Take a Hike

ALL IMAGES KEITH V FISCHER
SHOT ON LOCATION IN CAPILANO CANYON, NORTH VANCOUVER

SPORT JACKET, ADIDAS | TANK, AVIA | CROPPED PANT, LULULEMON
HIKING SHOES, MERRELL | HAIR, CIVELLO SALON | LASHES, KINJOU | BROWS, MILA MINK

These days, any Vancouverite will tell you that ugly, rainy weather and skyrocketing house prices are topics that dominate nearly every conversation from boardroom to coffee house. While we can’t do much about the housing situation, we do know the benefits of such crappy weather - it means our forests become more lush and everything around us is green and blooming. We do live in a rainforest, after all. 

Since sunshine is so scarce these days in Vancouver, whenever we are blessed with a day of golden rays, every Vancouverite rushes out. I am no exception. In fact, all this rain has had me experiencing such cabin fever that this past weekend when we got some beautiful, warm weather, I grabbed my Merrell hikers and headed up to my favourite hiking spot: Capilano Canyon in North Vancouver.

I’ve been hiking the trails in Cap Canyon for the last few years, finding solace among the tall and majestic clusters of Douglas Fir, Red Cedar and Western Hemlock. I’ve hiked here with my family and I’ve run through here on my own, stopping occasionally to run my fingers across overgrown moss on a stump or to listen to the trickle of a mini stream flowing from the Capilano reservoir.

Having the trails so accessible within such a short driving distance from home makes the visits quite frequent - it’s a perfect getaway when my mind is scattered or overwhelmed. There’s something about the forest that is so quiet, calming and comforting.

This year, it’s Canada’s 150th Anniversary. As part of the celebration, all national parks are offering free admission. There’s really no better way to celebrate this great land of ours than going out for a hike. By yourself or with your family, just do it. Just make sure you bring lots of water and good footwear.

For me personally, I’ve always been a fan of Merrell’s performance footwear - it’s seriously made for the trails. This pair that I’m wearing is the Siren Sport Q2 in Beet Red, from Merrell’s latest collection. It’s made for tough terrain but light enough that you can maneuver through trails with ease. It provides significant shock absorption and stability traversing through varying terrain.

One of the best features of these shoes is that they’re also waterproof. When it comes to exploring trails I need the best tools that get me beyond boundaries, whether that’s splashing through streams or traversing across mud; all the while taking me safely where I need to be. This is not something that your regular runners can handle, believe me.

You can check out these hikers at your local Sportchek.

Lastly, Merrell is also hosting a ‘Take a Hike’ contest where you can upload and tag a photo on Instagram of your latest outdoor adventure with #MerrellCanada and #TakeAHike. By doing this, you get a chance to win a free pair of MOAB 2 or Siren Sport Q2 hikers (like mine) that Merrell is giving away daily. 

Good luck and go #TakeaHike!!!