Ash's Photo Blog: Grouse Grind

Great weather this weekend, so I decided to head to North Van and do the Grind.

Mid-June is quite late for the trail to open - the delay was due to some trail work. I did notice that one section of rock had been cut so that it was easier to climb, and other sections that used to require giant step-ups have been replaced by freshly cut, regular size steps, making the trail ever so slightly easier.

Time? 1hr20... this was the first time that I actually stopped to look around and take pictures while climbing. Last season, I managed to get my personal best down from just under 1hr to just under 54 minutes. I'll go ahead and post my goal for this season - I think I'll be a bit ambitious and say that this year I'll go for under 48 minutes.

The iconic Grouse Mountain Skyride..

The entrance to the Grind, complete with the verbose exclusion of liability waiver that no one reads... (okay, maybe I read it once. In my defense, I was waiting for the trail to open.)

Similar waiver a couple minutes in. But those are some tiring minutes - I'm sure this sign has convinced quite a few to turn back.

The sign that lets you know that even though you feel like you should be done more, you're only 1/4 way to the top. Actually, it's 1/4 way by height, but closer to 1/3 of the distance. The first quarter always takes me the longest.

Some steps... lots of opportunities to take pictures of those.

Some rocks... again, not in short supply along the trail up the mountain.

I ventured off route to an opening and took a gorgeous shot of the Capilano river - natural source of most of Vancouver's drinking water.

The halfway mark... usually comes up quite suddenly, probably because of how brutally long the first quarter is, but also because the trail changes up a bit during the second leg, which makes it more interesting.

When I was taking these pictures, I thought, "Hey, that would make a neat shot." But while reviewing my pictures, I realised... "No, it's just more steps."