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.

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.)

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.

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.

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.