IRENE SCHAMHART

Where the Forest Meets the Sea: Why Hiking the West Coast Matters to Me

There is something about hiking on the West Coast of Canada that is difficult to put into words.

Maybe it is the towering trees, the smell of cedar and damp earth, the sound of the ocean in the distance, or the way the mountains seem to remind me just how small I am—and somehow, how connected I am to everything around me.

For me, hiking is much more than getting from the beginning of a trail to the end. It is a chance to slow down.

Life can be busy. There are always things to do, places to be, messages to answer and plans to make. But when I am walking through a forest or along a rugged West Coast shoreline, those things seem to fade into the background. My pace slows. I notice the little things—the light coming through the trees, a bird calling somewhere above me, the sound of my footsteps, the changing weather.

And I breathe.

I think that is one of the greatest gifts hiking has given me: the opportunity to simply be present.

The West Coast is particularly special to me because there is always something different around the next corner. One day I might be walking among enormous old trees, and another day I am looking out over the ocean or climbing toward a view of mountains stretching into the distance. Sometimes the weather is perfect. Sometimes it rains. Sometimes the trail is muddy and challenging. And sometimes the conditions make the experience even more memorable.

I have learned that I don’t need every hike to be easy or perfect.

Some of the best memories come from the hikes where I was tired, wet, laughing with friends, or wondering how much farther I had to go. There is something satisfying about reaching the end of a challenging trail and realizing, I did that.

Hiking also gives me perspective. Standing beside an enormous tree or looking out across the Pacific has a way of putting everyday worries into their proper place. Problems that seemed so important before the hike often don’t feel quite as big afterward.

And then there is the joy of sharing it.

Some hikes are about quiet time and being alone with my thoughts. Others are about companionship, conversation, laughter and discovering a new place together. The memories become more than the trail itself. They become stories that stay with me long after my hiking shoes are muddy and back in the closet.

Perhaps that is why I keep coming back.

Hiking allows me to explore, to challenge myself, to appreciate where I live and to feel grateful for the incredible landscape around me. It reminds me that adventure doesn’t always require travelling far away. Sometimes it is right outside the door, waiting at the beginning of a trail.

The West Coast has given me countless moments of that kind.

And I hope it continues to.

Because for me, hiking isn’t simply about walking through nature. It is about finding a little peace, feeling alive, making memories and remembering what really matters.

There is something about walking beneath the trees, with the ocean somewhere beyond them, that makes me feel exactly where I am supposed to be.

And perhaps that is why I will always keep walking.