Nikkey Dawn

Spend enough time in Whistler in the winter and you’re bound to hear someone say “praise Ullr” or “pray to Ullr”, depending on the snow conditions. Pronounced “ool-er”, we wouldn’t blame you for wondering if we’ve been at après for too long. But, we are in fact making sense (well, sort of – but more on that later), Ullr is a Norse god, son of Sefi and stepson of Thor.
This mysterious, turned notorious, deity is iconic in ski towns across North America, inspiring ski and snowboard topsheets, g...

Looking beyond cartography and changing what “mapping” means
words :: Nikkey Dawn
It’s a wild, wide world out there and trip planning is personal. Some take great pleasure in the hunt-and-gather of information—running a finger along the shelf for just the right guidebook, digging out and unfolding a weathered map, and calling up friends to find out who’s got a line on current conditions. There are some who purposely avoid too much research in order to preserve a sense of adventure. Others wan...

words & photos :: Nikkey Dawn
The official motto of the province of British Columbia is: Splendor sine occasu, a latin phrase that translates to “Splendor without Diminishment.” But these days, just how undiminished is our natural splendor? With so much of the coastline hidden behind the fortress of the Coast Mountains and rimmed by dense, near-impenetrable rainforest, I’ve always thought the BC coast to be well defended against human impact. This “untouched” coastline of my imagination becam...

words :: Nikkey Dawn
Marine biologist, Alexandra Morton recently stated, “If we lose the Southern Resident [orcas] it will be the first extinction where every individual’s name was known.”
The endangered Southern Resident killer whales (SRKW) are made up of three pods: J, K and L. Alongside their pod letter, each whale is given a number, a practice common for research purposes. Feeling a strong connection to these whales, scientists and communities have also given each individual a name that ...

Here at the Insider we are all about bringing you the hard-hitting facts. So, when one of our contributors recently claimed “Function Junction is Whistler’s coolest neighbourhood”, we knew we couldn’t throw it out there without presenting the research.
Haven’t heard of Function Junction? It is the first junction and neighbourhood you pass on the left when arriving in Whistler from the south. If Creekside is the Village’s older sibling, Function (locals drop the “Junction”) is the black sheep ...

Crankworx Whistler brings together the best in mountain biking, so it’s easy to see why athletes, fans and mountain bikers flock here for the festival. But you know what’s really awesome? You don’t need to know a thing about mountain biking to enjoy it. The high-action and visual impact of the impressive human feats can draw anyone in.
What’s more, Crankworx doesn’t stop at the trails, there’s photography and film events, bike demos and Kidsworx. So, if you’ve been curious about mountain biki...

From Hawaii to Peru, Italy to Israel, the beginnings of paddleboarding around the world have all had one thing in common – the ocean. So it may come as a surprise that the modern version of stand-up paddleboarding (also known as SUP) has effortlessly immersed itself in mountain culture. While you won’t find us surfing on Whistler’s lakes, you will find us in downward-facing dog during a SUP yoga class, touring lakes, navigating the River of Golden Dreams and portaging boards up to glacial lak...

Nikkey Dawn relays her experience participating in a remote beach clean of Vargas, Island with Surfrider Pacific Rim. She also details the valuable work Surfrider has done in British Columbia, Canada, via excerpts of an interview with Chapter Manager Lilly Woodbury. In the end, Nikkey leaves us with an encouraging message to never give up on doing what we can to alleviate the ocean plastics problem. All photos are by Nikkey Dawn; you can find her on Instagram at @nikkeydawn.
Overwhelm. It’s a...

Watching a sunset, is there a more quintessential vacation experience? Away from life’s daily responsibilities and distractions, we get to sit down and become audience members for the end of day show – of which, no two are ever the same.
In Whistler, not only are we treated to spectacular sunsets, but there’s also an encore optical phenomenon called alpenglow. When the sun sets, back-scattered light illuminates the mountain peaks opposite in radiant shades of orange and pink. This effect is t...

Sleeping under the stars, telling stories around the fire (or flashlights) and following nature’s rhythms, these are the things that come to mind when we think of camping. It’s all so romantic, isn’t it? We usually leave the bug bites, cramped dishwashing and mysterious night noises conveniently out of the picture. But that’s because the experience always outweighs the minor discomforts.
In Whistler, you can find whatever camping experience you yearn for, whether you want to sleep on a real m...

Editor’s Note: This post contains the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) and Líl̓wat7ul (Lil’wat Nation) languages. When both are used they’ll be abbreviated and bracketed as [SL] and [LL] respectively.
It’s your typical June afternoon in Whistler as I walk to the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre (SLCC), one moment the sun is shining and the next it’s raining so hard the drops are bouncing off my hood. I haven’t brought an umbrella but that’s okay, we’ll be heading under the cover of t...

Summer, that glorious time of year when we become lake-worshippers, alpine hikers and at one with our bikes. No two months of summer are the same, the outdoor offerings are ruled by the rate of the snowmelt and the rotating roster of events changes the Village vibe from one week to the next. Whatever your dream summer vacation entails you can find it in Whistler, the key is knowing when. Here’s your ultimate planning guide to summer in Whistler:
If May is when we squeeze out the last drops of...

Guest Photographer: Rachel Barkman
Rachel is a travel photographer based in Vancouver, BC, who enjoys inspiring people to get outdoors and live more sustainably. She can often be found adventuring with her dog, baby, and husband around the Lower Mainland.
Ahhh spring, a season of blooms, showers, sunshine and rainbows and in Whistler – unlimited adventure. We don’t mean adventure in only the outdoor sense either, spring is the time to embrace the new and revive your senses. Order something of...

What makes Whistler special? Time after time, we hear the same answer: the mountains, the lakes, the old-growth forests, the rivers, the wildlife – essentially, nature. Whistler holds a place in so many people’s hearts because of it.
With our lives so entwined with the outdoors, in a town designed around car-free travel (for residents and visitors alike), it’s no wonder many local businesses have focused on sustainability. For some, like Backroads Whistler and Ziptrek Ecotours, the environmen...

How often do you think about what you are putting in your body? Three times a day? How about what you’re putting down the sink, in the trash, or the air we breathe?
Thinking beyond ourselves is rooted in the practice of ahimsa. Ahimsa is the first Yama in Patanjali’s 8 limbed path of yoga; a principle of non-violence, and when practiced, it means taking responsibility for the harm your thoughts and actions could cause to yourself and to others.
Ahimsa is a big picture idea. Our disposable, co...