About Lynda

Sunshine Meadows Summer 2008, Family picture 2

Three Mountain Family Hikes® isn’t just about guiding families through hiking trails — it’s about reconnecting families with nature and with each other.

How? By creating meaningful and memorable experiences that weave-in local natural and cultural history. By sharing engaging stories that connect you with your surroundings. By teaching you the knowledge you need and instilling the confidence to explore. By removing fears with guidance, facts and expertise. By showing families that nature is a place where every member can learn, grow and connect.

A hike to remember, skills to last a lifetime and memories you’ll never forget.

Getting families closer to nature. One step at a time.® That’s the Three Mountain Family Hikes® experience.

Our Mission

To give families the knowledge, confidence and skills they need for a safe and enjoyable experience on the trails and connections that last a lifetime

Our Vision & Core Values

To create a community of families with deep connections, rooted in their experiences with nature.

Engaging with nature.

Connecting families.

Sharing skills.

Staying safe.

Having fun.

Fostering outdoor community.

About Lynda

From my roots in rural Ontario, I spent my childhood and youth outdoors — building tree forts and sleeping in them, riding bikes for hours along dusty country roads, gathering frog eggs from the neighbour's pond in the summer, then skating on the same pond in the winter — incredible experiences that brought me closer to nature, taught me to appreciate its wonder and forged an incredible bond with my  family. When I moved to Alberta in 1999 and became a mother, I knew I wanted to share that same experience with my children. And what better setting than the majestic surroundings of Canadian Rockies?

Pregnent with my first Seven Months Pregnent w
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I quickly discovered that preparing a family with two small children for a hike in the mountains was no simple task. Not all hikes were alike and not all trails were designed for families.

  • Which hikes were good with child carriers?
  • Which trails would work with all-terrain strollers?
  • Which hikes were considered easy and which more challenging for older children?
  • What to do if you encounter wildlife?

Though I referenced several easy walks and hikes books, they were written with adults in mind and left her with unanswered questions. Through trial and error on many-a trail, an idea grew roots: what if my family documented our experiences to help other parents? The seeds for “Take a Hike with Your Children™” — the first-of-its-kind Rockies guide book written with families in mind, including the 1-2-3-4 Mountain Rating System™— difficulty level from a child’s perspective — were sown.

Having my guide book published — and now 12,000 copies sold!  — was an incredible moment, yet my real sense of accomplishment comes from seeing the joy and wonder in the faces of every family member after an outdoor adventure. By reconnecting families with nature, by giving them an easy reference tool, by sharing the story of the mountains and by practicing a safe day on the trails, families can experience the incredible natural wonder and wilderness playground we have right at our backdoor. And you know they’ll be back for more.

The success of my book inspired me to become a professional, multi-certified and accredited interpretive guide and active sports instructor, based in Canmore, Alberta, where I am currently writing my second book with more trail options, older family members, accessibility and longer hikes in mind.

Always on the go, be  sure to keep in touch and be on the lookout for more amazing, innovative ideas coming from Three Mountain Family Hikes  in the future — all with the goal of encouraging families to get outside, be safe and best of all, have fun.

Happy Hiking!

Lynda

lady at sunshine meadwos, banff
Lynda_Interpretive_Guiding
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Fun Facts:

  • I have hiked every 10km hike (and under!) in Banff, Jasper, Kootenay, Yoho and Waterton Lakes National Parks — some of the hikes, I’ve done more than once, and some I’ve also done in the winter!
  • The total hikes I have completed in National Parks? 125!
  • I’ve worn the same pair of hiking socks for 5 days in a row! Why? I wanted to see if the wool would stink… and it doesn't, but my boots did!
  • How many bears have I seen on the trails in 20 years of hiking? 3.
    How many have roamed through my backyard over that same time? 6!

Recent Blogs

leave no trace in the woods

Leave No Trace and Reduce your Carbon Footprint

how to layer for winter hiking

How To Layer And Dress For A Winter Hike Or Snowshoe: Families, Beginner Hikers

lake o'hara in yoho national park

Lake O’Hara: the Lake Oesa and Morning Glory Lakes Trails

Lake O'Hara, canoes

Lake O’Hara: Hiking Gem In Yoho National Park

Certifications:

  • Interpretive Guides Association, Professional Interpretive Guide - Four Season Certification
  • Rocky Mountain Adventure Medicine, Adventure Medic Wilderness First Aid
  • Outdoor Council of Canada, Summer and Winter Field Leader
  • Avalanche Canada, Avalanche Skills Training Level 1
  • Canadian Association of Nordic Ski Instructors, Certification Level 1
  • Urban Poling Instructor

Experience:

  • Town of Banff, Family Intro to Hiking Program
  • Town of Canmore, Family Intro to Hiking Program 
  • University of Calgary Outdoor Centre, Cross-country Skiing Instructor
  • Canmore Nordic Centre, Cross-country Skiing Instructor
  • Three Mountain Family Hikes
  • Backroads, Professional Interpretive Guide
  • Guide Me Banff, Professional Interpretive Guide
  • Canmore Cave Tours - Professional Interpretive Hiking Guide
  • The Company of Adventures, Professional Interpretive Hiking Guide
  • Road Scholar, Professional Interpretive Hiking Guide
  • Hospitality & Tourism Management, Ryerson University, B.A.A.

Giving Back

Three Mountain Family Hikes® isn’t just about guiding families through hiking trails — it’s about reconnecting families with nature and with each other. And giving back to the community is an important part in getting there!

Since “Take a Hike with Your ChildrenA guidebook for family hikes and walks" was published, I have had the pleasure of sharing 400 copies to various organization, including: Some of these contributions were as door prizes for various charitable fundraisers and this year, I provided three hiking or cross country ski gift certificates as fundraisers for organizations as well.

  • 50 books and a Hiking/Skiing Gift Certificate, bear awareness and fire building seminar to Camp Kindle, Kids Cancer Care
  • A Hiking Gift Certificate to a Homeschool program
  • A Hiking Kit (Including a copy of the book, two buffs and a Gift Certificate) to Jogging For A Noggin, a fundraiser for children that have suffered head injuries.

If you are interested in fundraising opportunities, please contact me

Let’s Work Together

Whether you’re representing a specific attraction, hospitality, local organizations or hiking gear and products, let’s chat! Together, we can showcase and engage families and get them even more excited about reconnecting with nature!