Hollyburn snow shoe trip

We are all regular snow shoe grinders so finding something that is a challange is not always that easy. Well...Hollyburn Mountain is a challenge, Cypress Mountain.

 

Just over an hour hike up, some of it enjoyable, up and down small hills in amoungst the trees. Passing by the cross country skiers. But then it is straight up!

 

 

 Reaching the top is well worth the huffing, puffing and sweat as you have a 360' view. You feel like you're on top of the world. Being so close to the Lions you think, if we keep going we'll be there in a few hours!! But we all know better than that !

Get out and enjoy this wonderful city !

Snow Shoe Grind - The last one ?

What might be our last snow shoe this year – and Spectacular as always !!

We had an earlier start as the drop in clinic are now finished. 

Heading up the Snow Shoe Grind and back down to get the 8pm gondola home !

Another Snow Shoe - Amazing Day

We spent another amazing day on the

North Shore Mountains 

Once again hiking up the Snow Shoe Grind
for spectacular views.

Then we dashed down over to
Thunderbird Ridge!

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 !

First Snow Shoe with a Reindeer Visit !

What a way to start the winter season !
There wasn't any fresh snow but the skies were clear and a full moon was upon us. Breathing in fresh mountain air it was a great first day of snow shoeing.

  

As we were waiting for the groups to collect for the 7pm start time we wondered over to visit Santa's workshop and the Reindeer - which Reindeer do you think these guys are ?

Snow Shoeing - Last of the Season

Saturday April 10, 2011 a few of us braved the cold and snow for one last snow shoe of the season.  .        
     .

 

Heading up to Seymour Mountain, North Vancouver. The 4 of us cruised about Discovery Trails. As the snow poured down, we had limited visibility but lots of new fluffy snow to bounce in!

Snow Shoeing in April !

It has been a long winter season in Vancouver this year, and a few of us are still taking advantage of the new snow !!  With 27 cm of new snow over night on April 3^rd 2011 we couldn’t resist a visit.

The guided tours ended on Grouse, however with the sunset being later it is light longer and we are still able to get up the mountain after work for a bounce in the snow and back home before dark.

           

The hike up in a foot of new snow was sure hard work and the picture doesn’t do any justice to the view of the sleeping bear den below.

Snow Shoe Nights

On our weekly snow shoe night we are sometimes in the group where Brett is the guide. He loves what he does and you can tell in the knowledge and excitement that he projects.

Last night we had some amazing fluffy fresh snow and were bouncing around the Blue Grouse Lake Loop were we passed by a Long House.

Built in 1997 deep in the alpine forest is the híwus feasthouse. It was build to offer visitors native dining, culture and entertainment. It is a traditional aboriginal cedar longhouse complete with intricate carvings, and totem pole entranceway.


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Sun Rise SnowShoe - February 13th 2011

Grouse Mountain opened 24 hours a day

for the duration of the Vancouver 2010

Winter Olympic and for the anniversary

they did it again!

Opening Saturday February 12^th at

 9am, and not closing until Sunday

10pm. It was a great experience for

those few winter diehard enthusiasts

who wondered what it would be like

 to snowboard down the cut as at

 sunset,  Zipline over the snow at

 midnight, play ice hockey at 3am or

Snowshoe for Sunrise.

David, Ronald, Carmen,

& I suited up in our

mitts, toque and

snowshoes and headed

for the top of  Dam

Mountain.

 

With the clouds thick overhead we were

not able to see sunrise. However, it was still

well worth the effort for an early snow shoe

in a winter wonderland!





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Snow Shoe Nights

                       

Each week we bundle up in our cold weather gear and hop aboard the gondola and head up to Grouse Mountain.

  

At 7:00pm we take off with a guide for a leisurely bounce around the snow or quick run around the mountain. There are different fitness levels to choose from depending on the mood you are in. Choose the social group, and explore the fresh snow or the run if you want a great work out.

Snow Shoe Nights

Grouse Mountain offers a drop-in every Monday and Wednesday night.
Each week we bundle up in our cold weather gear and hopped aboard the gondola and head up the mountain.

At 7:00pm we take off with 2 guides for a leisurely walk or quick run around the mountain. There are different fitness levels to choose from depending on the mood you are in. Choose the social group, and explore the fresh snow or the run if you want a great work out.

Snowshoeing, Mount. Seymour

Hiking up to First Peak for Sunset

Finishing off at First Lake

Snowshoeing on Grouse Mountain

David, Colleen, Wendy, Felix & Jason