This summer, we were able to manage our time MUCH better than last, our starting year in this crazy, self-run business.   We tried to get out each and every Sunday, and for the most part, we were successful.  There are so many stunning areas around us in the East Kootenay’s that we can be out and hiking in minutes.  Since, we are not in the same kind of shape we used to be *cough* we re-hiked a number of our favourites . . . which made my complaining, and constant questioning of “when we are going to get to the top?” pretty much non-existent!   I’m sure P was glad about THAT . . . except he HATES going to the same places over again.  I love it, and he hates it . . . and we ended up re-doing hikes all summer!  That’s a total win in my column I think.  I have few, people, oh, so few.

This particular hike was done with my good friend Karen, from Toronto Girl West fame.  She was in town finishing up some work leftover from before she moved.  Karen is in much better shape than I, so I was glad to have someone around who could keep up with Paul’s speed . . . and incessant need to talk.  All. The. Time.  Thanks Karen 😉  I love Karen dearly, but what I found out after the fact was that she is terrified of bears!  She told us she was frightened of them (I think most sane people are), but it came out later (FB? Twitter? I can’t remember) that it was a much greater fear than she led on.  Why was this a big deal?  Well, we were headed to BEAR Lake!  Grizzly country! 

I don’t know how much truth there is to this, but there was a story from a couple years ago that two guys were camping at the lake, left their backpacks at the camp, went fishing, came back and a grizzly was going through their backpacks (in which they had stupidly left food).  The bear apparently charged them and they shot it. Grizzly gone.  I thought this story would make Karen feel safer, and ended it with, “apparently Grizzly’s have territories and so therefore there isn’t a grizzly there anymore!”  Until Paul had to butt in and say something along the lines of “but a new one’s probably moved in by now”.  Very helpful Mister.

Karen was a great sport, came along, suffered the fear, and lack of hiking boots . . . and most of all, she agreed to do this video with us!  Make sure you check out her post on this as well, and give her some much deserved love.

Enjoy the stunning scenery!