🇨🇦 First-Timer's Challenge: Conquering Tunnel Bluff! 🥾💪
As someone whose only "hiking" experience was the Coquitlam Crunch in middle school PE and Quarry Rock seven years ago, I was definitely a total newbie taking on this adventure! 🚗 Parking & Prep Arrived at 8:30 AM and aimed for Sunset Trailhead Public Pay Parking—but it was already full (no surprise!). Pro tip: ✔️ Closest paid parking: 30/day(soldbyhousesnearthetrailhead)✔ R ◯ ∗∗Weparked 1kmaway∗∗:2/hour or $16/day (way better!) Pre-Hike Musts: 🐜 BUG SPRAY WAR: We reapplied twice—my friend and I stayed bite-free, but the guys got eaten alive! Pack anti-itch cream (I brought Tiger Balm). ☀️ Sunscreen + hat: The summit is brutally sunny! 👟 Footwear: I wore regular sneakers (rolled my ankles a few times on rocks). Hiking boots? Better grip but toe-jamming on descents! 💧 Water: I drank 2/3 bottle (too scared of peeing!), but others needed 3 bottles. 🍫 Snacks: We skipped breakfast—big mistake. Bring energy bars/chocolate! 🚻 Bathroom Alert: There’s a pre-hike toilet… but let’s just say hold your breath (or mask up!). I even bruised my arm slamming the door in my rush to escape—before the hike even started. 😅 ⛰️ The Hike Breakdown First 2km = Pure Pain 😵 450m elevation gain (out of the total 470m!)—basically vertical suffering. My soul left my body. My legs were NOT on board. Next 3.5km = Breezy 🌿 Flat with minor inclines, two wooden bridges, and one fallen-tree obstacle course. Final 500m = "Holy @#$%!" 🧗♀️ Actual rock scrambling—my friend froze and yelled "WTF?!" My fear of heights kicked in: crawled up, butt-slid down, and survived on friends’ emotional support. (Tears may have been shed.) 🏞️ The Payoff The turquoise-blue ocean views? WORTH EVERY STEP. Reapplied sunscreen at the top (your hands will be too dirty to touch your face!). ⏱️ Timing 9:15 AM: Started from parking 11:45 AM: Summited! (Celebrated for ~35 mins) 3:15 PM: Back at the car (paid for 6 hours—perfect!) 💀 Post-Hike Survival Legs = JELLY. That steep 2km descent was mind-over-matter. Post-shower agony: Slathered on muscle cream + foot patches overnight. Next day: Sore but proudly functional! Hey fellow hikers! 🗣️ What was your first big hike like? Any disaster stories or victories? Share below! 👇 #HikingNewbie #VancouverHikes #TunnelBluff #ScenicSuffering #ConqueredIt #TrailFailWin #HumorThePain #ViewsWorthIt #HikeBC #OutdoorAdventures