Multigenerational Adventure: An Amazing Family Hike in Fernie, BC
“Nana, you’re crushing it!”
My two-year-old son is perched high in a backpack that he has nearly outgrown. He’s spent the past hour shouting encouragement at my 70-year-old mother as she plods up Mount Fernie, an iconic East Kootenay hike that I have somehow never attempted despite growing up in nearby Cranbrook.
The eight-kilometre round-trip trail gains just under 1,000 metres of elevation before morphing into rocky scrambling close to the ridge line. The challenging terrain rewards hikers with vast views of the Lizard Range. It would be the perfect hike if I were solo, but with my mother and son? I’m worried we’ve taken on more than their hiking boots can handle.
I typically choose to hike with Finley by myself, and while I don’t always avoid challenging objectives, I also try to give him the time and freedom to explore his natural surroundings without the stress of slowing others down. This might mean we spend five hours exploring a three-kilometre-long trail or enjoy a meandering afternoon in the subalpine, tossing rocks into a glacial-fed lake and watching the ripples.
I was nervous about inviting my mother to accompany me and my son for a weekend of hiking in Fernie, British Columbia.
Halfway up the trail, we pause at a bench tucked between heavily hooded trees with the Three Sisters visible through a gap in the thick forest. I unbuckle my backpack and release Finley into the wild. He immediately starts exploring, scooping up pinecones, rocks and sticks to create a nest of natural toys.
My mother, sounding slightly breathless, asks, “Why don’t you leave him here with me and continue on your own?”
I don’t need to be asked twice. I whip my trail running vest out of my backpack, kiss Finley goodbye and disappear up the trail.
I zip up the last two kilometres, then bound back to my mother and Finley where they are playing in the dirt, telltale smears of grime on his face.
“Mama, mama,” he cries with delight, grabbing my hand to show me what he and “Nana” have created while I was off on my solo venture: pictures drawn with sticks in the dirt and the ramshackle results of a nature scavenger hunt. My mother seems refreshed, despite looking after an active and rambunctious toddler for the past hour, and we’re all ready to head down.
I load Finley back into the pack, where he promptly falls asleep, and we happily descend the rest of the trail, satisfied with the day’s adventure. Not only were all our hiking goals achieved, my mother and son were able to spend quality time together in nature.
The day before, we tackled the easy five-kilometre roundtrip hike to Fairy Creek Falls, with Finley riding high on my shoulders whenever he got too tired to walk. It’s an ideal hike for small children as the trail only gains about 100 metres of elevation. But the rushing waterfall—in full spring flow—is enough of a reward to make it interesting for adults too.
The next morning, we walk to Montane Cabin on the Easy Beaver trail, an adaptive trail that was built to provide accessibility to people who are not able bodied, that connects the Montane Parkway to the cabin. It’s utilized as a warming hut for Nordic skiers in the winter and is replete with picnic tables and firepit for all seasons use. The seven-kilometre return trail only gains about 120 metres of elevation, and the wide pathway ensures that it is manageable for every type of adventurer, as demonstrated by the three generations that wander these woods.
Finley leaps and bounds on the broad trail, taking breaks in the backpack as needed. Once we reach our destination, he scrambles up the bench of the picnic table to enjoy a snack before exploring the cabin. My mom and I sit on a bench on the wide plateau, drinking in the scenic views while Finley collects rocks into scattered piles.
That afternoon, Nana and Finley rest, giving me a reprieve from parenting duties. Despite how much I’ve enjoyed hiking with my mom and son, I’m grateful for the freedom to tackle Castle Rock, an objective I would not have attempted with Finley or my mother.
The 14-kilometre round-trip path meanders along Morrisey Ridge and gains approximately 500 metres of elevation. It’s also a multi-use trail, meaning I must dodge descending mountain bikers while navigating the twist and turns of the path. But this only adds to the thrill of the rocky terrain, the delight I feel emerging below the amber pinnacle that is the “castle” and the impressive views of the snow-dusted mountains marching down the valley.
While I’m out on my solo trail run, I reflect on the weekend, a trip that marks a first for us. It turns out, on all our hikes together, my toddler’s slow hiking pace matched that of my mother’s perfectly. For me, watching their bond grow was enough to allow me to enjoy the slower pace too. I’m reminded that it’s the time together in nature, and not necessarily the need to summit a peak or conquer a challenging trail, that’s important. Maybe there’s a second multi-generational trip for us on the horizon.
A few hours later, I’m reunited with my mom and son, ensconced in a booth at Chilangos, a charming Mexican restaurant located on Fernie’s main drag. Fortified with spicy margaritas and tantalizing tacos, we toast to a successful weekend, a weekend of quality time with my mother and son, but also time for myself to reset and recharge in nature.
Tips for Successful Multigenerational Travel:
- Book accommodation with bedrooms and a kitchen for flexibility with cooking and having enough space that you are not on top of each other constantly (also, in the case of small children, it gives them a private place to nap and go to bed early).
- Don’t schedule all your time together. Give each other space to pursue solo activities or to simply have a break—time with family is wonderful, but it’s okay if you, or your parents/grandparents need some time to yourself/themselves too!
- When selecting activities, make sure that it works for every member of the group. Mount Fernie overall was a bit too ambitious for my mother, but I knew about the rest stop/bench about halfway up and we talked about pausing there if needed beforehand.
I loved your article. My last annual canoe trip with my daughter was when I was 70 and my joints decided they didn’t enjoy it anymore. We gave each other space on the camp sites but thoroughly loved our mother/daughter time together. Enjoy making special outdoor memories as long as you can.
Karen M