Ethics of hiking: new guidebook picks up where original work left off
Posted May 27, 2018 12:50 pm.
Last Updated October 18, 2021 12:08 pm.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Imagine having access to the best local hiking trails at your finger tips. Now you can, thanks to the new book 105 Hikes In and Around Southwestern British Columbia.
Author Stephen Hui admits it was a daunting task trying to follow up the original 103 Hikes in Southwestern British Columbia, which was first published back in 1973.
“I grew up hiking out of those pages and, frankly, reading that book like a novel when I was in high school.”
Not only does Hui’s book pick up where the earlier work left off, but also expands its scope beyond BC as well.
“There’s also hiking west and south [of Vancouver]. So, I really wanted to put some of those options in, so that’s why I included stuff in northern Washington, there’s hikes in Bellingham, Mount Baker, Anacortes, and the San Juan Islands.”
One problem Hui notices, especially on crowded trails, is what he calls personal pollution.
“You know, people playing music without headphones and flying drones and taking away from the experience of their fellow hikers.”
He says something as simply as taking your trash with you can really make a big difference.
The book also explores the concept of ethical hiking — of leaving no trace behind.
“Hikers can have environmental impact so with all the interest in hiking, it’s great to see people get out there, but it would also be great to see everyone kind of doing their part to make sure that they tread lightly.”
A book-signing is planned for Saturday June 2nd at the Mountain Equipment Co-op on Broadway.
