Grouse Grind the 2026 Edition

The start of the Grouse Grind

The Grouse Grind is considered a very Vancouver thing to do, and with relatives visiting, we did the trek this morning in overcast conditions which was perfect temperature-wise.

As we drove up Capilano Road, we saw people running with race bibs up towards Grouse Mountain and supporters ringing cow bells. The racers went to the BCMC Trail, while the rest of us went on the Grouse Grind. I can't imagine running uphill and then racing up the mountain too!

It really is "Mother Nature's Stairmaster"

We started just after 9:40am and there were already several people lingering at the start waiting for others, or commencing the hike. 

It's a 2.5km hike up the face of Grouse Mountain, and the Grind is nicknamed "Mother Nature's Stairmaster". And you'll realise it soon enough.

The path is practically a natural staircase that winds around, over giant tree roots, rocks and some wooden staircases, thanks to Don McPherson and Phil Severy, who built the path in the early 1980s.

It's now maintained by outside workers of Metro Vancouver, though they are currently on strike, demanding improved health and safety protection, and retention of workers.

The first section of the grind is tough -- it's a shock to your system having to climb up so many stairs in a relatively narrow path and keeping steady breathing is the key, as well as hydrating and taking breaks.

Lots of heavy breathing from everyone hiking

The hike is divided into 40 sections, and periodically there will be posts marking how far you've gone.

For example at around the 10/40 sign indicates you've completed one-quarter of the hike. And there's a sign celebrating your achievement, but with a warning.

"Congratulations! You've made it to the 1/4 mark," it reads.

"That was the easy section. Now comes the hard part. The trail gets steeper and narrower from here.

"So, do an honest check in: feeling tired already? Used up all your water? Light-headed or dizzy?

"This is the best place to turn around. Beyond this point, downhill travel is not allowed."

Beautiful views along the way

Before we reached this point, we saw several people making their way down. They were obviously frightened by the sign and gave up. It's a decent enough warning as it's good to have a lot of water and snacks to stay hydrated and have enough energy to make it up to the top.

I just tried to keep going, even if it was slow, and take breaks to catch my breath and drink some water. Many people passed me along the way, some were seasoned hikers, going up with a small bottle of water, or even none at all! One man who passed us was already on his second trip up the Grind!

There are "Grinders" who do this hike once a week or more, and like to boast their times. The record is 25 minutes! Most people finish in about an hour and a half to two hours.

Last stretch is a scramble up rocks

At around the one hour mark, I overheard one young man tell his friend that he forgot to pay for parking! I tried to help him by opening my parking app to get the code number of the parking lot, but I hardly had an internet connection.

Eventually I passed the 1/2 way mark, and then it was such a relief to see the 3/4 mark to know the end was near. We could hear the hum of the electricity of the gondolas nearby going up and down, and in the distance the clearing in the trees. 

But it would be a ways before finishing, as the path veered to the right, and then finally swung back to the left. I had to use the hand railings made from tree branches, or wooden posts to help me up.

The last part was literally a scramble up some rocks before finally making it to the top of the mountain. What an ordeal but also what a workout! Completed at around 1:39.

We had a quick snack, drinks and washroom break before getting a lift ticket to go down. And it's quite the sight looking down and realising how far you've hiked up.

Gondolas taking passengers down the mountain

It took us around 38 minutes to drive to Grouse, but double that to get home thanks to single-lane traffic on the Lions Gate Bridge and traffic jams downtown.

When we got home, we took a shower and then had to lie horizontal for a while...

WhyteCliff Park a Gem in Howe Sound

Whytecliff Park is a gem of a place... if you're in West Van

Yesterday after a lunch of Vietnamese food to refuel from climbing up the Grouse Grind, we headed further west to Whytecliff Park, a small inlet in Howe Sound that has a beach (a rocky one, not sandy), where people sunbathe, go into the water and snorkel, or check out some sea lions frolicking in the water.

The park opened in 1909 and is apparently home to more than 200 marine animal species. Whytecliff Park is also one of the first Marine Protected Areas in Canada.

The water is relatively clear with marine life

We wandered along the shoreline, and on the east side it juts out to an island that can be accessed during low tide. We happened to be there during low tide and one of the tide pools had two giant purple starfish! 

Then we clambered onto the island and admired the panoramic views of Howe Sound, and could see Gibsons across the water (a 20-minute ferry ride away) on the Sunshine Coast. We managed to spot a sea lion poking his head above the water, and a heron standing on a rock.

The children we were with hand fun looking for tiny crabs that were hidden under barnacle-covered rocks; the crabs would flee to anywhere moist otherwise they would bake in the sun. One even found a live crab far from the shoreline and carefully brought it to the water in the hopes that it would be OK.

What a lovely place to visit! As my cousin who took us here said, one needs to take advantage of beautiful places like this (aside from paying for parking), as Vancouver is so expensive to live in!

Two purple starfish were spotted in a tide pool

It's also quite far -- about an hour away by car, but definitely a memorable visit on a gorgeous sunny day.

Hiking Up the Grouse Grind

The morning light on the Grouse Grind

After many many years, we did the Grouse Grind again. One can't consider themselves a Vancouverite if they haven't done the Grouse Grind. Some people do this monthly, weekly and even daily! I can't imagine doing it so often!

My young nephews had done it recently so it was something I wanted to try again, just not on my own!

Endless wooden stairs along the 2.9km trail

We went very early this morning, arriving just after 8am and started around 8.22am. We wanted to avoid the heat and it was good that not many people were there either. However, soon after we started, I found the trail tough, as I was not used to going up so many stairs, and huffed and puffed my way up. 

The 2.9km trail is divided into 40 sections, and every quarter of the way there was an AED, or automated external defibrillator kit attached to a tree in case someone needed it! We took breaks along the way, and at the halfway point I ate a power bar and immediately felt better -- I needed that extra energy and water. I drank a lot of water!

I wasn't the only person struggling, others were too, and some were regulars who had the Grouse Grind pass around their necks. They were impressed the kids were going up so fast and hardly breaking a sweat!

My face was so red -- but I told my relatives that it also gets red after a 5K run -- so this was normal. Boy was I so relieved when I saw the clearing towards the top and the sound of the gondola meant I was near the end! I rounded up the rear and not including all the breaks, made it in 1 hour and 40 minutes.

Stunning views of Vancouver below

Thankfully there was a water station up at the top as well as washrooms, and you could buy snacks to refuel. 

Since we were up there we did a quick walk around and saw the Grizzly Bear habitat. We saw one bear, around 24 years old, who has lived up there for over 20 years. I had no idea Grouse Mountain had this area for two Grizzlies. The one we saw was cooling off in the small pond, humans staring at him in his enclosure protected with an electric fence. The bear was neutered to keep his testosterone in check.

There's also a lumberjack demonstration, where they throw axes, climb up a tall tree pole, and walk on logs in the water, but we were too early for the first show.

As we walked back a girl flew over us on a zipline which looked exciting and terrifying at the same time!

A Grizzly cooling off in the water

We took the Blue Grouse Gondola down, which costs $20 for adults, $10 for children. That was fun in itself, and much faster than the old school gondola which is still running on another track!

Don't think I'll be doing the Grouse Grind anytime soon, but now I understand why so many people do the Stairmaster machine at the gym!

Hardcore Whistler Race

Lost Lake was so scenic and peaceful as we watched the racers

I was in Whistler this past weekend to help my cousin with his race, specifically called Otillo Race where competitors have to run along a trail, swim across a lake and repeat until they reached the finish, wearing their wet suit, runners, googles and paddles throughout the entire course.

For the race at Whistler, there were three different categories: 

Whistler Experience is a total of 6.437km, with 1.45km swim and 4.989km run;

Whistler Sprint is a total of 17.059km, with 3.38km swim and 13.679km run;

Whistler World Series is a total of 38.302km, with 5.139km swim and 33.153km run.

Two competitors at the finish in gear

My cousin, attempting this for the first time chose the Whistler World Series and while he has been training in running, he didn't do much training specifically for this race because he was busy with work and looking after two boys.

He attempted swimming with his wet suit in open-water swimming in Vancouver, and tried running with his wet suit on to get used to the conditions. He said wearing light runners with holes made it easier to run.

Last night he tried to do a bit of carbo loading, eating some extra pizza slices.

This morning he started the race at 6am and very chilly -- jumping into the lake immediately woke him up.

A former Olympic swimmer, he was able to power through the swims, though in the trail runs he walked sections of it because he was tired. Nevertheless he seemed to do well time-wise.

We managed to catch him two-thirds of the way at Lost Lake Park. We saw him swim across the lake towards us and then get out of the water, have a quick water break and then continue on his race by foot.

By the end he managed to finish in under six hours, and placed ninth out of 17. The youngest competitor in this division was 21, the oldest 62.

Two competitors emerging from Lost Lake

Some competitors were tethered together, either two men or two women, or one man, and one woman; they have to do everything together tied together, while others, like my cousin, did it solo.

There were two men in their early 40s from Hong Kong who finished last in over seven hours, while the winner completed the course in just over four hours... 

My cousin also trained by running to Grouse Mountain and doing the Grouse Grind! 

Needless to say I think he's definitely caught the bug to do more ultra races. He says in marathons you are competing against everyone else on a paved surface, whereas ultra races are about completing the race, than the time.

He also said the trail was scenic. His first two swims were beautiful on the lake, with the early morning mist rising over the water before dissipating into the atmosphere...

Watery Weather Woes

The continuous downpour in Vancouver has been depressing

Since the massive snowfall ended last week, Vancouver has been soaking wet. It was great to have the rain help melt the snow away quickly, but now the endless rain is pretty depressing.

And this weekend Environment Canada has warned that heavy rainfall could cause flooding in parts of Vancouver Island, the Sunshine Coast and Metro Vancouver.

The heaviest rainfall is expected between Sunday night and Monday.

Lots of snow paralysed parts of the city

Not only that, but warmer temperatures mean freezing levels will be higher. What would freeze at 2,000 metres, will now freeze at between 2,500 to 3,000 metres.

That means rain and now snow on local mountains. It was so bad that Mount Seymour had to close today (Saturday) because of weather, while on Grouse Mountain, lessons after 1pm were cancelled. Cypress Mountain was the only one fully open.

This year's ski season has been a washout. Literally.

On a bright note, yesterday I managed to get a walk in the forest without a drop of precipitation. However, about two hours later as forecasted, it began to rain and it has not let up since.

What a January! Freezing temperatures, massive snowfall and now a deluge of rain...

Cold is Relative

Hongkongers are experiencing cold weather today

Hong Kong logged its coldest temperature this winter at a chilly 9.8 degrees Celsius today and people on social media were complaining about the cold, and having to bundle up.

Tai Mo Shan, the city's tallest mountain at 957 metres, logged 0.3 degrees -- might as well say it was zero. Back in January 2016, temperatures plunged to be low zero on the peak, and if you remember, people got stuck up there, unfamiliar with the icy conditions and firefighters had to go and rescue them. Why did people go up there? To see frost...

Cypress Mountain barely has enough snow

Meanwhile, across the Pacific Ocean, Vancouver is experiencing its third-warmest winter on record at 9 degrees. We are definitely not going to have a white Christmas compared to last year when we were inundated with snow starting in late November.

It was so bad for skiers yesterday that Mount Seymour closed early yesterday afternoon because of the lack of snow, and Cypress and Grouse each only have one downhill run open...