Squamish offers adventures for the whole family by land, water

Squamish offers adventures for the whole family by land, water & sky

PAT JOHNSON

Squamish has always been an outdoorsy person’s dreamscape but the last year has seen an unprecedented spike in locals taking to the land, water and sky. Folks who earn their living helping others enjoy the great outdoors have lost revenue from tourists, but are seeing huge increases in demand from locals.

During the pandemic, if meeting up with others at all, the outdoors has been the best place to do it. Getting together with friends has still been possible with proper attention to distancing.

Talaysay Tours, an Indigenous owned and operated company, has not only adapted their in-person programs for the times, they have even expanded their reach by creating virtual tours and programs that have attracted people from as far away as Asia and Europe.

“The virtual tours have actually been very successful – more than we had ever imagined,” said Christine Elliott, manager of Talaysay. Owner and founder Candace Campo leads tours that are virtual — but live. A videographer trails Campo and the audience participates in real-time.

Because a significant chunk of their clientele are school and university groups, that part of the business has continued throughout the pandemic. If students are together in a classroom, it is even safer to be together outdoors. Likewise, family groups or others in the same bubble can participate as usual. For other groups, distancing and smaller group tours have accommodated demand.

Talaysay offers a range of tours and hikes.

“The Talking Trees tour is about nature,” said Elliott. “The Spoken Treasures tour is historical. The Talking Totems is about art.” Kayaking tours are offered in the summer.

Participants learn to see the world around them in a different way. For example, the significance of a common local tree to the culture and development of First Nations people is one small glimpse into the local Indigenous civilization. The cedar tree is known in some indigenous cultures as the “tree of life,” Elliott said, because it played – and continues to play – an outsized role in the life and culture of the people.

“That’s what they built canoes from, they stripped the bark and used it for clothing and for hats and the regalia that they use,” she said. “They even do that to this day.”

Getting in touch with the land, sea and air, and doing it with the guidance of “cultural ambassadors” who are highly trained and educated in the First Nations’ history of the Howe Sound area is a way to combine the great outdoors with an enriching cultural experience.

Of course, there are about a million other ways to explore the rocks, earth and sea in these parts.

People who might have otherwise gone travelling took the opportunity in the past year to try activities locally, taking up new hobbies, reigniting old ones or just doing them more frequently.

For Squamish Rock Guides, the loss of tourist clientele was a significant setback, though they did see an increase in local climbers.

“It was the year to try rock climbing,” said the business’ owner, Colin Moorhead. “The Canadian market’s up a little bit but it certainly didn’t compensate for the loss.”

He is hoping that this year will see the return of non-local climbers, who recognize Squamish for the mecca it is.

“If you are an avid rock climber, Squamish is on the map,” said Moorhead. “It’s actually one of the best rock climbing areas in North America which, by default, makes it one of the best rock climbing areas in the world.”

Back down at sea level — in fact, exactly at sea level — recreational activities have exploded.

Daniel Grains, owner of Squamish

HANGING AROUND PHOTO COURTESY ROPE RUNNER

FUN FOR SQUAMISH KIDS

There’s no shortage of outdoor activities in Squamish for people of all ages. While Jean-Philippe Tondreau, general manager of Rope Runner Aerial Park, says his venue is great for people of all ages, it is especially ideal for kids six and up.

“It is a great self-confidence activity,” said Tondreau. “You can push your limits mentally and physically because you’re playing at heights and all of our games have a good physical component in it so it’s a good workout. Kids are outside and are experiencing something really tangible instead of playing with game consoles are being on tablets and being inside. It’s very active. It’s mentally and physically challenging and people can build their selfconfidence and trust in themselves and what they can do.”

The park, which opens each season May 1, is fully family-oriented, he added.

“The adults are as challenged as the kids and even sometimes the other way around,” he said. “The adults have more challenging times than the kids because they can get scared. You get to go above your comfort zone and really go a bit further than what you’re used to do in your day-to-day life.”

Where some outdoor activities in Squamish require equipment and costly apparatus, his venue is “turnkey,” said Tondreau.

“You can just show up and play. You don’t require skills, experience or gear. You can have adrenaline, like many activities in Squamish, but without the expensive gear and the experience needed.”

Watersports, notes that getting out on the water has been one of the safest activities during the pandemic. That has led to an increase in people taking up or returning to wakeboarding, kiteboarding, kayaking, paddle boarding, and standup paddleboarding.

“Last year was pretty much all locals,” he said. “While we did lose travelling tourism, those who would travel to enjoy themselves were enjoying themselves locally, which is a very important part of good economic sustainability. Hopefully, people continue to realize and support the businesses that have had some challenges through the last months.”

Grains is focused on water activities, but says Squamish is a perfect storm of geography for all outdoor pursuits.

“All the elements essentially come into one small triangle of wind, water and land,” he said. “You can just about do anything you can dream of in terms of an activity.”

One thing that is growing in popularity is hydrofoil surfing.

“Its roots have been around since the air chair in the ‘80s, but the concept of using a hydrofoil like an airplane wing under the water to create kind of a suspended lift above the water has been refined in the last handful of years to being more of a board sport experience rather than a sit chair,” he said.

Kiteboarding, which has been around in Squamish for a couple of decades, is also growing.

“The gear is becoming easier and more manageable to use,” said Grains, adding that safety has improved as well. “More older folks are getting into it. It’s one of those sports that, if you push yourself really aggressively, you can also explore the intense side of things, so the younger generations are getting into it as well.”

Because of the equipment required, it used to be a sport dominated by middleaged folks with a bit of cash to burn. Since it’s been around awhile, used equipment makes getting in for the first time more accessible, he said. Grains reminds people that water sports’ entry costs are pretty much a one-off cost, unlike skiing, which requires annual or daily ski passes.

“Kiteboarding can have an entry-level

KITEBOARDING FUN PHOTO BY NOEL HENDRICKSON/ GETTYIMAGES.CA

start expense, like skiing, where you have to buy all your ski gear. But once you get going, it’s self-perpetuating, which is pretty nice,” Grains said, adding: “As long as there is wind, that is.”

Another of town’s most popular pursuits is cycling, and this too has seen a major uptick in the past year. Bike shops have had challenges keeping stock on hand as customers are snapping them up, said Helen Beynon, executive director of Squamish Off-Road Cycling Association (SORCA).

How to ride a bike may be something one never forgets. But taking to the vast network of trails in the hills around Squamish is not something one should do unprepared, she said.

“If you’ve never done it before, definitely hire a guide or a coach,” Beynon said. “The trails here can go from beginner to advanced very quickly and we’re known for very technical terrain. It’s some of the best in the world, but if you’ve never been out there, it’s best to get a little support to learn the skills properly and make sure that you’re staying safe.”

This sport, too, can suit any budget. Mountain bikes can be costly, but Squamish has numerous options for renting them.

An upsurge in popularity is really no reason for concern in terms of local trails accommodating more people, said Beynon. There’s plenty of room for everyone. “We’ve seen hugely increased numbers on the trails,” she said. “That’s not only bikers. There’s runners, there’s walkers, anyone who wants to get outside and be in nature because it’s so good for our health.”

But, she said, “We’ve got tons of trails. There are some that are super-popular and everyone wants to go there, which is understandable. But there’s also hundreds of trails. If the one that you wanted to go to looks a bit busy, there’s so many other options in Squamish that you can go and check out.”

On the trails, as in every sport and, frankly, life in general, respecting etiquette ensures reduced conflicts even in more popular venues. No matter how enthusiastically people take to the outdoors around here, you are almost always mere minutes away from a world of your own.

FUN FOR SQUAMISH DOGS

Do you ever see one of those videos where a dog is on a surfboard with its person, and wondered, “Is that dog really enjoying itself?”

Most dogs want to please their people, so they’ll go along to get along. But Maren Bruun, who runs Paw in Hand, suggests people be attuned to their dog’s sensitivities when choosing an outdoor adventure.

There are nearly as many opportunities for outdoor fun for dogs in town as there are for people. Bruun suggests finding the ones that suit your pet’s personality.

In Squamish “since before McDonald’s,” and spending those decades, as she puts it, “helping people and their dogs enjoy life together better,” Bruun has lots of ideas for entertaining Rufus or Peaches.

“There’s so many different types of trails,” she said. “All different levels of trails for different people and dogs, whether you have a smaller pug-cross or a husky, there is something for everyone.”

What Squamish does not have a lot of, she noted, are indoor options like agility training, or a plethora of spacious off-leash parks. Both of these may be a result of real estate costs.

This is a dog town, with a large canine population, and the term “etiquette” pops up again and again in Bruun’s comments. On the street or on the trails, everyone can get along if everyone gets along.

This goes not only for dog-human interactions but domestic-wild interactions as well. Humans should be conscious of keeping their dogs from coming into conflict with wildlife. That can be crucial not only for the wildlife, but for pet dogs, too. It’s a big world out there. Stay safe.

For those who might be considering adding a furry family member, Bruun suggests finding one that suits your lifestyle.

“Pick the right dog for your needs and then also ultimately for the dog’s needs,” she said. “Find a good match.”