{"id":30461,"date":"2022-06-29T08:47:57","date_gmt":"2022-06-29T15:47:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bcaletrail.ca\/?p=30461"},"modified":"2022-07-05T13:27:53","modified_gmt":"2022-07-05T20:27:53","slug":"chills-and-thrills-summers-ten-trail-challenge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bcaletrail.ca\/chills-and-thrills-summers-ten-trail-challenge\/","title":{"rendered":"The Ten Trail Challenge pairs hikes with ice cream and craft beer"},"content":{"rendered":"

Enter this summer\u2019s Chill and Thrill Ten Trail Challenge<\/a>, organized by Brent Purves, founder of the Chilliwack Hiking Club. The concept is simple. Step 1: Complete one of the ten hikes outlined on the challenge website. Step 2: Head to one of the nearby independent ice cream shops or craft breweries recommended under the link for each hike. Step 3: Rinse and repeat for all ten hikes.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I can have a beer after a hike without registering for this!\u201d you might respond. True. But the fun of this challenge is the curated information and guidance you receive for each trail, the free ice cream gift card, and the knowledge that your registration fees support the Chilliwack Park Society<\/a>, which maintains the region\u2019s hiking trails. Plus, your completion of the hikes gets you entered for prize draws throughout the summer.<\/p>\n

For me, the detailed information provided about each hike\u2014<\/span>including distance, specific directions, the quality of the trail, and features to look for\u2014i<\/span>s itself worth the registration fee. I hadn\u2019t heard of many of these hikes so, when the challenge was unlocked on June 18, it was like finding a treasure trove of BC outdoors experiences. And I\u2019ll never say no to prizes and free ice cream!<\/p>\n

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There’s nothing like a crisp creek to get you craving a crisp craft beer or ice-cold dessert. Photo: Noelle Phillips<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This is not the first time Purves has organized a Chill and Thrill hiking challenge. The first one was in Summer 2021. After his years of running the Chilliwack Hiking Club, he wanted to find a new, fresh way to put his comprehensive knowledge of the Fraser Valley\u2019s trails to use while still being covid-safe. His brainchild was the first Chill and Thrill, which simply challenged hikers to complete his curated list of ten trails in ten weeks. People loved it.<\/p>\n

Given the success of the first challenge, Purves decided to launch a new one in the fall of 2021, this time with a coffee shop theme. After an autumn hike, participants would head to the nearest independent coffee shop for a warm drink. Two more challenges happened in winter and spring, both with great success. Acts of kindness and dog-friendly trails were the respective themes of these. According to Purves, the intent of these challenges is to inspire people to get outside and enjoy what BC has to offer while being able to connect with others, whether virtually or in person. Participants receive digital badges with each trail they complete plus a prize draw entry when they post the badge using #tentrailchallenge on social media.<\/p>\n

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Some of the beers on tap at Old Yale Brewing almost sound like delicious ice cream flavours. Photo: Noelle Phillips<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This new challenge inspires participants with two summery treats: local beer and ice cream. Purves began with beer only, since it\u2019s such a popular post-hike tipple, but decided to include ice cream for those who aren\u2019t beer fans or don\u2019t drink. The trails are organized by difficulty level. The first five are the easiest (the \u201cchill\u201d hikes), and the second five are more challenging (the \u201cthrills\u201d). Some of the most challenging hikes have alternative options to make them doable for more hesitant hikers, so there are actually choices beyond the ten trails. For example, if the Gloria trail is too much, you can do the 3 Bears instead.<\/p>\n

Purves\u2019 goal is to make BC\u2019s outdoors accessible, safe, and approachable for more people. He\u2019s not catering to hard-core, DIY hikers. He\u2019s reaching out to those who may be newer to hiking, or perhaps who enjoy hiking but just don\u2019t have the time to find the best trails and figure out whether they can fit them in. As he put it, \u201cReal life doesn\u2019t allow most people to be gone for 15 hours on Saturday.\u201d<\/p>\n

I certainly fall into that category. With a full-time job, a houseful of animals, and two kids, I can\u2019t do a hike that requires my entire day\u2014es<\/span>pecially if I don\u2019t know the trail. I also don\u2019t have a lot of spare time to dig through different websites to find information about trails. The great thing about this summer\u2019s Chill and Thrill is that it gives me everything I need to assess what hike I can do and when. Am I in the mood for an intense workout that will take a good half of the day? Harrison Grind it is. Do I just want to stroll with my kids and do some birdwatching? The Cheam Wetlands would be perfect.<\/p>\n