Most people come to Squamish for rock climbing, kiteboarding or biking. For me it was the rock climbing, or at least it was at first.
I guess September means it's time to go back to school, which means it's time for me to say goodbye to a community that has influenced me in more ways than one.
It was back in March when I decided I wanted to spend my summer here, climbing and working as a summer intern at The Chief. At that time I didn't know much about Squamish other than the fact it was on the way to Whistler. Truth is, I knew I wanted to come here before I could even point to it on a map.
When I was approaching the end of my first year of school in Ontario, I knew I needed inspiration. My growing passion for climbing took over and I knew I was to spend my summer here instead of the Okanagan, the place I originally called home.
When the rain started, I thought nothing of it. After all, being from the Okanagan, I'd heard it rains all the time on the coast. Little did I know, Squamish was going to have one of the wettest summers on record.
The rain and cloudy weather continued sporadically for about a month and a half, creating a hindrance to all my rock-climbing plans.
However, none of that mattered anymore. My eyes had been opened to discover the plethora of adventures to be had in the area.
Whether it was the slack lines at Nexen Beach or the numerous trails for hiking, there was always a new adventure around the corner or something to drive my focus until the next thing came up.
Almost immediately, I was introduced to the Test of Metal, a race that inspired me both as a photographer and as a sports enthusiast. If I had the money to go out and buy a bike and start riding the trails right then and there, I would have.
Luckily, the weather came around eventually and I was able to climb consistently. That was also when I happened to notice the kiteboarders in the water a little bit more. When the Canadian National Open was in town, it really made me want to spend the money I didn't have for a bike on a board and a kite instead.
It was weekend after weekend, festival after festival, of people in the community coming together. Whether it was SERF, Hevy Fest or the Squamish Mountain Fest, people always seemed to come together for some of the greatest community bonding I'd ever seen.
Yet while all these things that justify the title Outdoor Recreation Capital of Canada were inspiring me, I think it was the sense of community that influenced me the most; I'd never seen such a healthy happy community with such a bright future.
Squamish, you inspire me!
