Hiking in BC is by far the best summer activity you can imagine. The views are mesmerizing and just when you think you've seen the best one there's an even crazier one around the corner. So I'm stoked that so many of my friends put hikes on the list. Garibaldi Lake just south of Whistler was no different. We got up at the crack of dawn, drove along the beautiful Sea to Sky Highway - never get tired of that one - and parked behind the long line of cars of people who got up even earlier than we did (really?!). The walk to the start of the actual hike was a trek in itself, especially because some of us had to pee like crazy and there was only one outhouse at the bottom and one 7 km into the hike. So off we marched, keeping a nice and steady pace, talking everything between boys, career goals, 'are we there yet's' and sex. Really we made it up there in no time. As you get closer and closer to the top of Taylor Meadows you start seeing shimmers of turquoise waters through the trees. Then suddenly you're there, at the shoreline of this magnificent glacier lake high up in the mountains. The gem sits at 1470 meters or so above sea level though granted, we only hiked approximately 900 of those. Good for a total hike of 18 km. As we're nice and toasty from the hike we decide to dip our feet in, as I get more comfortable with my feet, I go a little deeper, and a little deeper until I find myself diving in fully clothed. An unforgettable experience! And not just because Maria was taking Boomerang videos and kept requesting me to dive under water again for a new shot. We had a nice long lunch break, soaked in the sun, let our clothes dry and then made our way back down. A way down that seemed to last forever. Never have we been so excited to see a parking lot. And of course, you guessed it, the outhouse! Treated ourselves to some beer and burgers on the way back, picked up a random Belgian hitchhiker to make the ride home even more amusing, and called it a day. Truly a magnificent hike, but the best part was the company. Time and time again these wishes make me realize how amazing my friends are in this new country that I now call home. Bring on the next hike ladies :-)
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