My friends, as of the time of this writing rain is drumming on the skylight above me. I sincerely hope that when you read this, snow will cover our mountains again. I will describe for you a snowshoe trip up Hollyburn Mountain. This is a moderate trip -- not easy, if you go all the way up to the windy top. The Kids took mother up there on really old fashioned snowshoes all the way to the very top. There they put up their stoves on cookie sheets on the snow, cooked a wonderful lunch and presented me with a little newspaper clip. Skiing was really a Scandinavian thing, while snowshoeing was Canadian. Of course some crazy people insist on climbing mountains that way. This was my Christmas present and I loved it. Today we have all these high tech snowshoes on our feet giving us a great advantage up and down the slopes in almost any snow condition. To get to the trail in the winter, head up from the Upper Level Highway to the Cypress Provincial Park turnoff and drive up the Cypress Parkway. Good tires are a must, especially if it snows. This time you don’t drive all the way to the last parking lot. You watch for the sign on the right for the cross country area, and park on the side. Now you put your snowshoes on and stay on the marked trail on the left of the cross country area and walk up the hill. After about 15 minutes or so you reach a saddle. Time to turn around to admire the first view, and to take off a layer. Keep following the markers up and down through the trees until you reach the end of the cross country area. You are now standing in front of the steeper part of your trip. If you feel you are not up to that part, return to the parking lot the way you came. For most of us this is where the fun begins. The orange poles mark the best way to get up to the very top. Usually it is cold and windy, so take some extra clothes, extra food and a thermos with you. On this slope you will have to pause from time to time to catch your breath -- great times to admire the incredible views. On your descent you may find portions of the slope very steep. There is no shame in sitting down on your bum to slide these parts. It is great fun, sort of becoming a kid again. I hope you have a sun and fun filled day. Give yourself four to five hours and don’t forget the days are shorter now. The mystery spot on our last hike: After boardwalk # 21, when you turn down for the loop, the first stairs are rimmed by the fallen trees now. Olga is a member of the North Vancouver Outdoors Club. www.northvanoutdoorsclub.ca Copyright North Shore Magazine Issue Dec 07-Jan 08