Inspired By Nature Series: Cariboo Mountain Adventures

This is a continuation of our Inspired By Nature series, where we highlight Canadians who are dedicated to sharing the health benefits of nature by getting others outside and unplugged. Know someone who we should feature? Email news@bcparksfoundation.ca. 

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Photo: Ember Harper-Fedirko

Meet Ember Harper-Fedirko, from Cariboo Mountain Adventures

My name is Ember Harper-Fedirko, and I run Cariboo Mountain Adventures.

I’m Quesnel born and bred, but was lucky enough to spend over half my life in the Wells/Barkerville area.

I was introduced to exploring early, by my dad who was an avid mountain biker, skier and hiker – who knew the area like the back of his hand.

I was taught to read maps, plan routes and prepare safety checklists (though I couldn’t understand at the time, how any of this would possibly be useful to me in the future.)

Photo: Ember Harper-Fedirko

Getting outside 

When I’m not living the typical “mom life” I enjoy getting myself and the kids outdoors, and passing along the joy of adventure to the next generation. My 5 month old has now been to the summit of 5 mountains, but when I’m able to sneak away for a few hours, you’ll either find me hiking a trail I’m not comfortable bringing the kids on, or riding my bike – which unfortunately I didn’t get to do much of this summer, but look forward to resuming in full force next season.

Favourite places to go for outdoor adventures

I fear I’ll sound like a broken record before this is over, but my favourite place to explore is definitely the Wells area…it’s home to me, so I feel comfortable exploring harder routes and going off trail, in hopes of finding new and exciting areas.

Wells has over a dozen (more if you know where to look) really fantastic hikes, which have mostly unmarked trails but are frequently enjoyed by our local outdoor community. There’s a broad range of trails, from beginner/kid friendly, to straight up the mountain and difficult.

You’ll find the most welcoming community when you come for a visit, as the town of Wells has been tourism-based since the early 90s, with Barkerville bringing in people from all over the world.

Photo: Ember Harper-Fedirko

Cariboo Mountain Adventures

Cariboo Mountain Adventures began as a way for me to find other women that were willing to explore the mountains, and has grown and changed a lot over the last 3 years.

In the spring of 2020 I joined The Lady Alliance, as a chapter coordinator for the Cariboo region. I thought since I wasn’t having a ton of luck bringing in new adventure seekers on my own, perhaps being part of a recognizable organization could help (and it did!)

We now have over 300 members on our Facebook page, and our once-a-month free hikes have been a local hit (when our provincial regulations have allowed for gathering of course). We’ve offered a vast range of excursions, from shorter beginner/kids hikes, to well-attended mountain adventures in Wells.

The Lady Alliance’s mission really aligned with my ultimate goal, to encourage women and the LGBTQ community to get out of their comfort zones and explore nature, all while ensuring they’re in a safe and non-judgemental space to do so.

I know first hand that it’s not always practical to join your local hiking community as a beginner – while they’re very welcoming and wonderful people…it can be scary to be the new person, feeling like you need to prove yourself or keep up, so you don’t slow everyone else down…but that’s why I created the local Lady Alliance chapter, to offer a space for everyone to try something new.

On the flip side though, when I’m hiking as Cariboo Mountain Adventures I’m thrilled to go out with everyone. I was lucky enough to start that part of my journey this fall, with my great friend Meg from the Prince George based “Adventure Bus”. In Summer 2022, we’ll be offering some overnight trips, as well as day trips for hiking and biking in the Wells area.

Photo: Ember Harper-Fedirko

Advice if you want to get outside and unplugged, too 

Whether you’re completely new to the trails, or a seasoned pro, some of my top tips for fostering a connection with nature are: 

Start small

There’s lots of trails in Quesnel (and almost any town you find yourself in). Ask local outdoor stores if your town has compiled a map book with a list of the trails. Find something short and easy, that’s close to town to begin, then work your way into the harder/longer hikes, as you feel comfortable.

Join a hiking group!

You’ll find lots of them on Facebook, and there’s plenty of self guided or free-to-join communities like the Lady Alliance that are ready to welcome everyone. You’ll only need to join one outing, and you’ll leave with a bunch of new adventure friends.

Find a guide

Yes there’s a cost associated with this, but what you’re paying for is piece of mind and experience. These people really know the trails, they do extensive pre-trips, safety plans, and they have all the right training to advise you on energy conservation and the potential dangers you could encounter on the trail. They’ll keep you safe, with wilderness first aid, and avalanche rescue.

A guide will also carry an emergency transceiver to call for help or initiate Search and Rescue, should the unexpected happen.

Most importantly, is just get out there!

I’m always just an email away and I’m happy to give tips and tricks, or gear lists for those that might be new to the wilderness.

Regardless of your skill/fitness level, there’s tons of options for everyone to feel comfortable starting a new hobby, and enjoying the outdoors.

Cariboo Mountain Adventures: cariboomountainadventures.ca

Move Outdoors with Gurdeep Pandher

This is a continuation of our Move Outdoors series, where we highlight individuals who inspire others to get outside and connect with nature through movement and exercise. Know someone who we should feature? Email news@bcparksfoundation.ca. 

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Photo: Mark Kelly

Meet Gurdeep Pandher, bhangra dancer and teacher

My name is Gurdeep Pandher and I live in the Yukon wilderness. I teach, dance, and perform bhangra, which is the traditional dance of Punjab or Punjabi people. I’ve been making videos and sharing them on social media to spread joy, hope, and positivity and that’s how people know me.

Photo: Destination Canada

What are some ways you like to spend time outdoors?

Outdoor dancing is my favourite activity. I like to go in nature and dance, which is a great workout – it’s high energy exercise.

I love to go to beautiful scenic areas in the Yukon, or wherever in Canada, and sometimes, whenever I get a chance, I also go for skiing. When I get a chance, I like to go on nature walks as well.

I feel that it’s very important to create connections with nature. I live in a cabin in the wilderness of the Yukon. I purposely chose to live outside of the city so that I can stay in touch with nature all the time.

When we’re indoors, we don’t notice changes in nature a lot of the time. But when you live in the lap of nature, like somewhere in the countryside or a rural community, then you see nature changing everyday. Everyday, there’s something new. If you look at trees, they’re changing their colours, or changing the shape of their leaves. You will notice new birds that come during different seasons of the year.

By being close to nature, you get to observe these beautiful, precious elements. So whenever I get a chance, I love to be outdoors doing these activities.

Photo: Stewart Burnett

Where are some places that you like to go for outdoor adventures in the Yukon?

Yukon is a big territory – I’d say almost as big as British Columbia is. I like to go to many places in the Yukon, but specifically, there’s one area that I love going to is close to my cabin – it’s called Lake Laberge. I make many of my videos at Lake Laberge. Lake Laberge is also famed due to the poetry of famous Yukon poet, Robert service.

Apart from that, I like to go to Fish Lake and during the summertime, I like to go to Miles Canyon and Haines Junction. Haines Junction is another town, about a 2-to-3-hour drive from here. It’s home to Kluane National Park and Reserve and the mountains there are so beautiful and big!

Kluane National Park is also known for the largest population of grizzly bears in Canada. There’s a lot of wildlife, different lakes, beautiful trails for hiking, and there are lot of old glaciers too.

Sometimes during the year, I also get a chance to go to Tombstone Territorial Park. It’s around a 4-to-5-hour drive from my cabin. It’s north to me – an amazing place, with the Grizzly Lake Hiking Trail – it’s picturesque, beautiful. Other than that, there are other locations in the Yukon which are beautiful places to go and enjoy nature, like Dawson City and Carcross.

But in the Yukon, I also feel that wherever you go, you’ll find nature since it’s very vast and has wide open spaces. Sometimes, I just drive 1 km from my cabin here and there and I see that there’s a lot of beautiful nature just in my neighbourhood! Yukon is full of nature!

Photo: Mark Kelly

Your videos have been praised for inspiring and uplifting so many people. What inspired you to start creating and posting your videos?

I’ve been making these videos for the last 5 or 6 years, starting in 2016. Originally, there wasn’t a big purpose behind them. You know the way we make we make videos on a regular basis to show to our friends or local community members about what you did during the day or to post on social media? It was just for that purpose.

But very soon, I started noticing that a lot more people started watching my videos. That became an inspiration for me to continue making videos–even better videos–and then, some of them went viral. Especially the one from Canada Day 2016 – it went viral.

Photo: Destination Canada

And then I made another video in early 2017 with the Mayor of Whitehorse, teaching him how to wear a Sikh turban and dance bhangra. That video also went viral. I did a video with the Canadian Armed Forces, with Paralympic athlete Stephanie Dixon, and Chief Dana Tizya-Tramm. People really appreciated these videos.

But I think that I became more passionate about these videos when the pandemic started. When I saw on the news that were people were feeling the stress of new regulations, especially when the pandemic was starting, and people were not sure about it. Nowadays, we have a lot more information about COVID, but in March 2020, it was all very new for people – wearing masks, keeping 6-feet of distance, doing virtual education for children, working from home – it was totally brand new for a lot of people.

So, at that time I thought that if I can start making my videos, I could help to spread some positivity, joy, and hope. That’s the reason that I started making more videos – almost one video per day to spread joy, hope, and positivity across Canada and beyond during the difficult times of the of the pandemic. That was a really big motivator.

Photo: Jared Leary

How do you plan and film your videos?

I film my videos myself; everything is done by me. I put my camera on a tripod, I use a big monitor so that I can watch myself and see how I look in the camera. I also try to use really good equipment so that the videos look good!

As for planning, it’s spontaneous. It’s not that I make a plan, like hey, I need to go to a certain place everyday, I just think about new place and go there.

It’s time consuming. Like yesterday, I made a video and it almost took the whole day. Sometimes going to a place, then finding the right spot, filming the dance, editing and publishing it – even for a 1-minute long video, it can take up your whole day at times.

It’s a lot of work, but I love doing it because people tell me that it makes them happy, makes them feel positive.

Photo: Jared Leary

Tell us more about your dancing. Why did you start performing bhangra outdoors?

Actually, bhangra has history of being an outdoor dance. It started on farms in Punjab, where I’m from, a long time ago. It has a tradition of being performed on open land, open spaces, and sometimes near rivers. So that was quite a big inspiration for me, because of my heritage, and because my ancestors or my elders – they used to dance it outside.

I know that sometimes we watch bhangra videos, but that’s a more a modern version of bhangra. In the olden days, it used to be an outdoor dance, performed in nature with people celebrating and appreciating that connection, expressing their thanks and gratitude to the land for providing crops.

That kind of bhangra used to be a different dance; it was not danced to songs the way people do these days. At that time, it used to be danced to drum sounds, which you’ve probably heard in my videos. I don’t use popular songs to dance with because that’s a very new thing actually. That started happening only in the last 20, 30, 40 years. But before that, bhangra used to be danced to a drum song. That’s a pure folk dance which is very different from modern bhangra.

So here in the Yukon, dancing outside in nature is also reconnecting bhangra to its original roots, where it came from, so I find that’s a wonderful connection!

Photo: Christian Kuntz

Do you have any advice for people wanting to started with outdoor exercise or wanting to spend more time outside?

My suggestion for people would be to please get outside on an everyday basis–for any reason. Not just for one purpose, but you can go outside for many reasons.

Just for a walk, just for a run, or if you want to dance like me, you can too! Or you can go outside just to sit, enjoy, and appreciate nature. Appreciate the trees, mountains, lakes, because I think we as humans, have a great connection with nature.

I believe that we came from nature, and we will return to nature one day. I feel that nature is a supreme truth, like a supreme provider. There are different elements in nature, like water, air, land, soil, the sun – appreciate these elements and try to build a connection with them. In Sikhism, we believe that these elements of nature are like our relatives, like they’re a part of the family. I’d say, try to create some bonds with those elements of nature.

So be outside, enjoy nature, and just appreciate it.

Photo: Jared Leary

Move Outdoors with Vincent Kuber

This is a continuation of our Move Outdoors series, where we highlight individuals who inspire others to get outside and connect with nature through movement and exercise. Know someone who we should feature? Email news@bcparksfoundation.ca. 

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Photo: Andre Morgan

MEET VINCENT KUBER FROM STEEL TOWN ATHLETIC CLUB

I’m Vincent Kuber from Hamilton, Ontario. I’m a gym manager by day and when I’m not doing that, I’m part of a run club called Steel Town Athletic Club (STAC). We do trail running mostly, and we are inclusive to getting new people out and running trails as well. We provide that safe space where it doesn’t matter if you’re slow or your pace isn’t up there – we’re not going to leave you behind.

Our group’s grown from 5, 10 people showing up, to 30 to 40 now on a Sunday morning group run. We have separated pack leads, so each pace group has a person that knows the trails and will keep the entire group together, so it’s sort of strategic how we manage it on trails as well.

Everyone has a good time and loves to laugh and before you know it, you’ve done a 10 km run, a good solid workout, outdoors and on the trails.

I created this space to help everyone feel more comfortable and experience the outdoors. Being a person of colour, this is important to me because I needed a space where I felt included. So, a few solid humans that felt the same joined me in my mission to make the outdoors for all.  By all I mean BIPoC, 2SLGBTQ+ folks and anyone that is dealing with mental health that could use this opportunity to better themselves. It’s not about speed, distance or competition; being outside with a supportive group of likeminded folks is an amazing feeling.

GETTING OUTSIDE IN HAMILTON, ONTARIO

I like keeping busy with the family at home, with my partner and two boys. One plays basketball and the other one – we’ll see what he’s going to be up to. We just try to enjoy the outdoors as much as possible before it gets too cold to do that!

Hamilton has a large number of waterfalls, so going on a trail run, just 20 minutes away from my place, we can visit 4 amazing waterfalls just on a 10 km trail run. We definitely take advantage of that and appreciate everything that we have that not everyone else does.

Photo: Andre Morgan

ON TRAIL RUNNING

I got started about 3 years ago. It’s better on the body because you’re running on dirt or gravel. I just like the challenge of the elevation of hill climbing and the fact that the terrain can change from flat dirt to rocky climbs to mighty downhills, all within 1 km of a 10 km run.

It’s more of a workout, it’s more challenging, it’s more mentally stimulating. All your senses are firing, like your vision. You’re always having to scan, you have to look at the ground to make sure you’re not going to trip on anything. It’s more challenging and it’s less stressful than road running, given the dangers of the road or just getting in the way of pedestrians, or bicycles. All that’s removed, and you’re now focused on the trail ahead.

I’ve found that it’s more beneficial overall. It’s a little bit of a trek as you can’t just open your door and you’re there, you have to drive 15 to 25 minutes away to a parking lot that leads off into a trail. So you have to make time for that, but I just find it more rewarding and easier on the body, and easier to get that escape, because you’re in the woods, so you’re not dealing with the city traffic and you’re not seeing cars everywhere. It sort of gives you a little vacation away from that, from your daily routine.

THE INSPIRATION BEHIND STEEL TOWN ATHLETIC CLUB (STAC)

I enjoy running, and over the pandemic (and I guess before the pandemic and lockdowns), I started getting into trail running more, and just started enjoying the fact that there’s no traffic and no people to worry about.

You’re out in nature so you’re more surrounded by, or distracted by a bird chirping, or a squirrel rustling in the bush. That’s your distraction now, right?

So, it’s more peaceful, more energizing. Once you get into trail running, or at least hiking, you can get into that meditative state where you’re moving, but you’re able to think clearly. It turns into a good opportunity for me to spend at least an hour doing it so that I can think clearly. It just sort of helps clear thoughts and you’re spending time moving, so it’s kind of cool how far you can take it from hiking.

STAC ACTIVITIES

Right now, trail running is how it started, then we sort of formed a community through that network of trail runners, and it formed into what it is now.

And now with the ups and downs of lockdowns–fingers crossed for 2022–we can do more sooner. We plan on playing all inclusive softball, maybe a soccer match, maybe a basketball match. We’re all somewhat athletic types who would of course be down for a Sunday basketball tournament for like, 4 hours or something, you know, hanging out, shooting some hoops, right?

So those are all in the works, but nothing ever happened with the ups and downs of lockdowns. So we’re going to focus on running, because its outdoors, its socially distant, and we’re all being safe. When we’re gathering, we’re all in a big group circle. We run in small packs so were not all gathered in the 30s or 40s at all. If anything happens, there’s always people to support that person, and make sure that they finish strong or get whatever they need for support.

ON FORMING A RUN CLUB THAT’S FOR EVERYONE

Because of the help of other runners and the community (we call them pack leads), we have different options from Monday to Friday.

Monday and Tuesday are 5 km runs (Bayfront Park and Chedoke Trail Run), and they are entry level. It’s around 2.5 km for a straight, simple out and back for a 5 km that’s led by a run lead. It’s not a challenging pace – if you want to walk, it’s cool, because soon you as you hit 2.5 km, you just turn around and the run lead always makes sure everyone we start with, we finish with, no pressure as well. You can’t get lost and we all run as a group more or less. We pass each other, if anything.

Wednesdays and Fridays are rest days. On Thursdays, we do a 10 km elevation trail run; we do hill repeats, so it’s an elevation workout. On Saturdays we do a 15-21 km trail run and on Sundays we do a 10 km trail run, so that’s quite the schedule!

We’re getting new members all the time, like every week, because it’s spread by word of mouth too. If you show up, and you enjoyed it, next week you might want to bring a buddy or someone else to experience it with.

It’s sort of turning into that, so now there are little packs of friend groups formed, so it makes the run more social and enjoyable, and before they know it, they don’t realize they’re doing it for fun. When people sometimes train to do a race, we don’t realize what we’re doing is fun, right?

Photo: Andre Morgan

ADVICE for THOSE WANTING TO GET STARTED WITH OUTDOOR EXERCISE AND TRAIL RUNNING

You can go on our social media and follow us as well as our Facebook run group. We always post information, not just about run sign ups, but helpful information, like winter preparation tips. For example, we might post that now is a good time to look into trail shoes or look into getting spikes if you want to come in for winter running.

We want to keep people running all year round as much as possible and want to make sure they’re prepared. Its very information based – there’s lots already there and it’s an open space forum to just ask your new-person-questions. We’ll definitely help you out because we want to see you out there, but also want to make sure you’re safe and prepared.

Steel Town Athletic Club: stactraining.com