Hills Full Of Winter Hiking Highlights
by Olga Ottens
December 20th, 2010 12:19 PM
Lots to do where we live……
T’was the season and oh my…we need to do some exercise again. This time of the year there is a lot to choose from on the North Shore.
You can snowshoe on Cyprus, Black Mountain and Hollyburn Mountain or on Grouse Mountain; the Munday trail to Dam Mountain or the whole of the Thunderbird Ridge. Coming down from there of course you warm up again at Lupins or the Cafeteria and don’t forget the Theater in the Sky with my favorite movie “Born to fly” (included in your ticket price).
And then there is Seymour Mountain with all three peaks and Dog Mountain if you want to take it a bit easier. There is also Whistler if you have a longer trip in mind.
You can choose to hike the lower level trails which are very beautiful at this time of the year. The mosses on the rocks are so lush and colourful and the waters are gushing down noisily and foamy. Bring your camera.
But wear good boots, as the trails are a bit slippery from all that rain in the winter. There is Light House Park, the Capilano Canyon with the Cleveland Dam , the Fish Hatchery, Grandpa Capilano and, on the other side of the river, the Capilano Suspension Bridge with its treetop trails -- amazing, and residents pay only once a year. Did you know that? You actually get a pass with a picture. Don’t forget to ask.
And, then there is Lynn Canyon with a great variety of trails that are quite beautiful… trails to Rice Lake, Seymour Demonstration Forest, Lynn Headwaters with the Cedar Mill Trail, Lynn Loop, Lynn Peak, the Baden Powell trail, Varly trail and the popular tourist attraction, the Centennial Trail on which you find all these famous pools that attract the kids to risk their lives in the summer. Now in the winter there are fewer tourists and the pools are roaring with the winter rains. To get to this great variety of winter trails in the Lynn Canyon you can actually take the # 228 bus from the Sea Bus Terminal.
And after you have done whatever trail you got on, when you come back there is a treat waiting. A general store called the “End of the Line,” a lively place with food and drink to warm you up and entertain you. They even have a House Gnome answering to the name “Endo” (for End of the Line -- so named after a public naming contest.) He kind of wanders around -- see whether you can find him.
If you saved some of my Happy Trail descriptions in the past you will find most of the trails, for the rest you will have to wait a bit. Have a fun-filled winter.
The Mystery Photo in the last edition was taken in the middle of the steep part up to the top of Hollyburn Mountain.
Olga is a member of the North Vancouver Outdoors Club. northvanoutdoorsclub.ca
Copyright North Shore Magazine Issue Feb - Mar 08
T’was the season and oh my…we need to do some exercise again. This time of the year there is a lot to choose from on the North Shore.
You can snowshoe on Cyprus, Black Mountain and Hollyburn Mountain or on Grouse Mountain; the Munday trail to Dam Mountain or the whole of the Thunderbird Ridge. Coming down from there of course you warm up again at Lupins or the Cafeteria and don’t forget the Theater in the Sky with my favorite movie “Born to fly” (included in your ticket price).
And then there is Seymour Mountain with all three peaks and Dog Mountain if you want to take it a bit easier. There is also Whistler if you have a longer trip in mind.
You can choose to hike the lower level trails which are very beautiful at this time of the year. The mosses on the rocks are so lush and colourful and the waters are gushing down noisily and foamy. Bring your camera.
But wear good boots, as the trails are a bit slippery from all that rain in the winter. There is Light House Park, the Capilano Canyon with the Cleveland Dam , the Fish Hatchery, Grandpa Capilano and, on the other side of the river, the Capilano Suspension Bridge with its treetop trails -- amazing, and residents pay only once a year. Did you know that? You actually get a pass with a picture. Don’t forget to ask.
And, then there is Lynn Canyon with a great variety of trails that are quite beautiful… trails to Rice Lake, Seymour Demonstration Forest, Lynn Headwaters with the Cedar Mill Trail, Lynn Loop, Lynn Peak, the Baden Powell trail, Varly trail and the popular tourist attraction, the Centennial Trail on which you find all these famous pools that attract the kids to risk their lives in the summer. Now in the winter there are fewer tourists and the pools are roaring with the winter rains. To get to this great variety of winter trails in the Lynn Canyon you can actually take the # 228 bus from the Sea Bus Terminal.
And after you have done whatever trail you got on, when you come back there is a treat waiting. A general store called the “End of the Line,” a lively place with food and drink to warm you up and entertain you. They even have a House Gnome answering to the name “Endo” (for End of the Line -- so named after a public naming contest.) He kind of wanders around -- see whether you can find him.
If you saved some of my Happy Trail descriptions in the past you will find most of the trails, for the rest you will have to wait a bit. Have a fun-filled winter.
The Mystery Photo in the last edition was taken in the middle of the steep part up to the top of Hollyburn Mountain.
Olga is a member of the North Vancouver Outdoors Club. northvanoutdoorsclub.ca
Copyright North Shore Magazine Issue Feb - Mar 08
