EmoryOakley Joined: 03-24-2022
I am writer and LGBTQ+ writer and educator from the Pacific Northwest. I love spending as much time as I can outdoors - hiking, cycling, camping and soaking up the sun at the beach.
EmoryOakley/11-21-2022

Best Winter Camping Destinations in the Pacific Northwest Winter camping can be daunting in many places because of freezing temperatures and snowfall. In the Pacific Northwest, where the weather is milder, winter camping is more accessible to people of differing experience levels. The thing you have to be most prepared for when winter camping in the Pacific Northwest is the rain. With colder temperatures, staying dry is essential - learn how to prepare for camping in the rain .  Looking for...

EmoryOakley/09-23-2022

Sometimes you want to grab your things last minute and head out of the city for a night or two of camping to reconnect with nature and unwind. Unfortunately, many campsites (at least here in BC) are booked up months in advance, so it’s impossible to get a site last minute. You’re stuck trying to plan your camping trips so far in advance that you may be stuck with bad weather or other plans.  Is there another option? If you know where to find them, there are free, user-maintained campsites t...

EmoryOakley/08-17-2022

How to Prepare for Camping in the Rain I love to camp, but I live in the Pacific Northwest, where it is bound to rain, no matter the season. I actually prefer camping in late spring and early fall when campgrounds are less crowded, and there is no fire ban (campfires are the best part of camping, am I right?). So, if you’re camping in the Pacific Northwest, another rainy area, or during a rainy season, you need to be prepared for camping in the rain.  If you’re not prepared for the rain, it...

EmoryOakley/07-12-2022

Best Camping Games for Adults When you’re camping, you’re hopefully unplugged from technology and taking some time to relax with friends and loved ones. If you’re used to always having something to do, like watching your favourite TV shows on Netflix and endlessly scrolling through social media (or whatever else occupies your time on your phone), you might find it challenging, at first, to find things to entertain yourself while in the wilderness. I’ve spent a lot of time camping, and here are ...

EmoryOakley/06-20-2022

The weather is finally getting better in BC, so it’s time to hit the trails. If you’re a city person like me, who doesn’t own a car, it’s harder to get out to the great hiking spots. Thankfully, many trails are close to the city, and a few are accessible by transit. Here is what I consider to be the best trails close to Vancouver. Transit Accessible Trails Close to Vancouver Grouse Grind The Grouse Grind is one of the most iconic trails close to Vancouver, accessible by transit from th...

EmoryOakley/06-03-2022

We live in a world that is incredibly fast-paced and reliant on technology. We all need to remember to take time for ourselves and slow down from time to time to maintain balance and sanity. Personally, I find one of the best ways to get time away and slow down is to take time to connect with nature. I try to get out camping during the spring, summer, and fall as often as possible. And in my day-to-day life, I try to make time for regular walks or even just sit in the park on my lunch break. Con...

EmoryOakley/03-24-2022

The pandemic has changed the way we interact with the world as well as the way we work. Many people have switched from a regular Monday to Friday 9 to 5 work week for more freelance work or gig work. But can we make a living writing? And what can we do to survive as a freelancer during such challenging times?  I started as a freelance writer approximately a year before the first lockdown in Canada, so I had already begun to adjust to remote work. However, I suddenly lost access to my social...