SOMA by SDAE on Cambie

SOMA by SDAE is a new development at West 62nd Ave & Cambie, centrally located to connect to the airport, downtown, UBC and more. Surrounded by beautiful parks, trails, and minutes away from shopping and entertainment. SOMA offers 32 residential 1-3 bedroom units. SOMA’s striking contemporary architecture has been designed to complement its natural surroundings. Abundant landscaping around the exterior provides privacy at ground level, while Soma’s rooftop gardens bring the natural beauty of the surrounding area to your home.

 

 

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Advent Calendar Door 1

Dear Santa,

December is here! What better way to kick things of for the next 24 days than with a backpack? Alpinetrek.co.uk was so kind to provide one lucky hiker with the Berghaus Freeflow 30. At 30 l it packs a lot of gear for a day out in the hills, and the ultralight backpacker will even take the pack outdoor a weekend trip or longer. The back panel is increasing airflow and should be great for sweaty summer hikes, while the included rain cover keeps the contents dry when the weather turns. Stretchy side pockets carry a water bottle while the stretchy front pocket takes in a jacket or other gear. All in all a sweet pack which is great for hillwalking and dayhikes!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: Read The Tips & Rules. The prize is sponsored by Alpinetrek.co.uk and sent directly from them - it will only be shipped within Europe, though (possible import duty fees still need to be paid by the winner). And if you wish it’d still be autumn, escape with me to the Urho Kekkonen National Park in Autumn.

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Annual Day Zero HiF Advent Calendar Kick-off 2017

The “Annual Day Zero HiF Advent Calendar Kick-off 2017” is a go!

Dear Santa,

really, 12 months passed and we’re talking again? How are you? Did your pack get lighter this year? How’s the snow up North, and are the reindeers alright? I did miss our conversations, and am looking forward to catch up with you over the next 24 days. But I also need to tell you that this is likely the last time we’ll be having our chats - rumor has it that this is the final #HiFAdventCalendar - that could be just a rumor, or then it’s a fact - I guess we’ll have to wait till November 2018 to find out. Anyway.

The 2017 Hiking in Finland Advent Calendar looks like it will be the best yet again, with great prizes that will make quite a few people happy. Also, Hiking in Finland is planting one tree for each door that goes open, so once the 24th of December comes around there will be 25 trees planted, already a wee forest! That’s not just great for the environment, but also for future generations of outdoor enthusiasts! Well, lets have a look at the prizes this year, shall we?

The ADZHiFACKO Door has some sweet kit from GSI with the Halulite Microdualist Complete Set and the Ultralight Java Drip. The Halulite Microdualist is an excellent choice to boil water and cook food when outdoors, and best of all: It’s made for two people and packs up in itself. But even when outdoors on my own the Halulite is a solid choice and with the Ultralight Java Drip a good cup of real coffee is never far away. And who can resist good coffee - especially outdoors?!

The Kupilka 37 goes very well with the stove and coffee dripper, and the 370 ml volume of this new, larger Kuksa is a real benefit: Large cups of coffee in the morning, warm soups in the afternoon, refreshingly cold cups of water while hiking and hot chocolate in the evening can be consumed from it in style.

The eVent Rain Mitts from Mountain Laurel Design on the other hand are a good weather charm - carry these 30 g mitts and it’s bound not to rain! I can not imagine a better way to influence the weather, and if one’s luck runs out then one can always wear them to keep the hands dry!

The Down Socks from GooseFeet Gear on the other hand are a sure guarantor to toasty toes and feet. They also pack down next to nothing, are ultralight and nowadays come in a variety of colours from Black to Red, Pink and Blue. The Mitts and Socks even pack so small, you could stuff them into your Kuksa!

As you see Dear Santa, this kick-off Door is already filled to the brim with sweet kit - and all potential winners need to do is enter via the Rafflecopter Widget below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: Read The Tips & Rules. The prizes are sent directly from GSI, Kupilka, GooseFeet Gear and Mountain Laurel Designs, possible import duty fees need to be paid by the winner. You can pick the size of the Mitts and the Size and Colour of the Down Socks. Want to stay warm when going outdoors? Read my Layering Guide and learn How to Dress for Winter!*

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Advent Calendar 2017 - the Rules

Some Rules can be broken, but the #HiFAdventCalendar Rules can not.

Welcome to the seventh and final Hiking in Finland Advent Calendar! Like in the years before, a good set of rules makes running the Advent Calendar a lot easier for all of us. Read them carefully and everything will be clear, and for some added benefit check out the tips at the end!

This years calendar will run 25 days (= 25 Doors), and behind each door you will find a fine piece of equipment which should make your next outdoor adventure fun and ultralight. Some information on the prizes:

• All prizes are sent directly from the company providing them (which can mean that you might need to pay import duties when it comes from abroad!).
• Sometimes it is possible that you can choose size, colour and other variables. Where this is the case, it will be mentioned in the text of the Door.
• This means garments can be either female or male, backpacks can be different torso sizes and meals can be vegetarian or with meat.

The Rules

To win something you should check in each day here and enter the raffle. There are a couple of points to keep in mind:

1. You only can win once. If you don’t win on one day, you can try your luck the next day - you got 25 chances!

2. I am using a paid-for version of Rafflecopter for the Give-Aways. With Rafflecopter you can get multiple entries by following someone on Instagram, Twitter, visit a page on Facebook, follow a Pinterest page or susbscribe to a Mailing List. This increases your chances to win, but is not mandatory.

3. The Rafflecopter Widget is integrated with Random.org and it choses the winner.

4. If you are the lucky winner I contact you via the provided Email address and you have 24 hours to reply. If I don’t hear from you, I imagine you don’t want the item and will let Random.org chose a new winner.

5. Posts go online around midnight and the raffles close at midnight - Finnish time. Rafflecopter then will show the name of the winner after I pushed that button, this keeps posts to a minimum.

6. It is open to everyone. As in from Amsterdam to Zanzibar, from Canada to South Africa, prices are send everywhere (unless noted otherwise).

7. Possible Import Duty taxes and fees are paid by the winner. If you’re not willing to pay these, don’t compete.

8. You can’t bribe me or anyone involved to win. You use the item(s) on your own responsibility. Use common sense.

Tips

1. You can participate via the Rafflecopter widget by registering with your Email or your Facebook accoount. Please make sure for either option that it’s an Email address you regularly check, so when I contact you you get the email.

2. There is usually one mandatory option to answer to participate. This can be something fun or a question about the price in question. You should be easily able to answer the question by reading the text or visiting the manufacturer website.

3. You can get additional entries which improve your chances of winning. This could be visiting a Facebook page or following someone on Youtube, Twitter, Instagram and the like. It’s a good thing to do, and also allows you stay up-to-date with news about the HiF Advent Calendar and the company sponsoring the prize.

4. If you think your friends and fans would like to participate - spread the word! Use the #HiFAdventCalendar hashtag on Instagram, Twitter & Facebook when you spread the word =)

5. Some prizes could incur you import duties. You will need to pay these and there’s no way around them, so please don’t ask me or the sponsor for a way to avoid them. If you’re not willing to pay them, please don’t enter for that price.

That’s it. The Advent Calendar starts today, the 29th of November. Subscribe to the RSS feed, Facebook, Google+ or Twitter to get an update every time a new door opens.

Disclaimer: All gear is sponsored. Sponsors pay a fee to participate. Part of the income is donated to plant trees. I try to not spend all time in front of a screen so relax if a post goes up a tad late or I don’t reply an email asap.

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Campbell Residences at Cambie Village

Campbell Residences is located in the heart of Cambie Village, introducing a limited offering of eight townhomes with the modern luxury of new construction to create a true one-of-a-kind home ownership experience.Campbell Residences is set along a serene tree-lined street in Cambie Village, with convenient access to urban amenities, shopping, restaurants, and parks

 

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Amber 633 W King Edward on South Cambie

Amber by Aragon Properties is a new condo and townhome development at 633 W. King Edward & Ash that is coming to the South Cambie neighborhood, defining a lifestyle of convenience. Amber offers 31 one- to three-bedroom condos and townhomes. Shops, cafe, health center, and theatres are just steps away. With Canada Line station only a block away, Amber makes it easy for residents to travel to downtown Vancouver, Richmond, and the airport.The South Cambie neighborhood borders include Queen Elizabeth Park to the east and the residential Shaughnessy to the west. South Cambie is located right between the busy north-south corridors of Oak and Cambie streets, and it stretches from West 16th Avenue in the north, to West 41st in the south.

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The Morrison in North Vancouver

The Morrison in North Vancouver built by the award-winning Haebler Group to rigorous standards and are registered under the LEED Gold building program, offering the collection of 40 London-inspired West Coast Modern townhomes and garden flats. The Morrison features 1-4 bedroom homes adjacent to the newly expanded Moodyville Park and entrance to the Spirit Trail, many with private rooftop decks with stunning views. All homes feature private walk-up entrances and were crafted to embrace the North Shore’s coveted indoor-outdoor lifestyle with generously sized patios, decks, and vehicle-free courtyards.

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Westbury by Gryphon on Vancouver’s Westside

Westbury by Gryphon is a new townhome development at MacDonald St & Alamein Ave, located in the heart of Vancouver’s prestigious West Side. Westbury offers only 6 townhomes and 2 commercial units, give you the opportunity to be immersed in one of Vancouver’s finest neighborhoods. ind tranquility in the quiet tree-lined streets, convenience in the abundance of local shops and restaurants, or sanctuary in the comfort of your thoughtfully-designed home. Westbury makes it all possible.

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Olympic Station – 132 Southeast False Creek Preconstruction Strata Condos

Olympic Station is the Western Gateway to Olympic Village, which is located at Southeast False Creek. Olympic Station by Aurmon Development is a 12-story LEED gold concrete building offering132 studio to 3-bedroom luxury condo homes. The location is a fine example of new urban living, where shopping and services are available steps away. Just a short stroll along Cambie Street takes you to Save On Foods and Whole Foods, the Royal Bank and Vancity Credit Union, London Drugs, Best Buy, Canadian Tire, and Home Depot. Or, you can hop on the Canada Line, located two blocks away, and get there in mere minutes.

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Winter Fun in Ruka

Skiing, ice climbing, hiking on Finland’s most popular backpacking trail, floating in an ice cold river, a Sauna made from ice and the most delicious food - this is what you can experience & taste in Ruka!

Disclaimer: I was invited to Ruka as part of the 2017 Nordic Blogger Experience. Thanks to NBE Finland and Ruka-Kuusamo with their partners who made this trip possible.

Skiing in the Dark

Have you ever skied after sunset? And I don’t mean alpine starts skinning up a mountain, but skiing after the sun has set and darkness has fallen across the land? Not? Then welcome to skiing in Finland in the depth of winter!

With the sun and it’s light being rare guests between December and February up here in the North you will very likely be skiing at night when you’re visiting. But in case that sounds scary á la “Skiing without seeing anything” you can be assured that you’ll see plenty when you’re hitting the slopes in Ruka in January. The slopes are lit and even if you leave the slope to enjoy a wee bit of powder between the trees you will still see everything. The whole Rukatunturi hill is illuminated as along as the lifts run, and skiing in the light while the world around you is covered in a blanket of black darkness is amazing. David, Nathaniel and me stood several times at the top of the slopes and just being speechless about this experience.

Floating on an ice-cold river

It’s -10°C and we’re putting on dry suits, all over our winter clothes. Everything except our faces are covered in an orange suit and neoprene. Then it’s a short ride to the river and a walk up to the lake, where the stream starts.

Our Guide from Ruka Palvelu gives us some last explanations of what to consider when we’re soon walking into the current which will carry us gently but swiftly down the river. Everything is covered in snow along the shore, and an elk which was drinking from the open river looks full of wonder upon our small group of floating humans. Too quickly we reach the small bay where we need to get out of the river - but happily we have a second float before us! We hike once more up to the lake, walking in till the chest and then just let the buoyancy of the suit carry us down the stream.

Ice-climbing

I love ice climbing and hence was psyched that this activity was on our programme. We went ice climbing with Outdoor Passion who operate and maintain the Kuru ice wall which is located a ten minutes walk up the slopes from Ruka village. The routes were in good conditions and ranged from beginner to advanced and I had a blast whacking my ice tools into the fine ice, enjoying the good views from further up and of course also seeing that my group enjoyed this activity a lot!

Winter-hiking on the Karhunkierros

I have hiked several times and in every season on the Karhunkierros, but experiencing it in winter is always special.

This was a short hike to Myllykoski which lays along the Karhunkierros and is one of the most popular (Instagram) places along the trail. The rapids next to the all mill with the hanging bridge across the rapids is impressive, and even in the depth of winter you most likely won’t need snowshoes as there’s a wide trail through the forest to Myllykoski. Once you’re there you could light up a fire and enjoy some coffee and marshmallows by the fire, or continue exploring the area.

The Food

Ruka has variety of Restaurants which means you can try something new each evening during your stay. From cozy slope side Cafés to fine-dining experiences, there’s something for every taste.

We ate at various places while up in the North and instead of me telling you where to go I’d encourage you to go and explore yourself (OK, we had a fantastic lunch at Hotel Cumulus Resort Rukahovi, another tasty lunch Buffet was enjoyed at Restaurant Rukan Kuksa, we drunk local beers at Hanki Baari and had a Chef cook for us in the Kota above).

(Ice) Sauna (Yoga)

How do you end a day of adventure in Finland in winter? Right, by relaxing & warming up in a Sauna.

On our 2nd day in Ruka we went for the Sauna Tour. It started off with a very nice Sauna Yoga Session. The Sauna was only 50°C warm and we learned simple Yoga poses which helped to release tension from the day.

After that we went for a short ride to the Ice Sauna which was truly unique and had a very nice löyly (steam). Sitting inside of a building that’s made from ice blocks and having a hot stove warm it up is something to be experienced, and I highly recommend trying it out if you’re in Ruka. After the ice sauna we went into the traditional Smoke Sauna and had a peat mask, again a truly uniquely Finnish experience which is well worth trying. After these Sauna experiences we went for a swim in the ice hole in Lake Salonkijärvi, and had light snacks and plenty of water to stay hydrated.

Getting & Staying There

Finnair flies from Helsinki to Kuusamo from where you can take the bus to Ruka. Before heading to Ruka we stayed for a night at the Isokenkäisten Klubi, a very nice Hotel which was almost in the middle of nowhere close to the Russian Border. They have a fantastic Smoke Sauna which we enjoyed and great food, so are well worth a visit. There’s also lots of XC skiing and ice fishing around the Hotel, so if you look a more calm stay consider the Isokenkäisten Klubi (it’s not a Club, despite the name =).

In Ruka our group stayed at the Ruka Ski-Inn and we had a nice room, though I found the breakfast left more to be desired. We checked out the Cumulus Resort Rukahovi next door and that looked pretty neat - no idea on the breakfast, though we had a very tasty lunch there! There’s six more Hotels in Ruka and you also can rent a cottage or an apartment in the village.

The Bottomline is that a winter vacation in Ruka can be as relaxing or adventurous as you’d like it to be. There’s great accommodation options, delicious food, good local beers and a host of activities of every flavour to make your time in Ruka special. While all we did was a wee bit much in just two days if you spread this out over a week with more skiing - because with over 30 slopes and 20 lifts there’s plenty of skiing for all levels to be enjoyed in Ruka!

See more Photos on Flickr and read David, Tara and Marcos experiences of the same trip =)

If you enjoyed this article why not support me with a coffee or two? I work Full-Time on Hiking in Finland to bring you inspiring trip reports, in-depth gear reviews and the latest news from the outdoors. You also could subscribe to the rarer-than-ever Newsletter and follow along on Instagram, Twitter and Youtube for more outdoorsy updates!

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1070 Barclay Street Iconic Twin Towers Downtown Vancouver

Iconic Twin Towers at 1070 Barclay Street in Downtown Vancouver were designed by the world-renowned German architect firm, Büro Ole Scheeren.  An architecturally stunning redevelopment proposal in downtown Vancouver aims to provide the city with its first major twin towers and add to the skyline. These two residential towers of same height, but varying number of floors, will offer 680 residential units with 30% as 2-bedroom units and 20% as 3-bedroom units.

 

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Oakridge Centre by Westbank

Oakridge Centre by Westbank is a mixed-use redevelopment site located at 41st and Cambie. This is a transit-oriented neighbourhood hub that offers retail, office, residential and community spaces. This project is part of the Oakridge and 41st Canada Line Station. It will have 14 towers, approximately 9-44 stores and will offer 2914 units. The redeveloped Oakridge Centre will offer a new community centre, daycare, library, outdoor running loop, rooftop gardens, over 1 million square feet of retail and so much more.

 

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The Windsor at Norquay Village

The Windsor by Imani is a new 12-story mixed-use development at Norquay Village along Kingsway, located on one of the highest points in the city along the East Van Ridge. The Windsor is offering 126 1-3 bedroom homes with stunning, unobstructed and endless views of the downtown skyline, North Shore Mountains, and beyond. Shops, services, and community are nearby.

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The Week in Review 275

Red and ripe/ A white hat/ Gone with Autumn.

If you enjoy The Week in Review & other articles why not support me with a coffee or two? I work Full-Time on Hiking in Finland to bring you inspiring trip reports, in-depth gear reviews and the latest news from the outdoors. You also could subscribe to the rarer-than-ever Newsletter and follow along on Instagram, Twitter and Youtube for more outdoorsy updates!

News

Not only the Trump Administration likes to show that it is corrupt and doesn’t care about the outdoors, also the Bavarian CSU Government shows that it’s a corrupt bunch and yesterday weakend a 45 year old law which protected the Alps from over-development. Read the take of the DAV on this issue and then head over to Robert’s article Alpenplan vs. German Angst. [German]

Nine-Year old Lulu fixes the Urban Car Bicycle Dilemma.

Peak Design is on Kickstarter with the Capture v3 which is lighter, smaller and thinner - but hurry, the campaign ends tonight!

The North Face’s parent company, VF Corporation, bought Icebreaker.

Gadd’s Truth: Why I Hate Hammocks.

A last refuge for Europe’s Orcas.

Instagram is loving Nature to Death.

I’m sick of the slew of crappy “Chrismas Gifts for Outdoor People” articles which hit the blogs and websites this time of the year, but I really do like Paulina’s Six Gifts for the Outdoor Advocate in Your Life article. And yes, here’s my widly popular Gift Guide.

The changing Faces of the Outdoors.

4 Bikepacking Trends for 2018.

Planning to climb in California? Take a look at these Planning Sites for California Alpine & Mountaineering Climbs.

Klymit launched a puncture-resistant sleeping pad, the Armored V.

Rei wants you to #OptOutside again this Black Friday and helps you pick an outside adventure.

Take 20% Off One Full-Price Item at Backcountry.com!

Stay warm in winter - wear Merino wool!

Trip Reports

Man, woman, mountain.

Read about Jotaro’s JMT Section Hike. [Japanese]

Grand Canyon of the Elwha.

Avon is calling David.

Peter’s Bushcraft Adventure is a great read and shows that you don’t need much when going outside.

Amateur Mountaineer.

Rhythm.

Gear Reviews

Is a DIY Packraft a real alternative to a bought one? [German]

A visit at Bedrock Bags in Durango.

Kurtka Montane Women’s Minimus Jacket Review. [Polish]

Drew reviews the Salming Trail 5.

Do you clip your gates in or gates out?

Andrew Skurka shows how to protect Down Insulation from Moisture.

11 Tips to get into Winter Mountaineering.

Disclaimer: There are affiliate links in this article to help finance the website. Read the Transparency Disclaimer for more information on affiliate links & blogger transparency.

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