BCMC Trail and Snowshoe Grind to Damn Mtn

         Photo: view looking south at the summit of Damn Mountain with Krissy, Matt, and Jess on top 

I like to sleep in on the weekends lately... so, I've kept the adventure close to home and yesterday was no different. Kristina, Matt, Jess, and I needed to get our fix and I'm perpetually concerned about getting more fit in a different way so we worked the climbing legs a little.

Photo: me carrying skis near marker #120 on BCMC trail

Now, typically the Grouse Grind is closed and I have my voracious opionions about closing a mountain trail but, that is for another day in another post however, the BCMC trail is fully open and user freindly. For a scenic frolic up a mountain where you can lay the smack down on nearly 3000 feet of elevation gain in less than 1/2 hour drive from my doorstep - this is the ticket. 

In typical soft-core, recreational (yes, I am an elitist) fashion, Grouse Mountain has created the "Snow Shoe Grind" to replace the Grouse Grind aka Lululemon Parade. The trail begins from the plateau and winds a path toward the summit of Damn Mountain - a fairly beautiful, getting to be more remote area of the North Shore (if you go back a little further to Haines Valley, you feel remote). The trail is another recreationalist gong show complete with people completely out of their element in rental snow shoes and leather boots from Gravity Pope on 4th Ave. 

In order to get a descent workout in, we link the BCMC trail into the Snow Shoe Grind to the summit of Damn Mountain for a total distance of 8.5km and 3630 feet elevation gain. A nice "quick hit" close to home. I'm keen to ski a little so I carry my boots and skis on my back up the BCMC while the others carry their snowshoes. 

Krissy

Krissy and Jess

Matty

On a side not, friends don't let friends snow shoe but, in this instance of gong showery, I let my guard down and ignore this eye sore. Anyways, I'm about to be bombarded by a hundred unprepared snow shoers with their snowshoes 1/2 buckled and dangling wearily off their Columbia hikers, with blue jeans and leather backpacks that double as "man-purses" in the city.
It was a beautiful day of sunshine and fun with great friends. I always find extra solace in the fact that I'm so close to home and feel a connection with the North Shore mountains that feels like I'm always home.  

Photo: view of the Lions from Damn Mountain in evening light.