This week, a former Straight staffer reached a coveted spot on the Read Local BC website.

Stephen Hui's 105 Hikes In and Around Southwestern British Columbia made it to Number 1 on the B.C. bestseller list, supplanting Whitewater Cooks: More Beautiful Food, by Shelley Adams.

Hui's book pays particular attention to the Indigenous history of the region.

It was inspired by a long-running series by David and Mary Macaree called 103 Hikes in Southwestern British Columbia.

Hui worked at the Straight for many years, including lengthy stints as the technology and web editor.

The Straight recently contacted Hui to ask him for three recommendations around Squamish, which is a one-hour drive from Vancouver up the Sea-to-Sky Highway.

Naturally, Stawamus Chief Mountain was on the list. The 700-metre granite mound overlooks the town of Squamish and is a popular destination for climbers from around the world.

According to Hui's book, it's a four-star, 14-kilometre hike. It takes about five hours to complete the circuit.

He also selected Watersprite Late, another four-star hike. This one is 17 kilometres and requires about seven hours for a round trip.

Hui's third recommendation in the Squamish area was the Gargoyles. It also received four stars.

But you better prepare to set aside some time for this one. That's because it takes nine hours to finish the 27-kilometre round trip.

Happy hiking!