Backpacking 101

There’s something deeply rewarding about carrying everything you need on your back and heading into the mountains for a night under the stars. Backpacking combines hiking, camping, adventure, and self-reliance in a way few outdoor activities can. It slows life down, reconnects you with nature, and gives you the kind of memories that stick with you for years. In communities surrounded by mountains, lakes, forests, and alpine landscapes, it’s no surprise that more people are lo

With hiking season on the horizon, you might be considering what to pack for a hike in the mountains this year, and you’re not alone. It’s usually where people get stuck. Not because it’s overly complicated, but because there’s a big difference between bringing what you need and bringing way too much, especially for overnight hiking tours. You can have all the right items and still feel uncomfortable… or you can have a simple, dialled system and feel confident from the first

When it comes to hiking gear, few decisions are as personal—and important—as what you put on your feet. Whether you're exploring mellow forest trails, scrambling over boulders, or setting off on a multi-day backpacking mission in the Purcells , your choice of footwear can make or break the experience. At Playwest, we’ve seen it all—from blisters on the first kilometre to folks hiking 100 km in the same dusty pair of sneakers they wear to the gym. So let’s break it down: trail

Check out this awesome trip report from our guest and friend Lana! It’s a good one! By: Lana Osborne-Paradis I’ve always been an active person. From a young age I played many sports, and in my mid-teens I discovered exercise classes and lifting weights at the gym. I was hooked, it was all I wanted to learn about or think about, and that led me to a kinesiology degree and a career in the fitness and exercise world. But, I have never been an adventurous person. Yes, I love na

Deb from Edmonton reached out to Playwest to see if we could get her and her sisters out for some adventures. Of course we said yes! Deb explained that her mom and sisters get together annually at Deb’s cabin in the Columbia Valley for a ladies trip in August. A typical trip involved days spent at the lake taking in all the sun they could, some shopping, dining at some of our local restaurants and a little bit of exploring the area. When we spoke over the phone Deb wanted to

The Columbia Valley is an incredibly diverse ecological hub. This tour explores one of the crown jewels of our area, The Columbia Wetlands. This wetland is a protected migratory nesting area for hundreds of species of birds. The birder can spend countless hours here enjoying the sites and sounds. After a visit along the shores of the wetlands we make our way north crossing many of the tributaries in search of larger mammals and ungulates. As we travel along we keep our eyes p

This question is regularly brought up, “Why do we need a guide?” Hiring a guide makes total sense for some, and others not so much. This blog is meant to shed some light on reasons why hiring a certified ACMG (Association of Canadian Mountain Guides) might make sense for you. SAFETY The number one concern of any guide is safety. The guests safety, their own safety, the safety of other user groups and even the safety of the critters. Guides are trained to assess, manage and mi