Yesterday was my day off from work and my friend took me hiking up at Cypress Bowl, a ski resort in North Vancouver from which many hiking trails start from. Our plan was to go as far as the first peak but we made Mt. Saint Mark in really good time so we continued on to two more peaks after that. We made it to within two peaks of The Lions and had a fantasic, panoramic view of the coastal Islands, Vancouver Island, the Rockies, The Lions, Vancouver and the snow capped mountains far down in the states. It was a perfectly clear day.

On our way back we got lost on one of the peaks and had to bushwack our way around the mountain until we found the trail again but that was immensely fun as well. The woods were beautiful and full of rich autumn scents. It stayed sunny all day and we even got to walk in quite a bit of snow on the higher peaks.

I was amazed at my own stamina. We ended up hiking for a nearly seven hours and surmounted three very steep peaks. I work as a cashier and lately haven't even had the luxury to bike to work these days so it's not like I'm in top physical condition. But both my friend I passed many hikers on our way up and back down. For me though, just being in that kind of wilderness gets me seriously juiced and on a constant high.

By the end of the hike we were both feeling it, me mostly. My one leg was nearly completely siezed up and I had to use my friend as a crutch for the last twenty minutes. My muscles are incredibly sore today and I have many stinging abrasions on my legs. But it was totally worth it and I regret nothing. I can't wait to do it again. Hopefully fall will cough out one more beautiful weekend before winter sets in.

Not that I'm opposed to hiking in the winter but much more gear is required which I can't afford at the moment. But maybe I soon can afford it.