I can see Canada from my house

It’s true…

IMG_0779

(Although I’m pretty sure it doesn’t give me much international cred in the political realm…just sayin’)

I digress…

Since Kyle’s parents live (more or less) on the US/Canada border, we decided to take a day trip up to visit our friends from the North.

IMG_0786

This beauty, known as Grouse Mountain, is just 15 minutes north of Vancouver, and is open year-round, with Skyrides (seen above) to bring you up the steep 2 mile mountainside overlooking some of the most drop-dead gorgeous views of Vancouver, Washington, and beyond…

IMG_0802

Seriously, the pictures don’t even do it justice.  It was incredible.  Even though we waited until later in the morning to go (and got a tad lost on the way took the scenic route through Langley, BC), there was still quite a bit of fog at the top.  By the afternoon, though, it was clear and you could see for miles and miles.

IMG_0789

Trees!

IMG_0901

Still climbing!

IMG_0897 

Almost as the top!

IMG_0899

Of course, you don’t have to be lazy Americans and take the gondola up…

The Grouse Grind is a pretty popular (albeit notoriously grueling) workout.  Known as “Mother Nature’s Stairmaster,” it boasts the following stats:

Length:
2.9 kilometers (1.8 miles)

Elevation Gain:
853 meters (2,800 feet)
        – Base: 274 meters above sea level (900 feet)
        – Summit: 1,127 meters (3,700 feet)
        – Total Stairs: 2,830

Statistics:
Annually, over 100,000 people hike the Grind.

Average Time:
On average it takes up to an hour and a half to complete the hike.
For novice hikers, up to two hours is recommended.

For women, the course record is 31:04, set in 2007 by Leanne Johnston.  Stud!

IMG_0817

I had every intention of giving it a go until I realized it wasn’t, in fact, after the gondola, but instead of the Skyride.  In the end, I’m pretty glad my ignorance won, though, because it was pretty damn freezing and the few runners I did see at the end looked more miserable than accomplished.  I still posed like a pro though, don’t you think?

IMG_0796

I mean really…did you SEE how high that was? [And this is only half-way!]

After the Skyride dropped us off at the Chalet (read: fancy word for base camp), we began exploring…

IMG_0800IMG_0801

We hiked up to watch the “world famous lumberjack show,” complete with a 60 foot tree climb and log rolling contest before returning to the lodge for some grub.

IMG_0809

Kidding!  That’s Kyle’s lunch.  I packed my own goodies before we left in the AM.

IMG_0785

Meal sponsored by Costco.  Holler!

After I took 400 more pictures of the view, we went back out for another hike. 

Of sorts.

IMG_0824

Wait what!?

We actually found the above sign at the top of the trail (after we had already risked our lives to reach the next highest elevation)…sooo, yeah…oops!

IMG_0822

I was kinda wondering why the path was so deserted!?  Then we discovered there’s actually a chair lift for that stretch…which we happily returned on.

IMG_0825

Faster AND safer.  But not entirely bear-free.

IMG_0891

If this makes you nervous, you should have seen the insanely small wire fence separating them from us.  I’m fairly certain it was electric, but still…

IMG_0843

We were able to get pretty close!

IMG_0867

We watched one bear play for a while, throwing his stick around (that’s what she said), before he joined the other bear.

IMG_0863

And then they played let’s-show-off-our-teeth-to-the-dumb-ass-humans.

IMG_0885

Even though enclosed animals tend to make me a little sad, I was happy to know that these were being protected (not captured) for a reason.

Grinder and Coola are the names of the two grizzly bears above who were each rescued after they were found abandoned and starving.  Grinder was found on the side of the road in Invermere, BC, weak and dehydrated.  Coola on the other hand, was orphaned when his mom was hit by a car near Bella Coola (hence his name), and he was the only one of his three siblings to survive.  Thanks to the Grouse Mountain Refuge for Wildlife, these endangered grizzlies (along with many other animals) have been nursed back to health and continue to be cared for by the rangers.  Plus they’re cute.  You can read all about the other animals they rescued and why here

I’m all about the happy endings 😉

IMG_0905

Oh, did I mention there was a Starbucks at the bottom of the Mountain.  Happy hippie. 

IMG_0906

I brought some treats home for the dogs too…because I simply could not pass up the opportunity to get pet food that contained kale and pumpkin (!!).  Crazy right?  Apparently if you have pets that are highly allergic, Kali Wags are "the” treats.  They have carrots, oats, pumpkin, wheat germ, apples, flax seed, oat bran and kale – sounds pretty good right?  I swear if they didn’t also have organic lean beef, liver, and whole eggs, they would be Elise treats, not doggie treats.

IMG_0907

It was a really fun day trip, so if anyone is in the area, be sure to check it out.

Anyways, we got a bit lost on our way home (again), and found ourselves in Stanley Park (shout to all the Vancouver peeps). 

IMG_0909

At least we got some good pics, though…Canada is very photogenic.

IMG_0915IMG_0916

By the time we got home I was starving, so I made myself dinner…starring the new Green Earth Baking’s Crazy Grains bread.  It’s sustainable, seedy, and utterly carb-a-licious, and thus wins me thrice over. 

IMG_0917

I made a falafel sando with half BBQ sauce, half hummus, and balls mashed between.

IMG_0918

And my latest obsesh, baby bell peppers, on the side.

IMG_0919

It was so friggin’ tasty, I had another one exactly identical to it right after!

IMG_0920

I even managed to capture my dessert on film too.  Pink Lady!

IMG_0736

The rest of the night went by in a flash, and before I knew it, I was yawning my eyes out…already bed time? 

I’m not one to fight it. 

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Comments (19)

  1. Sarah (GF vegan)

    I love Grouse mountain and the views are awesome!!! Great pictures. x

  2. Marina

    wow, that’s a lot of awesome pictures! Looks like heaven to me 🙂 Specially with those cute bears playing near 🙂

  3. MarathonVal

    SO great that you got to see those gorgeous views and the bears. I would have loved doing that trek! Or so I say….

  4. rebecca lustig

    omg the pictures of the bears are intense. and priceless– especially the one of th ebear swimming on his back. talk about living the life!

    seems like you had a wonderful trip<3

  5. Sarah

    oooooh I love Grouse Mountain, it’s where I met by boyfriend of 10 years!

  6. julie

    haha. i know about those shiny pink ladies sponsored by costco.

    if you bring me back one of those lumberjacks i’ll fill you in on a mini secret to make those costco sponsored mini bell peppers ridiculously tasty

    i soley consumed an entire bag of them myself in a matter of 2 nights. all you have to do is turn the grill on and put them on the grill. nothing addded, nothing at all, let them get brown and crispy oh my god they’re amazing with insane amounts of flavor. i promise you this they’re super addicting. try it! you’ll never go back

    …now where is my lumberjack..

  7. Jackie (Peaces of Earth)

    Those views are unbelievable! Awesome story of the bears and even cooler that you got to be so close to them!

  8. freckledfoodie

    Awesome hike! I love those baby bell peppers too! 🙂

  9. Bri

    Grouse Mountain is gorgeous.. I did the grouse grind last month – i was a hot mess at the end of it to say the least but the views from top make it worth it. Lumberjack competition… could that make us look anymore Canadian?! haha

  10. Graze With Me

    I love that your hummus is family sized. Shouldn’t they change the label to Hippie Sized? I need to get some falafel…

  11. Run Sarah

    Allen proposed on Grouse mountain! As I was reading I thought, I bet Elise hit up the Starbucks there – I was right!

  12. Heather (Perspective Is Everything)

    Just found your blog-very nice! Great pics 🙂
    Pink Lady apples are my absolute fave.

  13. Carbzilla

    One Thanksgiving we stayed at the ThistleDown House Bed & Breakfast just down the road from Grouse Mountain (in case your loyal readers would like a place to stay nearby). I have to say the Capilano Suspension bridge is also ridiculously fun.

    It’s so funny because North Van always seems like it’s West to me. I guess I get a little disoriented up there.

    Cutest story about the bears!

  14. Jenn (Jenn's Menu and Lifestyle Blog)

    Wow, those views are stunning! I totally would have had that pizza, LOL.

    Jenn

  15. Kati

    Apparently dogs are into pumpkin. I was buying some at WF once and the cashier asked me if I fed it to my dog…I guess you can do that? But actually I don’t have a dog, and I could eat pumpkin all day.
    Love your blog 🙂
    -Kati

  16. Courtney (Pancakes & Postcards)

    Wow, I had never even heard of this place before, and it is BEAUTIFUL! Would love to go someday. Great pics!

  17. Melissa

    that’s amazing, so beautiful!

  18. Lauren (Clean Eats in the Dirty South)

    the picture of stanley park made me smile! i was there exactly one year ago today… LOVE it!

  19. elise

    Cool!

Comments are closed.