After Labour Day, every warm, sunny day feels like a special gift. The calendar implies that it should be fall, but the weather feels like summer is yawning and stretching just a little longer before leaving us. Indian summer is a special treat that also brings sense of urgency to make the most of these precious days. Go! Go do what feeds your soul.
For me it’s walking the trails I’ve walked all summer. Now, during Indian summer the trails seem brighter as more light is let in through the trees as they shed their summer foliage. My footsteps are noisier as the dry leaves crunch beneath my boots. The air is crisper, and I’m glad for the extra layer I donned. I love watching the trail change with the season. The creeks have thinned out with the long summer and the views are all brand new. The colors in the distance have changed from greens to a palette of greens and reds and oranges. Next week when I come back, there will be less green and some browns will have crept in. As the trees around me shed their leaves, it seems the vistas open wider and the views become even more panoramic. The shorter days transform the light, and the sun adds a extra gold tint to everything it touches. Indian summer hiking is a special treat. Depending on where you hike, you might even see the first snowfall in the alpine.
Indian Summer Hiking in BC
Even bike rides take on a different delight this time of year. The training for a key event behind you, you ride once again just for the pleasure of feeling the rhythm in your legs, with no attention to heart rate or cadence of mileage. Now the ride is just about the exhilaration pumping through your body as you stand up on the pedals and push through the climbs. The changing views of an Indian summer are found on the road just as much as on the trails. The trees standing guard beside the road have more color and the ground beneath them is covered with the orange of fallen leaves. Most riders have already hung their bikes up for the season as I have the road to myself. Even the traffic has thinned out as everyone else is settling into new fall routines. Not having to share the road on this late summer ride adds to the decadence of it.
Take full advantage of these last vestiges of summer. You can still do most of the activities you enjoyed all summer, just heed the shorter daylight hours, throw on an extra layer and don’t forget your camera. The world around you is that much more breathtaking during an Indian summer.
Looking for ideas?
- All the Regional Parks in the lower mainland are at their best this time of year – amazing color, less crowded
- The Seawall at Stanley Park or Ambleside never disappoint
- If you’re further south, stroll at White Rock all the way around to Blackie Spit Park which is always good for birdwatching.
- Head up to Cypress Provincial Park or Mt. Seymour for one last hike before the snow starts to fall in the alpine areas.
- For a bigger adventure, head north towards Squamish: Shannon Falls is a great short hike and the Chief is always a good option if you’re looking for something more challenging.
What’s your favourite way to savor the Indian summer?