Across Countries

I finally got some blue skies here in Calgary/Alberta!!!! I am so freaking happy! On this episode I discuss:

Bouldering again in Calgary

Getting pho

Doing a last minute trip to Sentinel and Lake Moraine

The Sentinel trail

Meeting some awesome strangers

Why we didn't pack enough layers for the hike

How my confidence on hikes has increased

Getting Thai food

Doing laundry

And more!

Here you go! Make sure to follow on Instagram @Lukeblessed

I saw Jonah dancing and playing the guitar on his car so I knew I had to interview him. Then... a lot more things happened. This episode was recorded in a public parking lot so lots of things were happening. Especially with strangers walking by who wanted to get in on the fun! As always, follow me on Instagram @lukeblessed.

Ha Ling is no joke. On this episode, I discuss the dates of August 5-7 starting with my morning with Dan and Courtney and moving on to Lake Louise to see my friend Lex. From there, I headed to Canmore and spent a few days here doing hikes, showering and swimming, and meeting strangers in the "vanmore" world. I also talk about walking the streets of Canmore!

On this episode I met up with my friend Cindy (we debate how we even met and if we ever talked offline before this) and her friend group to hike Ha Ling in Canmore. This is the interview of each person at the top! The full review of the Ha Ling hike coming tomorrow.

On this episode I met a couple of Aussies: Dan and Courtney. Only Dan was interviewed in the making of this podcast.

We talk about:

Why they decided to do the van life

Their plans for the trip

The best hike ever: Crypt Lake in Waterton, Alberta

What he's most afraid of on this trip

And why the smoke is such a shame

Enjoy the episode!

On this episode I discuss the ins and outs of the Sunrise at Lake Moraine from when to get there, how to dress, what to pack and more (cause it's harder than you think). We then went on to do the Lake Agnes Trail to the teahouse when we decided "yeah we can do the Big Beehive too!". After we descended we did the canoe over Lake Louise and took some awesome photos (thanks Lex). We got out just before the storm hit too which was awesome! Then we went out for a final dinner. After that, I went back to the park and ride where I met Dan and Courtney (interview with Dan coming soon). Then I finally got some much needed rest.

On this episode I talk about meeting Angela, our C Level Cirque Trail adventure and my review of it from the effort, music and technique to ending the day in Banff with some food!

Yesterday was overcast and a bit of rain so I spent my morning in a Starbucks planning out my Banff adventures and writing a bit. I then spent the afternoon with one of my old students, Zach, watching F9, getting some awesome local burgers and just chatting about life!

Today I head out to Banff and will be doing review of all the hikes I do over the next few days! I will be using AllTrails so don't forget to submit a review for your chance to win a free pro annual pass.

Now that I'm 14 days into my trip, I've learned a thing or two about things I would do differently next time and hopefully this helps anyone looking to do this trip!

The bed... I'd definitely do a more DIY style and try to make as similar a mattress to a real one as possible. Whether that's using foam, or trying to build around the frame better, or just buying a new car. I've been sleeping really poorly lately and it's because the mattress isn't great.

Curtains... I'd plan this out better next time for sure. The car doesn't have useful handles so again, might be a new car thing, but definitely wish I cut and measured more.

Clothing... you don't need day to day clothing. You need lightweight, breathable clothing... especially in the summer. The typical cotton shirts are heavy. I should have gotten button ups or breathable clothing only. Especially when you can't shower much, this is crucial.

Cooking stuff... I'm not cooking much. It's a lot of effort both from the grocery buying to the cooking to the clean up. It's much easier to just eat fruits, raw veggies, sandwiches and eat out when needed. The cooking stuff takes up quite a bit of space in the car too and that would be nice storage for anything else.

Shoes... if you have hiking shoes, you don't need running shoes as footwear, unless you're a runner.

Solar Panel... unnecessary purchase if you're spending a lot of time driving. Great if you can put them on the roof to gain storage, but most of the time I'm driving 3/4 hours a day and that's quite a bit of charge on my Jackery. Didn't need the solar panel at all. Useful if stationary for days on end, but that's really not what I'm doing.

Cooler... should have gotten a smaller one! A car fridge is only good if you're driving a lot but it can also be run by the Jackery, so that could work too. But coolers are good for holding more space. Just didn't need THIS much space.

Hope this is helpful!

As mentioned, AllTrails has provided me with 3 codes for free annual passes to give away. In order to be entered into the raffle to win, leave a review on Apple Podcasts and screenshot the review and send it to me on Instagram @lukeblessed! The contest is open from July 31 - August 7th. Winners will be announced August 10th.

Jin is someone I met through my friend Jacky in Calgary yesterday. A beautiful human being and super funny. But I mainly liked him for his beauty. I thought he'd make a great interview and I was right!

As mentioned, AllTrails has provided me with 3 codes for free annual passes to give away. In order to be entered into the raffle to win, leave a review on Apple Podcasts and screenshot the review and send it to me on Instagram @lukeblessed! The contest is open from July 31 - August 7th. Winners will be announced August 10th.