Camping In The Yukon And On Vancouver Island
My husband and I have the privilege of growing older together. Yet camping never grows old for us
Present Day: On Vancouver Island
Nail biting, teeth clenching, beads of sweat … reserving a campsite is not for the faint of heart.
My husband and I are on a mission to reserve a campsite at one of our favourite destinations, Green Point Campground in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. This popular park is located on Vancouver Island’s spectacular West Coast, world-renowned for magnificent, lush, old-growth forests and stunning views of the ocean as far as the eye can see.
We review the updates on the Parks Canada reservation system. We do a couple of practice runs navigating through the links on our separate devices.
Last year, on the morning of the reservation launch day for this campground, we promptly click on “reserve” at 8 a.m. We are advised our random position in the queue. We each have over 4000 people ahead of us.
When it is our turn, we attempt to coordinate a campsite and specific dates. The little green dots (the campsites) rapidly turn red, indicating that site is no longer available. Therefore, we have to act quickly and our Plan B, C, D … comes into play. We vary the dates and the campsite numbers until we secure a reservation. We keep an eye on the clock since we have a time limit to complete this process.
This year, we had an entirely different experience. We clicked on “reserve” at 8 a.m. and we were immediately able to book a campsite and dates with our first choice.
We high five each other. We have won the lottery!
In The Past:Camping In The Yukon
I wrote a story, “Thirty Years Later — Returning Home To The Yukon” published in What’s Up Yukon on September 28, 2022. I shared our travel adventures in 2011 when we rented an RV for the month of September and explored favourite camping, hiking and fishing areas.
September was a perfect month to travel and we had no problem finding a campsite each night. No reservation was required. We could keep our schedule flexible and easily stay for more nights. This is reminiscent of our camping experiences in the late 1970s.
We often had an entire campground to ourselves. One favourite experience was camping right beside Frenchman Lake. We appreciated the many reasons we fell in love with the Yukon in the first place — the dramatic display of autumn colours, a crystal-clear lake and especially the sound of silence. We did not want to leave this perfect spot.
Of course, there are many perfect camping spots in the Yukon!
Our major takeaway on this return trip was how the majestic, wide-open landscape and picturesque scenery were even better than we remembered from years ago. The priceless gifts of fresh clean air, pristine lakes and rivers mean more to us now than ever before.
Showing Signs Of Wear And Tear
We have slept in tents on some of our past camping adventures. Today, we usually stay in our eight-foot camper which sits on the back of our pickup truck.
Our trusty little camper is 40 years old and has weathered a few storms. One corner has been patched up after a minor accident. My husband weatherproofs the roof each year so we can stay sheltered from the inevitable heavy rain on Vancouver Island.
After four decades, our camper is showing signs of wear and tear. We are also 40 years older and showing signs of wear and tear.
Setting up camp takes us much longer. With creaky knees, and our reading glasses nearby, we put up tarps, tie knots, pound pegs into hard, rocky ground and get our campfire started. By “we,” I mean mostly my husband, one of the original Boy Scouts. I help, give advice, and administer first aid as needed.
Do we want to continue leaving the comforts of our home? Can we still easily climb onto the loft bed in our camper? Are the more frequent night time potty breaks an issue?
Are we still having fun?
Present Moments At Our Campsite
We arrive at our campsite and let out a collective sigh of contentment. We have left the background noise of our daily lives behind us. We can truly relax now and enjoy our peaceful surroundings.
We hike along a favourite rainforest trail within Green Point Campground and down the hill to the beach.
We have been on this trail many times, yet when the view of the Pacific Ocean opens up in front of us, we are overcome with emotion. The fresh ocean breeze, the light mist against our skin, the stunning views as far as the eye can see … once again, we are grateful to witness the spectacular beauty and balance in nature.
As the sun begins to set, we find a log to sit on and share a small flask of wine, a tradition. We are getting ready to watch one of the greatest shows on earth, the awe-inspiring beauty of a West Coast sunset!
A Happy Camper
We have camped in many incredibly beautiful locations throughout the Yukon and in British Columbia. The scenery changes. The feelings do not.
We slow down to appreciate the extraordinary and the exquisite beauty in the ordinary.
We lose ourselves in photography and are reminded how we are part of the bigger picture. We gain clarity and perspective, and appreciate more than ever our health, our mobility and especially our time together.
My husband and I have the privilege of growing older together. Yet camping never grows old for us.
Are we still having fun? A wholehearted, “Yes!”
We are truly grateful and happy campers.
