West | I Backpack Canada

Jul 5th 10 Posted by Corbin

Northern Saskatchewan Fishing Trip: Part 1

As highway 6 stretched further North, the small towns that were so frequent began to be replaced by lush vistas of the boreal forest. It’s funny how easy it is to forget that there is more to Saskatchewan than just farms and prairies. Saskatchewan is after all larger than France, and nobody mistakes France for being home to only winefields and sexy beaches. Regardless of our own assumptions...

Jun 22nd 10 Posted by Corbin

Gone Fishing in Northern Saskatchewan

Off to McLennan Lake It’s been over a decade since I’ve spent any significant amount of time in Northern Saskatchewan. Through luck, fate, or just sheer coincidence, my Dad and two brothers and I have all managed to find enough time off to make the 12 hour drive up north to McLennan Lake for some fishing, camping, and some good old fashion wholesome outdoor activities. Chances...

Jun 22nd 10 Posted by Corbin

Back in Saskatchewan: Roadtrip to Joe Cocker & Tom Petty

A jaunt, skip, and a couple flights through, and I found myself back in Saskatchewan, in the city that rhymes with fun (Regina). However greetings with my hometown were cut short. Within 24 hours of landing I found myself on a drunken roadtrip to Saskatoon with some old friends to see Joe Cocker & Tom Petty sing their hearts out on stage at the Credit Union Centre. The roadtrip With a bottle of...

May 31st 10 Posted by Corbin

Big win for Backpacking in British Columbia

Chalk one up for the backpacking scene in British Columbia, Hostelling International has unveiled yet another hostel in Canada, this time boasting a 188 bed hostel in Whistler, B.C. This four storey hostel is found in the new Cheakamus Crossing subdivision, that was originally set out for athletes housing during the Winter Games. The 188 beds are spread across over 40 four-person shared rooms, private...

May 25th 10 Posted by Corbin

The Top 5 Things to do in Banff

I’ve been swamped to the extreme as of lately, so I’m handing the reigns over to the good guys & gals at ExploreRockies to tell you about some of the best things to see and do while exploring Banff. These guys live and breathe the Rockies, so you know you’re getting the information straight from the horses mouth! When you plan your next holiday, if you are looking for beautiful...

May 11th 10 Posted by Corbin

Interviewing Canadas Hostels: HI-Castle Mountain Wilderness Hostel

Numero huit mes amis! It would be sheer lunacy to ignore some of the amazing hostels found a little further off the beaten trail. One of these rare beauties is the Castle Mountain Wilderness Hostel, yet another amazing HI-Canada hostel. Tony Chatham was kind enough to give us a few answers along with an amazing description on what you can expect when you book a night in the famous Castle Mountain Hostel. Q:...

Apr 20th 10 Posted by Corbin

Camping in Canada: Pacific Rim National Park Reserve

Find your way to the west coast of Canada and be prepared for some of the most scenic views in Canada. The Pacific Rim National Park has a rugged ocean coastline and hundreds of kilometers of dense rain forests, perfect for hiking and camping. This luscious area is one of British Columbia’s most popular National Parks. The Pacific Rim National Park Reserve is a hefty 511 square kilometers and...

Apr 8th 10 Posted by Corbin

Interviewing Canadas Hostels: HI Vancouver Central

Lucky number 7! As usual, HI Canada went above and beyond and hooked me up with another interview. These interview questions were answered by Keith Luciow, the Manager at HI-Vancouver Central Hostel. So rather than wasting your time, lets dive right into the meat and potatoes and find out a little more about one of Vancouvers most popular hostels. Q: How long have you been operating your hostel? A:...

Apr 5th 10 Posted by Corbin

Camping in Canada: Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park

Straddling the border of Saskatchewan and Alberta sits Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park. If you’re looking for the best view of the Great Plains of Saskatchewan and the lush hills of Alberta, this is the place to see it. Cypress Hills rises 600 meters above the plains and offers some of the most breath taking pieces of scenery you’ll see in this part of Canada. There’s so much room for...

Mar 2nd 10 Posted by Corbin

Interviewing Canadas Hostels: HI Penticton

Number five Com Padres! I’m excited to still be working on this series of posts. Surprised it’s come this far. Once again, HI Canada pulled through with this interview. This time we’re taking a sneak peak at HI Penticton Hostel, which is located in the beautiful city of Penticton, British Columbia. Lisa Grey-Dreaper was kind enough to answer some questions, so let’s get started! Q:...

Feb 14th 10 Posted by Corbin

The Tunnels of Moose Jaw are filled with Half-Truths and Lies

Moose Jaw is a small city in south-central Saskatchewan. It’s 71 km west of Regina. Throughout Saskatchewan, Moose Jaw is known as a retirement and tourist city, and is more or less a central hub for farms and small rural communities surrounding the area. For as long as I can remember, Moose Jaw has been proud to call itself the Tourist Mecca of Saskatchewan. Some residents have noted that this...

Feb 6th 10 Posted by Corbin

3 Best Kept Travel Secrets

Learn about the Doukhobors in Veregin, Saskatchewan This national historic site has some great stories to tell. In 1899 over 7400 Russian Doukhobors immigrated to Canada to take their claim of the Canadian government promise of land and religious freedom. The Doukhobors were persecuted in Russia for their beliefs. They completely rejected the secular government, the Russian Orthodox priests, icons,...

Feb 2nd 10 Posted by Corbin

HI still has beds available for Vancouver Olympics!

With the Olympics nearing closer and closer, many people are scratching their heads, wondering where they’ll be staying. The fear of not having a place to sleep has likely been causing many people to second guess checking out the Vancouver Olympics. HI Hostels recently announced that they still have rooms! A large block of beds have just been released at HI-Vancouver Jericho Beach. Dorms start...

Feb 1st 10 Posted by Corbin

6 reasons why Saskatchewan Doesn’t Suck

Saskatchewan is probably one of the least visited provinces in Canada. Most people only know Saskatchewan for the #1 highway which get’s you from one end to the other in roughly 7 hours. It unfortunately gets a bad rap from other Canadians, whom occasionally define it as boring, flat, plain, and dull. All of which can occasionally be true. But any true traveler knows that if you’re willing...

Jan 28th 10 Posted by Corbin

Interviewing Canadas Hostels: HI-Jasper Hostel

Number 4 and counting! The folks at HI Canada have been very cooperative in helping me get these interviews. I can’t thank them enough. Today we’ve got Ryan Chilibeck, the manager of HI-Jasper and he’s going to answer some questions about this wild and rugged hostel. Q: How long have you been operating your hostel? A: I’ve been managing the Hosteling International hostels in Jasper...

Jan 17th 10 Posted by Corbin

New HI Hostel opening in Whistler on July 1st, 2010

I love reading that the backpacking scene in Canada is continuing to grow. Particularly in British Columbia, where hostels seem to be popping up frequently. HI Hostels recently announced that the new HI-Whistler hostel will be opening its doors to travelers and backpackers on July 1, 2010. The new Whistler hostel boasts a humongous 180 beds and is located in a superb location. HI-Whistler will begin...

Jan 8th 10 Posted by Corbin

Interviewing Canadas Hostels: Ocean Island Backpackers Inn

We have made it to number three in our series of posts where we’ll be interviewing hostel owners throughout Canada. Adam from Ocean Island Backpackers, located in the beautiful city of Victory, Vancouver Island, BC, was gracious enough to fill out our set of questions, and tell us about this unique west coast hostel. Q: How long have you been operating your hostel? A: We’ve been running seven...

Jan 4th 10 Posted by Corbin

The 2010 Canadian Olympics are Sparking Conversation

Every time I flip over to the News I see some new group finding a new reason to hate the Olympics. Canada has finally been lucky enough to be the host to the 2010 winter Olympics, but I suppose with all the benefits the Olympics brings the economy, it also brings out the Negative Nancy’s crying foul. In a politically correct society there’s always bound to be somebody upset. Thankfully...