Monthly Archives: May 2016

Eagle Bluffs

May 31, 2016Non-Buntzen Lake Hikes, North Shoreadmin

This post is for Eagle Bluffs hike in Cypress Provincial Park in West Vancouver.
For the Eagle Bluff viewpoint at Buntzen Lake, please go HERE.

This is a very popular hike. Luckily, I did it on a weekday. On summer weekends, this place can be very busy. After seeing the photos below, you’ll see why ! The hike starts at the Cypress Mountain Lodge and follows the Black Mountain Trail for first bit (so follow signage for Black Mountain. You can add Black Mountain to your trip, but from what I hear, it’s not worth it. But do stop at Cabin Lake – it is a very serene little lake. After Cabin Lake continue on up the Baden Powell Trail. For some variety, you can choose to go to Donut Rock, which is shown on the map below – it offers decent, but slightly obstructed views. A little while after the Donut Rock sidetrail, you will make your descent towards Eagle Bluffs. Eagle Bluffs are a large rock area, with plenty of areas to sit and take in the amazing scenery. On your way, back, there is an alternate loops around a couple of lakes, which offer pleasant views. After the lakes loop, continue on the path you came up on and back to the lodge.

Here are the stats not including Donut Rock:

Distance: 9.2 km (return)
Time: 4 hours
Low point: 912 m
High point: 1213 m
Elevation gain: 301 m
Cumulative Elevation gain: 450 m
Trailhead: 49° 23’ 43” by 123° 12’ 9.3” (Google Map)

The route…

Photos from today (31 May 2016)…

Here’s a video from the Bluffs…

★★★★★★★★★★★

Before heading out on your hike, make sure you are well prepared. This means, having the TEN ESSENTIALS. It is also important to leave a trip plan (route details and estimated return time) with someone you trust.

Bring your smartphone, fully charged and put it in airplane mode while hiking. I always bring back-up battery packs for extra piece of mind. It is highly recommended that you bring a GPS device; I use my smartphone with a GPS app (Backcountry Navigator). The GPS will work in airplane mode. Learn how to use it before your hike.

For anyone new to hiking, there is a rule to which hikers follow; it is called “Leave No Trace” or LNT. The concept is generally to pack out what you pack in and respect nature, so all future visitors can enjoy what you have enjoyed.
To learn more about LNT, please check out this BLOG by a certified LNT Trainer.

★★★★★★★★★★★

Rolley Lake

May 25, 2016Fraser Valley & Beyond, Non-Buntzen Lake Hikesadmin

Rolley Lake Provincial Park is located in Northwest Mission. It includes an easy walking trail around the lake and also the Rolley Falls Trail (which is actually in Mission Municipal Forest). The Rolley Falls trail takes you to the scenic Rolley Falls waterfall and continues on a loop that descends and then comes back up. If you want a workout, do the full Rolley Lake and Rolley Falls Loop. For a nice walk, you can do the Rolley Lake loop and go to Rolley Falls and turnaround at that point.

Today’s stats for both lake and falls loops:

Distance: 4.8 km (return)
Time: 2 hours (with some breaks)
Low point: 117 m
High point: 258 m
Elevation gain: 141 m
Cumulative Elevation gain: 325 m
Trailhead: 49° 14’ 31” by 122° 23’ 22.5” (Google Map)

The route…

Photos from the hike…

★★★★★★★★★★★

Hollyburn Mountain

May 14, 2016Non-Buntzen Lake Hikes, North Shoreadmin

Hollyburn Mountain is located in Cypress Provincial Park, West Vancouver. When I went in May, there was still lots of snow up there (2-3 m in areas). I went up with spikes and poles, which helped immensely. Most people up there didn’t have either and were slipping and sliding. On your ascent make sure to look back once in a while to see the beautiful views of Vancouver. At the summit, there are more amazing views of Vancouver, Mt. Strachan, The Lions and more mountains to the north. Note, that due to the snow, there is a winter route and a summer route – the winter route is pretty much straight up, while the summer route does some meandering through the forest. for this hike, you should park in the Cypress Mountain Nordic Area (see coordinates and link below).

The Stats:

Distance: 7 km (return)
Time: 3.5 hours
Low point: 914 m
High point: 1323 m
Elevation gain: 409 m
Trailhead: 49° 22’ 46.5” by 123° 11’ 29” (Google Maps and Navigation)

The route…

The photos…

★★★★★★★★★★★

Squamish – Whistler – Pemberton Hikes

May 6, 2016Non-Buntzen Lake Hikes, Squamish - Whistler - Pembertonadmin

Here is where you’ll find all of my
Squamish – Whistler – Pemberton hikes. Enjoy…

Whyte Lake

May 6, 2016Non-Buntzen Lake Hikes, North Shoreadmin

The Whyte Lake trail is an easy hike that starts from near the Nelson Creek Bridge (Trans-Canada Highway) in West Vancouver. There is nice little parking lot just for this hike (see location below for parking and trailhead location). After passing under the bridge, you will pass a reservoir and start into the forest. The hike is mostly uphill all the way to the lake, which is only 2.5 km away. The trail follows the east side of the Nelson Creek Ravine; as you head north, the ravine gets noticeably smaller. The trail is well established and easy to follow. Today, I completed the hike in a loop (I choose a different way down), but most people will return the same way. With the loop I did, there is a little more elevation gain and the trail isn’t marked (but it is easy to follow assuming no snow on ground). There is a tree-obstructed view of Howe Sound from a small branch off the loop trail.

Here are the stats for the loop/or return on same trail route:

Distance: 6.2 km (loop) / 5.0 km (same trail)
Time: 2 hours (lots of breaks)
Low point: 96 m
High point: 343 m
Elevation gain: 247 m
Calories burned: 600
Trailhead: 49° 21’ 38.7” by 123° 15’ 31.4” (Google Map)

The route…

The photos…