Opinion: I Want You to Get Outside… Just Go Somewhere Else
Our baby was finally quiet in the tent. We relaxed into the idea of quietly spending the rest of the evening by a glowing fire. It was 10 o’clock: surely, we’d have this hilltop overlooking moonlit Rockies to ourselves for the rest of the night. Suddenly, voices rang through the dark hills, heading in our direction. Our peaceful vision crumbled.
I hoped they’d veer off, but the group of bobbing headlamps began ascending our hill, boisterous and cheerful. Our hound growled.
Same, doggo.
The feeling of go away! while simultaneously appreciating that there were other humans enjoying our beloved outdoors was a familiar one.
It’s a feeling that washes over me when I drive into an overflowing trailhead. Personally, having an alpine lake to ourselves feels like finding one last hideaway M&M in trail mix.
However begrudgingly I share a place—or my last M&M—with you, I do want you to get out there and soak in the Vitamin N(ature). I’ll add a genuine #getoutside to the caption of a FOMO inducing photo or two. I’m all about encouraging everyone to experience my happy place—the outdoors… I just prefer my own slice of wild to feel secluded and special.
I’m not the only one, right? Admit it, “We had it all to ourselves!” turns a good trail or campsite review into a glowing report for you, too. We perceive less people as equal to less forgotten dog poop bags, more opportunities to see wildlife, wilder trails and a better overall adventure.
Unfortunately, with plenty of cross-border travel plans for this summer being cancelled, the outdoors could be a bit more cramped close to home. So, it might be a little harder to find unoccupied spaces, and front and backcountry campsites may be a little more crowded than usual.
That doesn’t mean tranquility is nowhere to be found this summer: you just need to know where to look for it and perhaps be prepared to share it with a few others. Here are a few ways you can avoid, and deal, with everyone else being where you want to be, alone.
Unpopular isn’t Unappealing
Count on popular parks and go-to trails being busy and strategize to find and pick less popular areas. Choose trails no-one talks about versus the top trail on a few well-known hiking blogs. Search for peaks and lakes of which photos aren’t flooding Instagram. Get out a map and peruse for options that don’t make it onto the favourite’s lists. There is no need to compromise on beauty and splendour, though. Canada has unlimited stunning lakes, peaks and places to sleep under the stars beyond those that make the top 10.
Go Far(ther)
If you have your heart set on a popular hike or worldclass destination, be willing to go farther than most tend to. Instead of turning around at the lake like everyone else, keep hiking until the crowds thin out and trails become hushed and peaceful. Jasper may be a bucket list destination and is worth a visit, of course, but for a quieter experience, drive farther to Nordegg. Or go north, where humans and their impact dissolve into spacious wild experiences and wildlife around every bend.
Adjust and Adapt
Instead of trying to book a last-minute opening in a popular campsite, try random camping. Avoid peak days, such as weekends, and visit early or come for the evening. Hit your local trails—you know, the ones you always bypass for those with a bit of a better view. Visit small towns and ask around for those hidden gems. Does that busy larch hike you planned for this fall sound a little overwhelming? Find a trail through golden aspen groves for those brightly coloured autumn vibes.
Shift Your Perspective
It can be frustrating when all you want is some peace to try out that forest bathing you’ve been hearing about, and there is none to be found. We are all out there for the same thing: fresh air, mental resets, a distinct lack of city noise. There are positives to so many getting outside: we all end up healthier and more sympathetic to conservation and nature the more we experience it for ourselves.
Although our adventures may look or sound different with others around, different doesn’t always mean bad. Think of it like a sudden rainstorm: rather than ruin it completely, a natural experience saturated with two-legged creatures can mean returning to the trailhead dripping with a better story.
For all our initial inward groaning, the boisterous group that descended on our peaceful campout certainly livened things up with their laughter and energy. In the end, we put on inviting smiles, welcomed our new neighbours and shared our campfire, all together.
