May 13, 2023 - North Vancouver between Grouse & Seymour Mountains
Stats: 21 km / 1350m gain / 1160m high / 3:30 hours MT to summit of which the first hour was on a gently graded paved bicycle path. 1080m of the elevation gain was in the 4.40 km climb to the summit.
This hike was a first for all of us, a new one in the Destination Hikes book. It was a grunt on a long hot day, but the views on the summit were well worth it.
We decided to take the shorter route to the Hydraulic Creek trail so that we could get the steep climbing done before the hottest part of the day. So we did the long narrow loop clock-wise, starting at 8:15am on the Seymour Valley Trailway from the Rice Lake parking lot. This is a broad paved bicycle lane. I'm not sure why Stephen Hui, author of the Destination Hikes book, says that the Homestead trail part of the loop is "bike-free". The whole long narrow loop could've been cycled, which would've cut down our 7.5-hour hike by 1.5 hours.
After an hour easy walking on the Seymour Valley trail, we turned left just past the Hydraulic Creek bridge and across from 2 concrete picnic tables by the Hydraulic connector trail. There were no markers till we got a little farther into the forest. I wonder why that bucket was nailed so high up in the tree.
In the shade of the forest and with the ocean nearby, temperatures stayed doable. We soon left this creek and continued the relentlessly steep climb.
Some amazing old growth firs and cedars, had us looking up up up in awe.
Brigitte proclaimed, she was in her happy place. I think she could speak for all five of us.
The first pic shows a dead tree with the biggest ax cut I've ever seen. Brigitte called it a mouth.
There were two big logs that we had to maneuver our bodies over. This log was on an uphill angle. Most of them had small footholds chiseled into them.
Nailed to a tree was a little sign that read: "Does the road wind up hill all the way? Yes to the very end. Will the day's journey take the whole long day? From morn to night, my friend. Christina Rosetti (1830-94), up-hill".
Pic 2) This gnarly Western Red Cedar was joined at the base, but split into two about halfway up.
After the three-way junction on the ridge where we turned right, the trail became pretty faint in sections. The snow patches started at around 1000m altitude.
This was our "WOW!" moment, the views opening up near the final scramble to the summit.
A sketchy part on top of a cliff that dropped vertically to the Lynn Creek Valley side.
Almost there...
Made it! This is the first of three peaks that are not that far apart.
north
Mt. Elsay, Runner Peak & Mt. Seymour - east.
The Seymour River valley, Vancouver with its skyscrapers and the Salish Sea -- southeast.
Seymour River Valley, Lynn Peak knolls, Burrard Inlet & Lynn Creek Valley from the summit.
Dam, Goat & Crown Mts -- west. To the left you can just barely make out the windmill on Grouse Mt.
Group shot: me, Stelian Anton (newbie), Owen W, Brigitte G + Sonia J.
Sonia spoiled us with some treats she brought along in celebration of Mother's Day. Thanks so much Sonia! No, us ladies didn't down all of it. Just a few sips.
Careful steps. Some of us put our microspikes on.
Sonia's legs weren't quite long enough. She got stuck, straddling the log.
A bit of a squeeze to get underneath this log. It did feel good to have a moment to lay down, even if it was in the dirt.
Nearing the end of the trail the slope levelled off.
Once back at the Seymour Valley Trailway lane, we crossed over to the 5.1 km long Fisherman's trail by way of the short Hydraulic connector trail.
Owen refilled his water bottle. I had taken 3 litres along for the day and drank all of it. The walk back was nice and cool, following along-side the Seymour River.
The second photo of Owen was taken close to the summit. He asked if I would take his picture. And then added, "Before I die".
Boy my ice-cold beer went down well. Thanks Stelian for marking the trail with pink flagging tape and even doing some trail clearing.
Sore feet but smiles. Another successful exploratory expedition accomplished!
The turquise line was our route to the summit. I'm not sure why my GPS stopped recording after that.
The grey route was the way we hiked back.
Errors in book: 1) Take the 22B exit just north of the Ironworkers bridge on Hwy 1, not 23B.
2) The trail, with the exception of the climb to the summit and back, is not bike-free. If I did this hike again, I'd definetly take my bike next time and avoid the long almost-flat loop.
3) The book says from the parking lot to "fork left for the Homestead Trail". Not so, it's right of the Seymour Valley Trailway.
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