Snow Shoeing in Vancouver in May!

Neil taking our photo at the top - Craig capturing it all!


At the top of Black Mountain


On our way to the Bluffs


Going up Black Mountain - myself, Marla and Liza.


Dave and Craig going up Black Mountain.


Craig going up!


Marla, myself and Liza at the top of Black Mountain


The Baden Powell markers on the trees. Easy to miss them!


Craig trying out his new camera!


The Destination - the Bluffs! Much deserved lunch break. Awesome views!

In preparation for Vancouver 100 we decided to check out the section of trail that we knew would still be covered in snow. Neil, Marla and I met Craig, Dave, Liza at Cypress Bowl. We brought our Snow shoes, Yak Traks/Kahtoolas, gaiters, poles, and an extra layer of clothing. Once on the mountain it was obvious that we were wearing our snow shoes. Our destination was the Bluffs on Black Mountain that over look Horseshoe Bay. We found the Baden Powell trail and went straight up the mountain. The snow was really deep - so deep the orange triangle markers that mark the Baden Powell trail were under snow. Fortunately for most of the trek up Black Mountain others had been there and we could follow the tracks. The views were spectacular from the top of Black Mountain with all the other snow covered peaks. We have only been here in the summer so it really was fascinating to see it in the snow. Once we left the top of Black Mtn and carried on to the bluffs the trail was not so easy to find. Dave led the way and with all our eyes in search of markers, tape and signs of human tracks we found our way. The weather was threatening to turn nasty but we only experienced the odd rain shower. Our feet were cold at times from being so wet but I found that every time they started to go numb I would pick up the pace and they would warm up again. It was a beautiful journey and I had to keep reminding myself that it was the middle of May. Remember the lack of snow here for the Olympics? Grouse Mountain announced they are staying open for weekend skiing until Canada Day - July 1st. Looks like we will have plenty more outings with our snow shoes over the next few months. I need some work on my down hill technique. ;-) I tend to lean back and fall on my butt and go for the slide down the mountain technique. We were out playing in the snow for 4 hours. Next outing we will check out more snowy sections of the route.

The Baden Powell is WET!

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Size 13 and Size 6


The crab technique to get over the water.


The dam at Mosquito Creek


Me, Marla, Liza and Craig

This week the email plans were to go from Cleveland Dam on the Baden Powell into the Cypress area to see the snow higher up on the Baden Powell trail. Neil, Craig, Marla, Dave (absent today) and I plan to sign up for the Vancouver 100km which takes place early June. Craig is actually the race director and rumour is that he needs to sign up too! The wet weather changed our plans to run with our Yak Tracks/Katoolas in the snow. It was raining and cold at the base of the mountain. Common sense prevailed and we decided that going too high up was not a good idea today! Neil, Marla and I met Craig and Liza at Cleveland Dam. We headed up the road to Grouse and continued on the Baden Powell in an easterly direction for 3 hours and then turned around. It had been a wet and cold morning on the trail but thankfully the sun came out briefly for our return trip. There was so much water on the trail. I have never seen it so wet. Craig showed us the dam on Mosquito Creek - the water was shear torrent here. We were out for 6hrs 15min today - great training run.

Deep Cove to Lynn Canyon Return

Marla and I on the Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge - we don't really like it!


The view off the Bridge.


Marla and I coming up the Seymour Grind.

Saturday we had a good long run on the Baden Powell trail. We started at Deep Cove and turned around at Lynn Canyon. Trail companions were Dave, Marla, Neil and at the last minute Wendy was able to join us. I was a bit tired as we stayed up late watching the Royal Wedding that we had recorded the night before. We turned it off at 1am and still have more to watch! The temperatures were cool to start but the climbing out of Deep Cove quickly brought on the heat. Dave lead us out of Lynn Canyon and we were soon on the Dirty Duo route. I had no idea how that happened (not that familiar with the network of trails in this area) but it worked out nicely and we joined back onto the Baden Powell. We came upon the aid station set up that day for the North Shore Enduro which generously supplied us with some much needed Kokanee! Now that's a good aid station! We had some good laughs along the route. What happens on the trails...stays on the trails!;-) After the run we went for some well deserved sustenance at the Raven Pub in Deep Cove. We were a bit tight for time as we had a party to attend back in Maple Ridge but it all worked out. This morning we had an hour run at Hayward Lake then I went in to work and Neil cut the grass. Funny thing...as we were driving down the road for our run first thing, the neighbourhood watch dog asked Neil - "did you sell your lawn tractor"! Sign of an ultrarunner spending too much time on the trails rather than cutting the grass ;-)

Grouse to Mountain Highway

On the Baden Powell between Grouse and Mountain Highway.

Today Neil and I decided to go back to the Baden Powell trail and run from Grouse to Mountain Highway. We parked the car at Grouse Mountain. It is a great work out with lots of climbing out of Grouse! Once we arrived at Mountain Highway we were both not motivated to do the return trip. Maybe we could get a ride back to Grouse? We phoned Craig who lives at the base of Mountain Highway - he picks up but darn he is in Steveston. We decide to run up Mtn Highway for a bit and then descend to the Starbucks at the bottom of the hill. Once there we asked the Barista to call us a taxi to take us back to the car at Grouse. 3 hours today = 15 hours for the weekend so far. And, I rode the stationary bike for 40 minutes tonight during the hockey game - the stress was getting to me! The Canucks lost 4-3 in overtime - game 7 Tuesday night in Vancouver. Plan to get out locally tomorrow for a couple of hours and then it will be rest day!

West from Grouse on the Baden Powell

Myself with Craig and Liza on the Baden Powell.


Lots of Deep Snow!


Working through the snow.


Craig and I on the Skyline trail.

Today Neil and I met Liza and Craig at Grouse Mountain to do a run on the Baden Powell. We decided to go West on the Baden Powell. This meant running down the hill to the Cleveland Dam - why didn't we park down there I asked? The climb out of Cleveland Dam on the BP is a good warm-up! It is up up up! We then went right on the Brothers Creek trail and ran into plenty of snow. The snow was perfect today for running on - not too icy - just the occasional post hole. We stayed on the snow for about 45 minutes and then decided to turn back. We took the Crossover trail to the Baden Powell, down the BP to Skyline trail which we then headed west to Cypress. We stopped for a bite to eat in the warm sunshine at the view point. Retraced our steps to the Baden Powell back to Cleveland and up the road to Grouse. I know now why we met at Grouse so we could do the nasty road up to Grouse when we were tired! Tired we were after yesterday's bagging and 5.5 hours today. Planning to get out again tomorrow for a few hours - wow I love these 4 day weekends. We knew we had to kick the training up and made minimal commitments for the weekend so we could do that. We have Vancouver 100km and West Highland Way 95 miles in June in our sights.

The First Bags in the 2011 Bagger Challenge!

Neil -running in Las Vegas.


The Ferry Ride to Bowen Island - Mt. Gardner in the background.


On the Ferry with my bike.


Running on the road on Bowen Island, looking for the trail for Mt. Collins


Honeymoon Lake - the watershed.


Bushwacking to Mt. Collins.


The sign at the start of the Mt. Gardner Trail


Going Up Mt. Gardner.


Neil and I at the Top!

Great views of Vancouver's coast line.


Another Great View.


Running Down Mt. Gardner.


Heading back on the ferry - 2 Bags Done!

Last weekend we had a quick trip to Las Vegas to participate in our niece's and husband to be - bachelor and bachelorette party! It was an action packed weekend with the bridal party and family - lots of good fun (and shopping). The girls had a visit to the spa at Caesars Palace and my new claim to fame is the lady who did my pedicure also does Celine Dion's! Neil and I did manage a quick 40 minute run on the Saturday morning dodging the crowds.
This weekend we both have 4 days off for Easter weekend and plan to catch up on some training! Today we did our first bags in the 2011 Bagger Challenge. We took our bikes to Bowen Island and bagged Mt. Collins and Mt. Gardner. It felt great to be out there and back bagging. Nothing like a big climb to get us moving again. Wow - I forgot how steep Mt. Gardner is - it's a great work out! Mt. Collin's was a bit of an ethical dilemma for us - ignoring the signs to stay out of the water shed area. Looking forward to tomorrow's training adventure. Weather forecast is good!

Our Trail Companions are Back!!

This weekend we discovered Bear tracks and scat in our garden. They are back! We usually don't notice them until a little later in the summer. Last year when we were away for the West Highland Way a bear made itself comfortable on our front porch - just wanted to keep Craig company who was Kitty and house sitting. Today we were running at Hayward Lake and came across Cougar prints and fresh Cougar scat. A good reminder that we are not alone out there on the trails. Spring is here and so are our trail companions! The wasps will be next. ;-) Saturday Neil had a good run at the Diez Vista 50km Trail Race. My knee was still a bit tender last weekend for the registration deadline. It was feeling better on race day and I was a little disappointed I wasn't out there. After seeing Neil off at the start I joined Marilyn and Ron for coffee. Ron has accepted a teaching job in Saskatoon so we had lots to chat about over coffee. Neil and I lived there for 4 years when he was studying for his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine - so the chat brought back many memories (cold winters, static electric shocks, extension cords on cars, bugs in the summer, thunder & lightning, tornadoes, hail storms, lots of indoor exercise, great people!) I managed to fit in a run while waiting for Neil to finish and I did 3 repeats of a hill to test the knee - it felt fine. I made it to the finish line just in time to see the first runner come in.