Canada – The Average Adventurer

Your 2020 Dream Staycation: Rent-A-Hostel

October 15, 2020October 15, 2020Bre Mirynech

It’s no secret I love to travel. It’s been a big part of my life for the last 5+ years and I am someone who usually has a trip in sight that I am looking forward to, saving money for, and planning. After travelling for over 7 months in 2018/2019, I spent the latter half of 2019 back home in Banff working hard to help pay off those travels. To me, travelling is always worth every penny. You can’t put a price on those kinds of experiences and memories. By the start of 2020 though, I was already itching to plan a trip for later in the year.

Fast forward a few months and as you know, chaos hits, the world stops, I find myself laid off for a few months, then eventually back at work working my butt off again just to get on top of life in the current state of the world. 2020’s been fun, right? Unfortunately, travelling didn’t seem like it was going to be in sight anytime soon. Instead of letting myself get too down about this (ok, I’ll admit I was pretty sad for a little while), I decided to focus on what I still could do: explore my own backyard.

Northover Ridge: Exposure, Lakes, and Wildflowers

May 20, 2020Bre Mirynech

Northover Ridge is a 36 km loop located in the Kananaskis Region in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park along the Continental Divide. With roughly 1500m of elevation gain, it takes you through amazing terrain, several beautiful lakes, high up on a stunning ridge traverse, and starting/ending your trip at the wonderful Upper Kananaskis Lake. I am grateful to be able to say that I’ve done quite a few backpacking trips here at home in Canadian Rockies, but this was one that had remained on my list for the past few years. I had heard about its beauty, its intensity, and its spicy ridge traverse. It intrigued me and caught my interest because of these things but for some reason, either campground bookings or timing with days off with friends, it just never happened.

Raw and Real: Mountain Life

August 26, 2018March 30, 2019Bre Mirynech

Its no secret that “adventure” has become somewhat of a popular thing these days. Adventure sports are becoming more popular, the adventure industry is booming with business, and people travelling the world is at its peak.

I made the decision to move to the mountains from Ontario nearly five and a half years ago. When I first moved to Banff for a summer, it opened me to a whole new side of myself that I didn’t know existed. I was drawn to explore this side of myself more so I made the move permanent and I have never looked back. Over five years later, it is still one of the best decisions I have ever made. However, that does not mean it has all been easy. Read more →

The Matterhorn of the Rockies

August 8, 2018March 30, 2019Bre Mirynech

Standing at 3616m tall (11, 864 ft), Mount Assiniboine is one of the most recognizable peaks in the Canadian Rockies. Its nickname, the Matterhorn of the Rockies, comes from its massive pyramid and horn like shape.

The first time you see this peak, a common reaction is something along the lines of “Wow”, and than of course curiosity sinks in and you wonder what that mountain is. I remember this moment clearly. Over six years ago, I decided to move to Fairmont Hot Springs in BC for the summer to work. In order to get there from Calgary, you have to drive through Banff. I stopped in Banff for a few days on my way to visit someone I knew. She took me to Sunshine Village so I could spend a beautiful spring day snowboarding. As we got off the chairlift and started down the run, I was stopped in my tracks by the sight of Assiniboine. I had my “wow” moment, asked for a photo, and continued on. Read more →

The West Coast Trail

June 26, 2018March 30, 2019Bre Mirynech

Nearly 3 years ago to the day, I did my first ever backpacking trip. It was the start of a beautiful love affair with the simplicity of carrying everything on your back and exploring new places. It is now something I crave. I get itchy feet to pack everything I need and take off. The simplicity of having maybe two choices of clothes, no cell service, no mirror, no electronics. It is refreshing and grounds you to what really matters in life.

My first backpacking trip was The West Coast Trail. It is located on Vancouver Island in Pacific Rim National Park. It is a 75 km long trail through forests, beaches, and over bridges, cable cars, and up many ladders. Originally, it was established as a life-saving trail for surviving victims of the many shipwrecks that occurred in the area. Now, it is used for avid backpackers to hike and witness the beauty that the coast has to offer. It is known for its terrible weather, and jaw-dropping beauty. Read more →

How to become a Canadian Rockies mountain girl.

May 31, 2018March 30, 2019Bre Mirynech

Ladies: Perfect snow capped mountains, Mexican blanket, beautiful girl with long perfect hair gazing out over a perfectly blue alpine lake… we’ve all seen it. The mountain girl. It’s taking over your social media channels. You’ve gone to those places yourself, you’ve hopped out of your car and seen the beautiful sights, or maybe you’ve been that girl. However, something has left you wanting more now. You want to climb those mountains!

The outdoor adventure industry is BOOMING, and I mean growing like a wild fire. Chances are, if you’re reading this, you are part of it. Hiking, biking, scrambling, climbing, mountaineering, stand up paddleboarding, kayaking, you name it, the list goes on. I see people on social media doing crazy things a million times a day. If you’re like me, you see this inspiration, you see people pushing their limits and you start to dream. You want to learn these skills, do these adventures, test yourself mentally and physically. Maybe you’re wondering how, and this is where I want to help. Read more →