Quickie: A Winter Solstice Night Hike

On winter solstice night 2023, a gang of 20 adventurers, and a peculiar contraption called the Trail Rider – think of it as part wheelbarrow, part magic carpet for crips. My buddy Chelsea and I decided to roll with it, literally, at Cedar Creek Canyon Regional Park in Kelowna, all made possible thanks to the cool crew at CRIS Adaptive Adventures.

Rob, My Sherpa for the night, guided us through the trails with the finesse of a GPS on steroids. The hilarious twist? I’d met this guy back in 2010 during a kayaking trip. I was the dude stranded in a cove thanks to some gnarly weather – but that's a tale for another day.

Off we went, cruising through the canyon in the moonlight, guided by Rob and his Sherpa skills. The Trail Rider made us feel like VIPs of the hiking world, getting to lay back and experience everything Nature has to offer. 

Nature chimed in with its own soundtrack – Western Screech owls serenading us through the night. After conquering the trails, we gathered around a campfire – the universal magnet for freezing adventurers. Tea and marshmallows magically appeared, and we exchanged witty banter.

The guides, keeping it on theme, busted out Canadian solstice poems. Canadians, winter poems, and marshmallow roasting – the trifecta of Canadian coolness.

So, as we said goodbye to Cedar Creek Canyon, we weren't just warmed by the fire but by the unexpected beauty of a winter solstice night. CRIS Adaptive Adventures, you rock – or should I say, roll?