"My advice is pretty simple and straightforward - just get out and explore the beautiful backyard that mother nature has given us. Make sure to do your homework about personal safety and learn about the outdoors."-Surinder Sahdra .
A transit supervisor with Translink, Surinder Sahdra is passionate about cycling and mountain biking. He has biked from Vancouver to San Francisco in 20 days and also volunteers with the Canadian Cancer Society for their fundraiser - Ride To Survive since 2008.
Surinder Sahdra, a transit supervisor who has been working with Translink for the last 22 years is someone who believes in enjoying the outdoors with a cause. Be it hiking, road biking, bike touring, overnight backpacking, or multi-day hiking, he enjoys everything outdoors. However, biking has a special place in his heart. He was never really an outdoor enthusiast but in 2006 he was inspired by his colleague who had hiked the Grand Canyon and thus his hiking journey began.
Ever since 2006, he has hiked all the local mountains in British Columbia and also covered over six among the top 10 hikes in North America. His love for biking started when he started volunteering for the fundraising events for the Canadian Cancer Society called Ride To Survive in 2008. Ever since then, he has been volunteering with them for the past 10 years and also participated twice in the ride. He has been a crew member for the Ride To Survive where about 150-200 riders cycle through Kelowna to Delta in one day.
He has helped the Canadian Cancer Society raise 50 million through this fundraiser. During the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, instead of riding bicycles, they walked all the way from Vancouver to Delta which is over 100 kilometres in 10 hours to raise funds. He has also biked from Vancouver to San Francisco in 20 days which is one of the longest rides he has done to date. He has a long list of the hikes and rides he has experienced so far, which is rather commendable and is attached to a social cause which is worth applauding. Be it the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Hawaii Crawl Out trails, Panorama Ridge, Black Tusk or Mount Everest Base Camp, he has done it all. Even during the Covid-19 lockdown, he took the opportunity to go on hikes that were still open and enjoyed a lot of time outdoors by hiking and biking. He says that during the Covid-19 lockdown, people got an opportunity to explore different parts of B.C and make the most of what this beautiful province has to offer.
What motivated you to start your hiking and biking journey?
It was in 2006 when I was interacting with my colleague and he shared his experience of hiking the Grand Canyon. This particular conversation caught my interest and led me into the wonderful world of hiking. My biking journey started when I was volunteering with the Canadian Cancer Society as a crew member for their fundraiser - Ride To Survive in 2008.
What has been the most memorable outdoor experience that you’ve had so far?
While I can’t really point out a single hike or bike ride that is close to my heart as each one has its own memories and experience, the ones that top my list are the Half Dome in Yosemite, Everest Base Camp, Grand Canyon and Bryce Canyon in Utah.
Do you have any advice for people who are looking to start their outdoor adventure journey?
My advice is pretty simple and straightforward - just get out and explore the beautiful backyard that mother nature has given us. Make sure to do your homework about personal safety and learn about the outdoors. Always be prepared with your essentials to make it an enjoyable experience and pay attention to your surroundings.