This is a wonderful day. I am truly feeling blessed. Thank you to everyone who took the time and effort to subscribe to my website. I am continually humbled by the words of support and the appreciation you all show for the majestic Rocky Mountains that I love so much.
I started my trip reports in September 2019. After hiking, scrambling and back-country skiing for just over 20 years, I thought it was high time that I started to record and share my adventures.
I originally started out recording my summer trips in my Little Yellow Book.
I wrote down the date, where I hiked, distances travelled and the elevation gained. When I completely filled one book, it added up to 101 summer trips! I thought – wow. Now THAT’S a LOT of experience! (Note: I was not recording my winter ski trips at that time.)
Soon, I had friends, family, friend’s of friends, friends of family, and then distant friends of a friend of a friend ask me where to go hiking. I took these requests very seriously, thinking up the best place for each group, depending on their level of experience and desired goals. I soon realized that I was doing a lot of recommending, and that it was taking a lot of my time.
Then it hit me. Gosh golly-gee. If only I could consolidate this information in one place. Then I could just copy a link and say “Here you go. Hike here.” Thus my Trip Reports began.
Since then, I have had even MORE requests for Where to Hike, which is fantastic! This is what I wanted, and I now have a treasure-trove of ‘tried and true favourites’, some ‘off the beaten paths’, and even a few ‘never agains’ to dole out to people who ask for advice.
Trip Report Page
I soon realized that I needed a way to organize my hikes, scrambles, backpacking, skiing and cycling trips. Even I was having a hard time keeping track of everything, and where it was.
I then created a Trip Report page. If you have not visited it yet, I highly encourage you to check it out. All my trips are organized by type, with a short description by each one.
Giving Back
To show my support for all the amazing bloggers who have followed me, I am highlighting a few of my favourite blogs.
My 500th Follower! – The Tragedy Kween
Shruti is a young artist from India. She shares her artwork, and gives tips and tricks on how to improve you own artwork. Thank you for reaching out and following my blog. I wish you the utmost success.
Close to Home – Don’t Lose Hope
Ann is a counsellor in my home town of Calgary, but we connected via wordpress. Ann is also a dedicated hiker, and she is one of the many people who use my trip reports to plan her next adventure. I absolutely LOVE this, especially because she gives great feedback on how her hike went. Ann and I hope to do a joint “Hiking and Healing” post. If you need help dealing with a trauma, or moving through life’s transitions, please follow Don’t Lose Hope, and contact Ann for more information.
Other Side of Canada – Wandering Canadians
Due to Covid, these Wandering Canadians have had to stay close to home in Ontario, which has been great for me! They are avid hikers and canoers, and I have been pestering them about where to canoe in Ontario. Just like people visiting the Alberta Rocky Mountains are overwhelmed, Ontario’s vast network of lakes is daunting – just trying to figure out where to start has been hard. Thanks to my new friends in Ontario, I can now start planning my dream canoe trip.
Southern Neighbours – Brother’s Campfire
This blogger lives in Colorado, and routinely hikes up to the peaks of their Rocky Mountains, sometimes as high as 13,000′ and 14,000′! Now that’s high! If you want a good yarn, then go visit Brother’s Campfire. He tells engaging stories in serial format on this site. In my mind’s eye, I can see this Brother sitting around his campfire on top of the mountain, slowly telling his tale, while a group gathers and hangs on his every word.
Around the World – A Quest for the Uncliche
Abirbhav was one of the very first people that I connected with on WordPress. He is a passionate traveler, but with a purpose. He tries to immerse himself where ever he goes, and seeks out the mundane and makes it magical. He is urging people to be more thoughtful travelers; to avoid the IG trends that overwhelm the local communities. Abirbhav posts are full of information and his research is top notch. I should also mention that he LOVES the snow, and purposely travelled to Russia in the middle of winter.
Again, thank you to ALL of my many subscribers. I could not have done it without you. Every Like and Follow bolsters my resolve to keep writing, to keep travelling, and to keep having adventures.
Blessings to you all.
Alisen Dopf 
Wooooooo…congrats dear…🥳🥳🥳🥳
Thank you so much!!! I appreciate your support. Blessings to you!
Congratulations to you 💐🎊👏👏👏
Thank you so much!!!
Your Welcome
Thank you! Your posts are amazing. Highly informative. I love the fact that you include such great photos as it gives me pointers to look out for along the way 🙂
Awww – thank you! Yes – having an actual picture of where the trail splits or what a particular feature looks like can make a world of difference. Thank you for the feedback!
Many congratulations Alisen!!
Thank you so much for your support. I do appreciate it very much.
Congrats, well deserved!!!
Congratulations 🥳👏👏👏👏💕
Thank you so very much!!! I appreciate your support!
Welcome 😃😃💕
🥁🥁📯📯Congratulations, Alisen! GOD bless you and your family!
Thank you so much! I do appreciate your support. Blessings to you too.
Congrats, Alisen.
Thanks so much!!!
Congratulations 👏
Thank you very much!!! I do appreciate your support.
You’re welcome ☺️
Congrats on reaching the 500 followers milestone! I’ve enjoyed following along on your adventures in the Rockies. It’s such an incredibly beautiful area and those views of the mountains and turquoise lakes are stunning!! It certainly provides a different hiking experience compared to Ontario. Many thanks for the shout-out 🙂
You are so welcome. I’ve really enjoyed tagging along on your adventures too. It’s amazing that we are living in the same country – so different!
Congratulations Alisen! I’m very happy for you! You are amazing and very brave!
Awww, thank you so much. I don’t always feel brave, but that’s all part of having an adventure. Sometimes it’s important to get outside my comfort zone so I can keep pushing myself. Thanks for your support – I do appreciate it!!!
My pleasure!
Heartiest congrats🤗🤗🤗
Thank you so much! I do appreciate your support.
Pleasure is mine
Congratulations! I’m your new follower.
Hey! Thanks so much for joining me. I wish you many grand adventures.
You’re welcome🤗
Congratulations 🎉🎉
Thank you so very much for your support. I do appreciate it.
Awesome!!!!
Thank you very much! I appreciate your support. I tried to comment on your Canyonlands post, but something went horribly wrong. If you get five of the same comments, just delete 🙂
I have done that before too!!
I just tried again. Says my WordPress ID has expired, or something like that. Crazy!
I had a similar issue where I couldn’t post my URL on Facebook. I chatted with customer service and they fixed it!! Crazy though!! Good luck!!
Thank you! I will try that. I can’t wait for your next adventure, my fellow GenXer.
Thanks! We are stuck at home for awhile now but I am still writing from our last trip!
I know the feeling. I have several big ski trips that I can write about. It’s hard to balance doing the trips, and writing about them.
Yes it is!! I learned to start taking lots of notes! Ski trips sound awesome! I gave up skiing about 3 years ago. Loved it but too hard on my knees plus I only went once a year.
Yes, it can be hard on your knees. I’ve been wearing knee braces since I was in my mid-twenties. I now cycle a lot to help them out. No easy solution and getting a knee replacement is pretty drastic.
Keeping good notes is a great idea. Its the little details that make a great story. Thanks.
Congratulations 🎉🎉
Many more to come 🤗
Thank you so much!
You’re welcome 💖
Congratulations. I wish I could enjoy exploring Canada. I visited in 2014 mostly Vancouver Island but we did a few days from Calgary to Jasper too, which was so nice but short that I dream of going back to visit again. I am new to your blog but I am pleased to have found you. ☺️
I sounds like you had the typical Canadian tour. You hit some lovely spots. Truly, Vancouver Island is a gorgeous and spectacular place to visit. You did well to spend much of your time there.
Let me know if you ever come back, and I can give you some ideas of where to visit.
Thanks for following and commenting!
Thank you so much 😊👍💕
Ha ha ha! Southern Neighbours!
You are always welcome to Colourful Colourado.
Thanks so much! Glad you saw the shout out 🙂 I do enjoy your stories. Keep ’em coming!
Ha ha! Thanks!