Tricouni Meadows: Complains and blueberries

Trip Dates: Sept. 1st-2nd, 2024

By Line

Labour Day weekend is traditionally a time for adventure, with either Christian or me taking our oldest, F, on a long hiking trip with friends. This year was no different, and I planned to stay home with our two youngest. But when Jen floated the idea of a short overnight hiking trip—and even offered seats in her car—it felt like an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. The kids are old enough to tackle trails on their own now, and I figured I could manage carrying all our gear. After some back-and-forth, Jen and I decided on Tricouni Meadows, accessed from the Squamish River side. The road conditions seemed manageable, and the trail, at under 5 km, felt just right for little legs.

The drive to the trailhead started off smooth. Jen and Jon’s Rivian handled the steep, rocky sections of the logging road like a champ, powering through even the intimidating water bar with ease. However, as the alder grew tighter and the road narrowed, the pristine condition of the still-new vehicle gave us pause. Not quite ready to add “racing stripes” to its finish, they made the call to park and hike the last kilometer and a bit of road. This decision was met with little enthusiasm from the kids, as the midday sun was already making itself felt. The uphill trudge was hot and uncomfortable, and morale dipped quickly.

The trail started off pleasantly, with some shade providing relief from the heat. However, it wasn’t long before we climbed into the subalpine, where shade became scarce, and the route turned into a series of boulder fields. The exposed terrain slowed us down, and the kids were not impressed. At one point, our youngest had a meltdown in a boulder field because she didn’t want to hold my hand while balancing on the tall boulders. The hike to the first lake took us about five hours to cover just 5 kilometers. When we finally arrived, the kids made a beeline for the water, eager to cool off and swim while we set up camp. With Jon’s help, I even managed to rig a half-decent bear hang—normally Christian’s task on these trips.
Jen asked if I had any secrets for hiking with kids, but I had to admit that sometimes, it’s just hard. This was the most complaining I’d heard from my kids in years, but I felt bad for Jen since this was her family’s first overnight hike. Hopefully, it won’t be their last.
Dinner was a highlight, eaten with a beautiful view of Tricouni. Afterward, the kids naturally gravitated toward Jon, who kept them entertained with silly stories. Their laughter carried through the camp while I cleaned up, a nice way to end a tough day.

The next morning, we took it slow, knowing the way down would likely be easier. Before starting the hike, we encouraged the kids to eat as many blueberries as they could find around camp, hoping this would curb their urge to stop at every bush along the trail. While they enthusiastically took up the challenge, it quickly became apparent that no amount of pre-hike blueberries would stop them from pausing to pick more on the way down. Still, their picking speed improved as we descended, and overall spirits were higher than the previous day. The east-side trail we chose avoided most of the boulder fields but traded them for mud. Thankfully, the mud rarely went above ankle height, making it more manageable. There was one moment of drama when we lost the trail in a muddy section. L, the oldest kid in the group, scouted ahead and accidentally disturbed a wasp nest. She sprinted uphill to escape but still suffered a handful of stings. Thankfully, no one else was stung, and after some Benadryl and a comforting hug, she was ready to continue.
The final stretch along the road was hot, but the downhill grade made it more bearable. By the time we reached the cars, everyone was looking forward to our celebratory stop in Squamish for dinner and ice cream. 

Despite the challenges, the trip was a success in its own way. Watching the kids work through their struggles and enjoy the little moments—like blueberry picking and storytime—made it worthwhile. Here’s hoping Jen’s family is up for another overnight hiking adventure in the future!