Backpacking Never Goes as Planned (But That’s the Fun)

 

In this video, I head up Flower Ridge in Strathcona Provincial Park on Vancouver Island—a stunning spot known for its alpine lakes, dramatic ridges, and endless views. The hike itself was about 10 km with roughly 1200 ft of elevation gain. Along the way, I managed to lose one of my water bottles (not ideal), and ended up cutting the trip from two nights to one. Even so, I had a fantastic time. I cooled off with a swim in an alpine lake, wrestled with some harsh midday light, and eventually focused on photographing backlit conifers, which gave me some images I’m pretty happy with. Strathcona is British Columbia’s oldest provincial park and home to some of the island’s most rugged and beautiful terrain. Flower Ridge is just one of many amazing hikes here, offering a mix of forest trails, ridge walking, and wide-open alpine views. Sometimes things don’t go quite as planned in the backcountry, but that’s part of the adventure. I hope you enjoy coming along on this trip with me! Gear Used: – Fujifilm GFX 100S – FLM Tripod + Geared Head – Kase Magnetic Filters If you’ve hiked Flower Ridge or explored Strathcona Provincial Park, I’d love to hear your stories in the comments. And if you enjoyed this video, don’t forget to subscribe for more adventures, photography tips, and behind-the-scenes looks at life in the wild places of British Columbia.