Day 1, Mindful Mountain Retreat 
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Finally, all in one spot, coming from all over Vancouver Island and the Sea2Sky. We start the trip with introductions and some thoughts on what we need to leave behind in the valley, unloading it from our mind and shoulders before climbing up to another perspective on things.
Up the steep 2.5km hike we go, it’s way too hot, we find relief in every shady spot and creek dip to cool ourselves down. Just below the cabin, we jump in the alpine cold lake and nap in the sun before we hike another 30 final & dusty minutes to Hišhimy̓awiƛ, our home for the next 2 nights.
High5’s, smiles all around. We settle in, unpack, tend to our tired bodies. A nap, legs up the wall and picture time before we nourish ourselves with a yummy dinner. We acknowledge the land we are so fortunate to gather on, do a journal entry to get all the chatter out of our minds, and tune into our bodies for setting an intention for this trip.
The sun slowly sets behind the mountain skyline with a lasting glow, as we retreat into our cozy mountain cabin to be put to bed by a guided relaxation session. Deep snores sound through the cabin 5 minutes into the session as well as long exhales to release the day, settle in a bit deeper. Into the cabin, into the mountain, into ourselves.
Day 2 and 3 ️
️Silently we slip out of our sleeping bags onto the cabin floor for a yoga session to greet the day and realign with our intentions from last night. Sunrise wake up was planned, but 8hrs of sleep had priority.
Overcast skies, yes! It’s just what everyone manifested after the scorching heat yesterday. Gratefully we watch some rain and wind roll through, while having a nourishing breakfast in our cozy cabin.
Shortly after the rain stops, we start our hike to the summit. A few stayed back at the cabin, listening to their bodies requests to take a rest.
We meander through meadows of wildflowers which had just popped, framing our views in the most vibrant colors. Enjoying summit 360° views of Vancouver Island and the Pacific, more high5’s and a mountain meditation tucked away from the wind, to fully immerse into this wild place.
By the time we get back to the cabin, the sun is out again, we decide to hike down to the lake for some dips and naps.
Back at the cabin we pull out map and compass to take our bearings of all we have seen today before we enjoy another nurturing dinner together.
The sunset is doing it’s magic again, painting everything in red and blue shades, we are getting ready to immerse into this and greet the rising of the Full Moon with a guided JourneyDance. Headphones prevent disturbance to nature and other campers on the mountain (which did not hold them back to come over and join us dancing).
Everyone’s movements are blending in with the horizon that keeps on glowing in the warmest colors, for hours after the sun has set. Whilst the full moon is rising on the opposite side of the earth, behind our backs, peeking over our shoulders to see what we are up too.
We howl at the moon rising behind the summit ridge and then slip into our sleeping bags shortly after. Buzzing from this day which seemed to go on forever, having lived it so mindfully and present.
The last day, we wake up our sore bodies with some yoga, breakfast and eventually finding ourselves tucked into the rising sea of clouds. We prepare ourselves to dive back down into the clouds, into the valley and real life, with some intentions for the coming week. We jump in the lake one more time, have a big huddle thanking each other and the land, and making our way down the mountain back to our cars.
Stoke Sisters 
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