Mountains – The Average Adventurer

The Strength in the Struggle

August 11, 2019Bre Mirynech

I keep staring at the word count at the bottom of this screen. 0 words, it reads. Why can’t I find the words to say when there are so many thoughts and emotions running through my head and heart? Maybe it’s a fear of being vulnerable and opening up about something that makes me feel weak; about opening myself up to any of you who read this. One thing I’ve picked up on through conversations with others recently however, is that what’s going on in my head doesn’t just happen to me. For this reason, I am choosing to open up and share it with you.

Adventure, mountains, the outdoors. Chances are if you’re reading this blog, you’re someone who enjoys those things as well which is why you stumbled across this page. All of those things are something I chase. They are my passion. They light a fire in my soul like I’ve never experienced before. They make me feel alive. They connect me with the truest version of myself. I have managed to build quite an amazing life around them.

2018: Grow, then grow some more

January 1, 2019March 30, 2019Bre Mirynech

2018 is over. I am not sure about you, but I honestly have no clue where this past year went. I am fairly certain I blinked and then here we are. 2018 was a not an easy year. I say that for myself personally, and I say that from things I’ve read, heard, and seen from others. When people ask “how was your year?” my instant reaction is “oh, it wasn’t the best.” Although, when I stop to really think, it was actually a pretty good year. Hard and challenging do not equal bad. Hard and challenging I am realizing, have equaled growth; a hell of a lot of growth. If there is one word to sum up my year, it is exactly that. Through the good and the bad, I learned a lot.

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 →

KEEN on Happy Feet

August 16, 2018March 30, 2019Bre Mirynech

As the saying goes, “happy feet, happy life.” OK, maybe its more like “happy wife, happy life”, but when you’re an avid outdoors women, I think happy feet is more accurate.

Our feet carry us everywhere. To work, to the gym, to the trails, to the mountains. I personally thank my feet everyday for the hard work they do and the incredible places they take me to.

That being said, taking care of my feet is something I give a lot of time and attention to. If I am going to put them through the many activities that I do, I need to take care of them to prevent injury, sore spots, and blisters. 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 →

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 →

Heartline (literally).

May 23, 2018March 30, 2019Bre Mirynech

This past weekend for one of my days off work, my friend Yanick and I decided to climb Heartline. Heartline is a multi-pitch sport climb on a nearby mountain called Heart Mountain. Heartline is graded at 5.9 A0 and is 17 pitches. Needless to say, I was looking forward to an amazing, big day out climbing in the beautiful weather with good company!

The climb took us roughly 8.5 hours, including a beautiful 45 min summit, soak in the sun and eat a sandwich. For those looking to climb this route in the future, we did it in less than 17 pitches by linking a few and soloing a few as well. Overall, it was an incredible day out in the mountains! Read more →