseback, mountain bike and foot, coming to rest on one of five fully serviced backcountry cabins and camps.
Brown bears are a part of life for residents who live in the Bella Coola Valley, about a tenhour drive or 70-minute Vancouver-to-Bella Coola flight. Situated in the Great Bear Rainforest, the lodge is an ideal starting point to explore Tweedsmuir Provincial Park, embark on the lodge’s helicopter for heli-hiking, heli-sightseeing, and exploration of local Indigenous culture.
The Kootenay Rockies
The Kootenays are comprised of the Rockies, Purcell, Selkirk, and Monashee mountain ranges, an intriguing ensemble with unique environments, towns, and Indigenous cultures. The area is accessible from Vancouver via driving or a regional airport, yet California visitors may want to check out options from Spokane International Airport. Located along the Kootenay Lake shore in Ainsworth Hot Springs, Mountain Trek embraces The BC Effect with tremendous success. The all-inclusive wellness program is grounded in a four-hour daily hike, an opportunity to improve fitness while reducing stress and detoxing from our hectic daily schedules back home. The practices guests have integrated after they leave the five-star lodge have proven transformational.
One could argue the Kootenays gave birth to The BC Effect, not just on the jagged peaks and deep ancient Douglas fir forests, but in the towns themselves. Rossland is home to Canadian ski culture, and mountain bike trails start right at the edge of town. Stop into the town’s Kootenay Coop, or one of the many funky coffee cafes or craft breweries, and you’ll most certainly leave with a tale or two. Ditto for Kimberley and Fernie, two former mining towns that have much going in the summer as when their respective ski resorts take center stage.
Northern British Columbia
There is remote and then there is Northern BC remote, and that makes all the difference. Only the determined explore this region, known for all things outdoor adventure in a sparsely populated environment. Within such a vast area, there’s plenty of wilderness for everyone. The Northern Rockies Lodge sits on Muncho Lake within easy access to Liard River Hot Springs and Toad River; the backcountry paradise known as Muskwa-Kechika also beckons nearby. The Northern Rockies Adventure charter will fly you from Vancouver to Fort Nelson in just over two hours. Westjet, Canada’s second-largest airline, also flies to Dawson Creek.
Floatplane flights always provide a special experience when in BC. Alpine Lakes Air will fly you to remote water where you can count the annual visitors on two hands. Edziza Trails lead a variety of expedition-style tours throughout the summer that includes traverses of Mount Edziza and the Spectrum Range as well as day trips from an established base camp.