Snowshoe Mount Hollyburn

Hiking on snowshoes on a winter trail: there is no better workout on a clear winter day. I have been snowshoeing long before it was ever popular. Back in Ottawa, I used to cross country ski and snowshoe on beautiful, rolling trails of Gatineau Park. The snowshoes back then were wide and almost comical looking. They had webbing and long tails and it felt like you were riding a horse as you traveled along, legs splayed out to accommodate the wide girth of the shoes.

Snowshoes today are light, sleek and easy to use. It is a joy to strap them on to my winter snowshoes and head out to adventure. One of my favorite trails for snowshoeing is Mount Hollyburn located in Cypress Nordic park. It has all the requirements of a great adventure: it is challenging (steep) and has great views on top.

Follow the sign for the trailhead next to the bus pick-up location in the Nordic ski area. As part of the BC park system, this trail is free. The hike is incredible and takes you past a coastal forest full of spruce, fir and cedar trees. The mountain will wind and bend and the trail is a steady climb, but is never “Grouse Grind-like”. Once you come up into the mountain side there is a big clearing where you will be able to enjoy a fabulous view of Vancouver; this is the boundary where the cross country ski trails end and the backcountry area begins. If you are lucky you can catch some backcountry skiers “telemarking” gracefully as they make their way down the mountain. But don’t stop there.

Now the trail becomes very steep and requires an effort and commitment to reach the top. I suggest you take small, steady steps, and don’t forget to “kick’ in” to engage your snowshoe cleats, as you make your way to the top. The view from the top of Mount Hollyburn is breathtaking, with a 360 panoramic view of the nearby mountains, the city and the Strait of Georgia.

And the best part is “glissade” or bum sliding your way down. Come join me on Feb 12 as I take a group of women with me on this wonderful adventure or go at it on your own with friends. It’s a blast. Email me at info@gaiaadventures.com if you have done this adventure before and let me know what you think about snowshoeing. Check out my website if you would like to know more about this adventure at www.gaiaadventures.com.