Wet, Muddy, Cold

Waterfall on the trail

Last weekend my brother in law and I went hiking. It was the longest hike I have been on yet, 13 km! Forecast called for rain so I layered up, put on my rain jacket and new hiking shoes. We drove out to Buntzen Lake for our hike. It wasn't raining yet when we got there. It was cool and cloudy but nice for a hike. As we started out the ground was a little wet and snowy but still nice. About 3 km into the hike it started to rain a little, no big deal. I was sadly very mistaken at that point. It started pouring rain. I have never been that wet in my life. I found out my rain jacket isn't actually waterproof. I was soaked through 3 layers of clothing. At about kilometer 10 the trail was just a big, muddy mess. I tried to step around this one mud pit, as my brother in law had but with my little short legs my foot slipped right into it. So now not only was I soaking wet, I was muddy. At this point I was miserable. I was having fun up to then. I didn't mind being wet until my feet got wet. The trail had turned into more of a river then a trail and there wasn't much choice but to walk in the water, which was melting snow so freezing cold. The trail was snowy and wet and muddy in parts. 
This hike definitely pushed me to my limits. You can't turn around because the trail is a loop you just have to keep pushing yourself to keep going. For only the third hike of the season I am incredibly proud of myself. I may have been exhausted, wet and muddy, but I did it. It  was totally worth it too. I now have a goal for this summer to hike all 3 peaks of Mount Seymour. Last summer I did the first peak and I was dying. That was a 9 km hike. I live in an amazing place with so many different places to hike and beautiful areas to see that I want to just go and do it all! I never thought I would enjoy hiking as much as I do. I may go with my brother in law, but we don't really talk. We are both in our own little worlds. He is much taller than me so he is usually up the trail a bit from me then waits for me to catch up then goes again. Gets a little ways away then waits. It works for us and we both enjoy it. I don't go on every hike with him if he wants to do one for speed because I slow him down so much. But as I hike more hopefully I will get stronger and my cardio will improve. As much as I workout on my own and walk to work everyday my cardio is still awful. 

This raven really wanted my snack

I can't wait for the weather to get warmer and be able to do more hiking and different trails. With all the snow we got this winter it will be a bit before we can do the hikes further up the mountains. So for now it's just hikes closer to home. 

Have a wonderful week everyone!!

Song of the Day: Do It Now by Jasmine Thompson

Experimental Baking

As most people know I love to bake and try new recipes. Living in Vancouver and making new friends I have had to adjust my baking style. I still love to make all the gooey, ooey, unhealthy cookies, cakes, you name it. The people I have met are mostly vegetarian, vegan or have allergies. This has taken my baking to experimental levels. 
Last night I went to a house warming party for some friends and they are a mix of vegetarians, vegans, and meatatarians (otherwise known as people who just eat food). Being me I couldn't just bring a bottle of wine and call it a day. I spent my day baking vegan desserts. I found some really simple recipes on Pinterest and they turned out fantastic. I made a peanut butter cookie, peanut butter coconut bar and for those who weren't vegan cookies n' cream cookies. I was a little nervous making all the desserts, as I had never made any of them before. I found the substitutes for the vegan cookies not all that strange or out there. I did have to get vegan butter, different flour since they were also gluten free and get an egg replacement. I was worried that it would change the texture or flavour with the substitutes as I love peanut butter cookies. It didn't. You wouldn't have known they were vegan. I now have a bunch of ingredients to make vegan and gluten free baked goods. My sister is gluten free now which is a bonus as I can try out some recipes. Fail on my part for not even thinking of taking pictures of all my baking!
I used to think that vegan or gluten free recipes would be complicated and require tons of different ingredients that would be hard to find or expensive and make them taste like cardboard. But after experimenting and going to restaurants that are vegan, it is not true. Yes, I am sure there are some that don't taste great and I know I've made things that aren't good without being vegan or anything. 
This experimenting has opened my eyes to trying new foods, not just desserts. No I will probably never stop eating meat, even if I don't cook it very often myself. But there are definitely options out there for those who make the choice to change their diets or have no choice but to. 
As my family has some stomach health issues I am enjoying eating whatever I can, while I can. Seeing how much work my sister has to do to find a restaurant that has gluten free and vegetarian options for her and my mom not being able to eat many things either, exploring these baking options is giving me so much appreciation for being able to eat anything. I mean I am a super picky eater in the first place, but I can pick things off or ask to not have them at a restaurant. Some people are not that fortunate. 
If any one has some recommendations for recipes to try I would love to hear them!! Whether dessert or meal. 
I am slowly expanding the few meals that I can cook, but I have more fails then wins.
Have a wonderful week everybody!!

Song of the Day: Ghosts by Gabrielle Aplin