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Ben

@sylaswindrunner

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Vancouver 🇨🇦 based
Hiking, camping, & photography for fun
Trying to convince you to enjoy nature and go outside more :D

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Just camping activities 🏕️

This year seemed like I spent more time going camping than winter hikes.
I realized that I did this simply wanting to disconnect from my phone.

There is nothing more rewarding than to get in touch with nature 🌲
To touch wood, walk on grass, smell the fresh air and listen to the river and the birds singing 🎵🎶

If you haven’t tried camping…. it just might…… be good for your soul too 😊
( and I guarantee you’d wake up next morning happy 😃)

#camping #campinglife⛺️ #nature #campfires #chiliwack

Do you love camping too ? Please share location 😂 by @sylaswindrunner

Only boys trip 🥰 ❤️ 🏔️

Been talking about it for a year and finally we just pulled trigger to do it.

Weather forecast wasn’t optimal but what’s the point of waiting around ?
Sufferfest on night 1 with freak snowstorm on our campsite but the trip gradually becoming better and better culminating to the best camping trip we ever spent near Valemount village.

I don’t think IG 150 character would be enough to describe how we feel during the whole trip but definitely the boys were not having Alpine divorce 💔

If you guys looking for adventure buddy, there’s slim chance I would say no.
I’m down….. I’m game……. I’m in head first. 🙋🏻‍♂️

Call me 📞

#berglaketrail #backpacking #camping #nature #mountains by @sylaswindrunner

West Coast Trail 2026 🏝️

2 years in the planning, going in solo with a lot of fear and anxiety but with promise to myself to finish the whole trail.

The usual Vancouver Island weather provides us with ample of rain that evacuation order was issued by BC Parks for both SOBO and NOBO hikers.

Not gonna lie the thought of retreating back to city comforts was undeniable strong after 3 days getting absolutely soaked head to toe but the thought of not keeping my own word was too much for me to handle 😩

So I persevered and prevailed 🙏🏻

In all that pain and misery, I found company.
A company from kind strangers I met along the way,
A company of endless views and distinct smell of ocean breeze

And most importantly, a company of my own, engraving memories in my head every step of the way.

Things I would’ve do to repeat this all over again 🥲

I picked this song because I think the lyrics really hits hard for this trip and what it really means for me.

To find my dreams come true,
To laugh as tears go by,
To appreciate having this memories and,
No one can take it away from me,
because it’s my song 🎵 🎶

#westcoasttrail #pacificrimnationalpark #thruhike #solohike #hiking by @sylaswindrunner

LLOOOCCKKK EEMMM UUPPP 🗣️🗣️🗣️

This meme been living rent free in our feed for the last couple of weeks 😭

#hittheroad #hiking #nature #mountains #lockemup by @sylaswindrunner

It was just very cold that morning I swear 😮‍💨

#nature #ocean #420 #getmedicated #relaxing by @sylaswindrunner

Goat Ridge hike 🥾

These wide shots too good to pass out 😮‍💨

Did you get to do this hike this season ?
It’s one of the hikes where it just go straight up from the get-go.

Sometimes the steepness of the hike can be so much fun than normal walks.

Seemed to me I love doing hard hikes late into the season where the temp is much cooler than peak summer hikes 🥵

#goatridge #chiliwack #hiking #mountains #nature by @sylaswindrunner

Something something about touching grass

#backpacking #hiking #berglaketrail #mountrobson #nature by @sylaswindrunner

Elfin Lakes hike 🥾 🏕️ 🐻

Didn’t even bother to count for the Kms on this one.

Started rather late but managed to snag the last 2 tent pads on busy Saturday.

We hit the Gargoyles as soon we finish setup and grab quick meal, fully knowingly we will descend back to campsite in the dark - but that’s all part of the fun ☺️

Next morning we depart campsite around 8.30 to get to Opal Cone - which was our main goal in this trip.

Limped back to car with the help of kind stranger who drove us back to lower lot ( I kinda begged for a ride 😂 )

Trail rating : 1 out of 5 stars because no bear sighting which we were rather highly anticipating 😔

Looking at the view, would you like to hike this too ? 😊

#hiking #camping #opalcone #nature #mountain by @sylaswindrunner

Never getting stuck with social construct 😮‍💨

Just because everyone else is doing it, doesn’t mean you have to 🥰

#nature #hiking #hikeyourownhike #selflove❤️ #mountains by @sylaswindrunner

Mud… let’s talk about West Coast Trail mud 😂

All these shots were taken right in front of mud pits ! Or mud pool works too !
If you ever done research for WCT, the word mud will be heard often - it’s unavoidable.

WCT famous for its muddy sections specially after big heavy rain, these mud pits were just day 1 after Evac order was lifted over 100mm rainfall in 2 days alone, so I’m lucky enough to experience WCT mud on worst days 🥰

There were plenty of knee deep mud pits around late July for sure !
Hike trail would be considered a slog when you have to navigate yourself 2km of tight narrow corridor of mud !
But I honestly enjoyed the muddy sections - it’s so much fun !! 🤩

Here’s a few trick how to deal with muddy sections like a pro 😎

1. Patience is everything.
Start a little early and take your time. Most mud slips and swimming session happens because people are rushing. They slipped and fall.
Calculate every step and ensure firm footing.
Would be best with hiking poles as it will help maintain balance and catch you if you fall / slip.

2. Do not trust anything !
A sturdy rock might just sink as soon you step on it.
A tree root might be super slippery after you put weight on it.
A rotten wooden platform might give in, twist or flex which number 1 cause for slip and fall
Test everything with your poles before you commit to make a move !

3. Plan your steps !
A lot of times, you need to make several steps to skip past mud pits - plan where you gonna plant your foot forward.

4. Bring poles !
I can’t stress out how important having poles will make your life so much easier.
It all comes back to preference but to me, poles are invaluable 😄

5. Don’t stress things out.
Just enjoy and laugh it out 🙂 remember all this will become memories ❤️

#westcoasttrail #pacificrimnationalpark #thruhike #hiking #nature by @sylaswindrunner

Cathedral Provincial Park - Backpack overnighter 🏕️

Massive fire happened in 2023 and 2025 however we forgot about this fact when we went in.

The devastation supposedly triggered the massive bloom of fireweed.
We walked for hours while the scenery constantly changing, keeps us enchanted along the way.

Alltrails says it’s around 15km round trip but our GPS logged close to 16km one way !! Several hikers met on the campsite also confirmed this.

We made jokes along the way that we are in some sort of Witch’s domain where time and space dilation happening and we were just walking in circles 😂

If you don’t want to walk in, they provide shuttle pickup service but what’s the challenge in that 🙂

Check out this hike before winter comes !
I think this is hike is very unique due to the dramatic landscape it provides.

Thanks to @archiwashere and @vitorleaophoto for this fun memorable trip 🤙🏻

#cathedralprovincialpark #camping #nature #hiking #fireweed by @sylaswindrunner

It’s nice to be out in nature with your gang 🥰🙏🏻

Visiting Cathedral Provincial park, we weren’t ready for what we about to see.
This particular hiking trail suffered massive forest fire back in 2023 and 2025 😔

Albeit mixed up feeling on our walk witnessing the devastation, a sign of life sprouting everywhere and most of the trail ironically been covered by massive bloom of fireweed, no pun intended.

I think this hike is very unique compared to North Shore or any lower mainland hike due to the drastic scenery it provides.

It may take few years for the forest to completely heal but if you’re interested for some unique challenging hike, this might be the one.

If you’re curious about this, feel free to DM me for any questions if you’re planning to check them out !

Thanks for watching the reel 🥰

#cathedralprovincialpark #nature #hiking #forest #canada by @sylaswindrunner