The 6th Annual Vancouver Snow Show is taking place this weekend (Saturday 10am – 7pm & Sunday 11am – 5pm) at the Vancouver Convention Center.
If you’re looking for that ’something’ to get you pumped for the upcoming winter season, this could be it.
New products on display, ski and snowboard retailers and pros, mountain ski resorts, training associations and travel information! The Calgary and Vancouver Snow Shows have everything your winter is all about!
The Grouse website is also offering this coupon for $2 off admission when you bring in a non-perishable food item for the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society. At the show, Grouse will also be offering a killer deal on their One Night season pass, as well as zip-lining, so that alone might make the event worth-while for you.
From a height of 1501m, Crown Mountain offers one of the most spectacular views of any North Shore summit. Nestled behind Grouse Mountain in the Lynn Headwaters Regional Park, it is not an easy hike, but is well worth the effort. With a stunning view of Vancouver as you look down over the peaks of Goat and Grouse mountains to the south, and with a cascade of mountains to the north, east and west, it’s a view that’s hard to beat. Best of all, there are 3 starting points to choose from, to make an already challenging hike even more strenuous if you wish.
Your first choice is starting from the base of Grouse mountain and coming up the Grouse Grind. Your second choice is taking the SkyRide up and starting from the Grouse chalet. Your third choice is starting from the Lynn Headwaters Regional Park entrance, and making the 20km trek through Hanes Valley, ascending Crown mountain, then heading back down the the Grouse chalet. (You can view a map here to get a sense of your options).
I’ll describe the hike as you start from the top of the Grouse Grind:
Starting from the Grouse chalet follow the paved path to the grizzly bear enclosure, towards the base of Grouse mountain proper (under the Peak chairlift). There is a dirt path the cuts up east to the peak of Grouse, and a path heading to the left. Head left and follow the relatively flat trail and shortly you will reach the trailhead, with hiker check-in station. Sign in, and follow the signs up into the woods. Shortly, you’ll come to a zip-line tower, and see some signs pointing you in the direction of Goat and Crown mountains. As you near the junction for the two hikes, you’ll get a few glimpses of the challenge that awaits, the summit of Crown with ‘the Camel’ beside it (look closely, it really is a camel ):
After maybe 30 – 45 minutes from the start of your hike you should be at the junction. Most people will follow the path to Goat mountain/ Goat Ridge, but take the trail to the west of Goat that cuts down beside it. Here is the first challenging section of the trail, a nice decline of about 300m into Crown Pass, with slippery rock but chains to assist you:
After carefully treading down this section, you may want to break for a quick drink/ rest before you make your 421m ascent to the peak of Crown. (Keep this in mind as the total elevation gain of the hike is only 375m, but you just lost about 300m on the descent) The next hour or so is a steady uphill battle, with a bit of light scrambling. Soon you’ll be rewarded with a nice view into Hanes Valley:
Pushing on a bit more, you’ll get a spectacular view of downtown Vancouver, and much of the Fraser Valley for that matter. All that remains is the final push to the summit. The peak itself is very narrow so take caution while you enjoy the scenery. On a clear (and hopefully not too hazy) day, a wonderful 360 degree panorama of ocean, city and mountain range makes this one of the best views on the North Shore. In the distance below you will be able to see your starting point, the Grouse chalet (in the left of the photo you can see the buildings on Grouse):
From this hike it is also possible to access Dam mountain, Goat mountain, Little Goat mountain and Norvan Falls, among other things. Make sure you bring lots of water on this hike as there is only 1 tiny stream near the summit of Crown, and depending on the time of year may be non-existent if all the snow has already melted.
Hike Specs (from the top of the Grouse Grind):
Rating: Moderate – Difficult
Elevation Gain: 375m
Distance: ~10km return
Time Needed: 5 – 6 hours
Season: June to September
Hike Specs (including Grouse Grind up, but SkyRide down from Chalet):
Rating: Difficult
Elevation Gain: ~1230m
Distance: ~12km
Time Needed: 6 – 8 hours
Season: June to September
Hike Specs (from Lynn Headwaters Regional Park, exiting at Grouse SkyRide):
The Seek the Peak Relay is a fundraiser for Rethink Breast Cancer. The 16km course starts from Ambleside Beach, makes its way up the Grouse Grind, and carries on to the peak of Grouse Mountain, gaining over 4,100 ft of elevation. You can attack the course solo, together as a team of 4, or if that sounds a bit daunting, you can attack the course as a relay team, each doing 1/4 of the course. I just signed up to do the course solo, and since it took me 1 hour just to do the Grind the other day, I’m a little worried about how painful it will be.
Merrell is pleased to present the 6th Annual Grouse Mountain Seek The Peak Relay raising funds for Rethink Breast Cancer. The challenging 16-kilometer course starts on the beach at Ambleside Park in West Vancouver, winds its way through North Vancouver, then heads up the legendary Grouse Grind® to the Peak of Vancouver.
Seek the Peak is not strictly a race for elite athletes. Participants are primarily motivated by the symbolic overcoming of a significant obstacle, reflecting the ongoing fight against breast cancer.
Hundreds of Racers Battled the Elements for Breast Cancer in 2008 Last year’s Seek the Peak relay brought out close to 700 athletes of all ages and fitness levels, all ready for the challenge of tackling the 4,100-foot elevation gain in support of breast cancer.
Where the Funds Go
This event is about rethinking what matters. It’s about Rethinking our pain thresholds and our ambitions. More than this, it’s about Rethinking our priorities. So give to Rethink and together we will overcome breast cancer.
Over the past five years, this unique, pledge-driven event has raised over $160,000 for Rethink Breast Cancer. By participating in Seek the Peak you are helping fight breast cancer.
Once registered, you can get pledges via an online account or a good ol’ fashioned pledge form. Last year the event raised over $160,000! If you can’t make it out for the event, but would like to donate, you can always pledge for me!
One of Canada’s largest pro snowboarding events takes place on Grouse Mountain next Friday and Saturday, March 27th and 28th. The Quiksilver Showdown Over the City is included on the SWATCH TTR World Snowboard Tour, the largest international snowboard contest body. The rider list and degree of talent will be off the charts for this Men’s Only event with $20,000 cash on the line.
It looks like it will be a great chance to watch some world-class snowboarding, so be sure to check out the schedule and head up if you can.
Just a quick post to let you know the Grouse Grind is now under a full winter closure…time to grab the snowshoes and head to other trails. The above shot was taken today.
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