Explorer Spotlight: Kaila Walton

Name: Kaila Walton | Age: 24 | Location: Prince George BC, Canada.

What’s your day job?
Currently unemployed but I was an Oilfield Medic and will be going to University in May of this year to become an Environmental Monitor.

What are your favorite things to do outside?
I love landscape photography, hiking, swimming, camping, and road trips.

What first drew you to the outdoors?
I grew up on a small gulf island close to the Comox Valley called Denman Island and spent 95% of my time outside biking, walking, swimming in the lakes, kayaking, swimming in the ocean and even camping in our front yard.

What’s your favorite hometown adventure? ...and, almost as important, where’s your favorite spot to get a beer after?
My favourite hometown adventure would be hiking in Boyle Point Provincial Park on Denman Island BC. It is such a beautiful place with beautiful views. Plus, there are a lot of eagle nests hidden high up in the trees. After spending the day on Denman Island, head into Courtenay and grab a brew at the Gladstone Brewing Co. They are an awesome craft brewery with a good variety of beer and awesome atmosphere.

What’s your essential gear that never gets left at home?
I will never go anywhere without my camera gear or my GoPro.

What’s your favorite trail snack?
You can’t go wrong with beef jerky or pepperoni sticks.

Any go-to soundtracks when you’re hitting the road?
Country and Classic Rock are my go-to tunes… anything from Motley Crue to Led Zeppelin to Blake Shelton to Tim McGraw… and even some Backstreet Boys.

What’s the scariest thing that’s ever happened while you were adventuring? And/ or funniest?
I haven’t had anything scary happen to me, and I hope it never does. Embarrassing moment though, I definitely have that covered. About two weeks ago I went out with the Jeep Club in Prince George to go snow-wheeling. There were about 10-12 jeeps there including mine. It was really fun except I was the only one that got stuck I think 8 or 9 times and kept having to get pulled out. It was super embarrassing and frustrating at the time but now I look back at it and laugh. One day I will get better tires than the stock ones.

Who’s your number one adventure partner-in-crime? Who inspires you?
I usually do all of my adventures alone but if someone comes along it is usually one of my two younger sisters, Rebecca and Shana. The people I meet online and in person doing what they love, traveling and living life inspires me to do the very same.

What are your top destinations for adventure travel?
The Canadian Rockies are the number one place I love going to as well as hiking in Monkman Provincial Park, which is about 5-6 hours North of Prince George.

What’s on the top of your must-do adventure list right now?
I really, really want to road trip and hike in Washington State and Oregon. I am hoping this fall I will be able to.

Show us your most memorable photo, and tell us about it!
My little sister, Shana, and I went out late one night last year trying to catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights. I feel like I lucked out on this picture it was just some perfect timing overall. It was taken about one hour North of Prince George BC on a forestry service road bridge, passing over Crooked River. This is probably one of my favourite pictures that I have taken so far as it was my first time taking night.

And last but not least…What’s your personal motto?
Would it be corny if I said my personal motto was Hakuna Matata? So many people these days worry about too much stuff. Worrying is like sitting in a rocking chair, it gets you nowhere.