Trails, Wildflowers, and the Path Back to Myself

As soon as spring arrived in the Okanagan, I felt the pull of the mountains and lakes calling me back. I downloaded the AllTrails app and spent a few hours researching and organizing routes—marking trails, reading about lookout points, waterfalls, hidden features. Slowly, I began rebuilding strength and confidence, and before long, I started inviting friends to join Bruce and me. The more, the merrier—especially in landscapes where deer, black bears, cougars, and even the occasional rattlesnake are part of the scenery.

Hiking in the mountains has always been one of my favourite outdoor activities. Back when I climbed regularly, I loved the approach just as much as the ascent. Long hikes and short climbs? No problem. Reaching a summit that hadn’t seen human footprints in decades? Pure joy.

So when I first heard Vernon call itself the “Trail Capital of BC,” I assumed it was just a bit of hometown pride. But I might have been wrong. The options are endless—lush lakeside paths, endless forest trails perfect for hours of quiet “forest bathing,” even a stunning basalt wall tucked deep in the woods, nearly an hour’s drive from my house.

I also stumbled on the local climbing crag: perfect gneiss walls, well-bolted routes, and panoramic lake views. Wildflowers in every shade framed the trails, and everything felt inviting—accessible, grounding, beautiful.

As if the scenery weren’t enough, something else started to shift. With every trail I walked and checked off my list, I noticed my stress levels dropping. My contentment rising. Returning to work each week felt easier, my mind clearer. I hadn’t realized how close I was to burning out—how badly I needed a way to recharge—until I added the trails back into my life.

Yes, it may sound cliché, but nature really is a powerful battery. I work long hours, sitting in front of a screen, thinking, solving, responding. When I step away from the keyboard, I no longer crave stillness—I crave movement. I don’t mind if my legs are tired. My spirit isn’t.

These trails have become my pause button. My reset. And with every step, I feel a little more like myself again.