Grouse Mountain

October 4, 2009

1200m

North Shore Mountains, BC

One week after our scenic trip to the base of Black Tusk, dad and I decided to go back to the mountains. This time we were planning on something less ambitious. Grouse Mountain via Grouse Grind is probably the most popular hike near Vancouver. Dad was slower than me so we hiked separately. The trail is short, but very steep, and it took me quite a long time to finish the Grind. There were lots of people on the trail though. Atop the Grind, I followed a signed trail towards Dam Mountain, but turned around not too far in since I didn’t like the loneliness, plus dad was not following me. So I made back to the Grind, and like the other tourists, went up the chairlift to the summit of Grouse Mountain. It wasn’t allowed to hike beneath the chairlift and I didn’t know if there’s another trail going around so I took the easy way. There was a huge grizzly bear serving for tourism. It was my first time seeing a bear in the mountains, but not in a wilderness place though. The best view I’d got was actually from the chairlift since it offered some unobstructed views down towards Metro Vancouver and Straight of Georgia. In the distance Mount Baker was visible. After making to the top I took the chairlift again to descend, and then hiked down the Grind. Dad was already waiting for me at parking lot. In the afternoon we had time to kill so we drove to Ambleside Beach for some photos.