Hiking Challenge, June

We are steppin' it up for the month of June, and taking on the Grouse Grind.

This is the list of days, times, and locations for our work up to the Grouse Grind.

Join us, everyone is welcome.

Monday June 4th, 6pm - BCMC (meet at grouse base)

Sunday June 10th, 8:30am - Lynn Peak (meet at Lynn Headwaters entrance)

Thursday June 14th, 5:30pm - BCMC (meet at grouse base)

Tuesday June 19th, 6:00pm - BCMC or Grouse Grind (meet at grouse base)

Thursday June 28th, 5:30pm - Grouse Grind (meet at grouse base)




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Epic Hike - BCMC & SSG

Each year we take on the task of doing something a little crazy. 

2010, was the first year trying the Grind twice in a row.
2011, was a hat trick (three) Grind adventure.
2012, BCMC (British Columbia Mountain Club) & SSG (Snow Shoe Grind)

The morning of  day light savings 4 of us got up early, extra early with the time change, to take advantage of the early morning light. Strapping our snowshoes to our packs and started up the BCMC.

Surprised at the number of people on the trail there were lots of hellos as well as an opera singing Hungarian using the acoutics of the forest for his singing practice.


Strapping on our YakTrax at about the 3/4 mark it was like being on a movie set with the hard top layer of undisturbed snow.

Once arriving at the top of the BCMC, we were only half way through our big hike. We had a granola snack and started off again. Switching our YakTrax for our snowshoes we headed up the Snow Shoe Grind. All feeling like slugs and having smaller steps than our usual bounce on the SSG we managed to reach the top in just under an hour.
Unfortunately the view was not spectacular this day. It was overcast and we could not see the chalet or the eye of the needle. But it was well worth it as well bounded our way down in the hill in new snow.

A first for this combo, but we all can way we've done it !

Grouse Mountain Weekly Hike - History

Hiking "Mother Nature's Stairmaster" got me to thinking.....what person ever thought this was a"FUN" thing to do. I learned some neat history I wanted to share.

Hikers were first recorded on Grouse Mountain back in 1894 when a hunting party shot a blue grouse bird and named the mountain in the bird's honor.

It wasn't until the 1920's and early 30's, that Grouse Mountain saw the first big wave of adventurous hikers. People flocked to the mountain each year looking to reach the cabins located in the Grouse Mountain Village, at the foot of what is now known as The Cut.

The Grind was first developed in 1981 by mountaineers looking for a challenging, convenient aerobic workout to sustain them for their longer hikes. They began by following the existing British Columbia Mountaineering Club Trail (BCMC) which offers a slightly less strenuous climb, my choice for a hike over the grind any day!  People soon wanted a steeper route and about a quarter of the way up began using well-worn animal paths as their guide. The trail route was completed in the winter of 1983.

In 1996, the original cast of builders, along with a number of enthusiasts from the BC Federation of Mountaineering Club and Grouse Mountain, rebuilt the trail ensuring optimum safety and enjoyment for the high volume of hikers while maintaining the highest level of environmental protection from erosion.

Grouse Mountain Statistics today are over 100,000 people hike the trail annually.

Grouse Grizzly Bears

After a hike up the BCMC, we wandered over to the Grizzly Bears on the chance they would be out enjoying the summer day as we were.

Grouse Mountain renovated their pen over the winter into a figure eight type area, where tourists and people can walk over a bridge and feel like you’re in the same cage as them.

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Grinder was orphaned June 2001 in Invermere BC. He was wandering alone on a logging road, dehydrated, thin, weak, and weighing only 4.5kg.

Coola was found orphaned at the side of the highway on June 29, 2001 near Bella Coola, BC. His mother has been hit and killed by a truck. Of her three cubs, Coola was the only one to survive. One cub was hit by a falling tree and the other ran and was not seen again.

http://www.grousemountain.com/press_releases/grinder-and-coola-awake-from-hibernation

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BCMC - first timer

We took it easy for Anne-Marie’s first hike up grouse, and did the BCMC. With a time of 90minutes, this is excellent for all you non hikers.  It was the first of many hikes.

Up until now we have not had any hot weather this year, and this was obvious when we reached the top of Grouse.

At 3,700’ elevation, on June 27^th we found snow!

Grouse Mountain Hike - BCMC

The Grouse Mountain trail I prefer is the BCMC trail. It is less crowded and a slightly longer alternative to the Grouse Grind. The scenery is similar, but the upper reaches of the trail cross through some old growth forest. As with all the trails up Grouse, it's a steep trek and a good workout.

The Grind is 2.9km,
where the BCMC is 3.3km

We rewarded ourselves with some beer

and nachos and enjoyed the view

We wandered over to the Grizzly Bears and had a visit with Grinder and Coola.
Grinder was orphaned June 2001 in Invermere BC. He was wandering alone on a loggin road, dehydrated, thin, weak, and weighing only 4.5kg.




Coola was found orphaned at the side of the highway on June 29, 2001 near Bella Coola, BC. His mother has been hit and killed by a truck. Of her three cubs, Coola was the only one to survive. One cub was hit by a falling tree and the other ran and was not seen again.

Grouse Mountain Hikes

Just about every week a few groupies, old and new, meet at the bottom of Grouse Mountain to take on "Mother Nature's Stairmaster." It requires physical strength and endurance in order to make it to the top, but well worth the effort.

The Grouse Grind is a 2.9km trail that climbs 853m (2625 feet)

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