Anyone do the Grouse Grind yet? (North Vancouver)

[utalking2me]

First time up this year. GG opened up a couple of weeks ago.

Did terrible as usual. 1 hr 30 min.
At least, I can only improve on it next time.

[ledorky]

First time up this year. GG opened up a couple of weeks ago.

Did terrible as usual. 1 hr 30 min.
At least, I can only improve on it next time.

LOL. A friend and I went up about a month ago (said closed but the gate was open and a whole bunch of other hikers were going up so we thought, WTH).
Since there was still snow about 80% of the way up, took us longer than usual.
I think we finished around 1hr20. Parts of the trail were totally obscured and we had to proceed with extreme caution.
Since I don't want to end up in the papers a a future idiot who went up when it clearly said closed, I don't think I'm gonna do that again .

[Vancouver 1.7EL]

I've already gone up twice. There was still snow on the trail after the 3/4 mark on opening weekend. Last week, most of it was gone, until you reach the very top. With the trickling water from the melting snow, you still have to be careful.

[hoiwai]

I went for the first time this weekend. 2 hours! But I finished even with a leg cramp!

[cheeseshredder]

Going to bump this because I'll be doing this for the first time soon.

When going down, are there alternate trails that are safe to hike because I don't want to take the ride down, or wreck my knees going down the original trail.

[ElChico]

Ahhh, I did this when I was in Vancouver a few years back...My time was about 2 hours, starting at a jog was a mistake.

[joeschmo]

Man it was brutal, but im gonna do it again next week with my buds and try to beat my time of 1:14. Conditions were fine but remember to bring lots of water, saw plenty of dehyrated hikers.

[John1]

I just came back from a 3 week Vancouver vacation. I love the Grind. I think I would be in great shape if I lived there instead of Toronto. I managed
to make it up 5 times over the 3 weeks, and my time improved by 7 minutes, even though I was equally exhausted each time.

My preference is to load up with water before I start so I have my hands free. Weekdays are also much better because there are less people in the way (accelerating to pass is really tough on my legs). btw, I love the families in slippers who seem to not realize what they got themselves into.

edit: the gondola ride is $5 to go down. I think it's worth it as it's too easy to roll an ankle descending the grind.

[cheeseshredder]

I went awhile back, I was the idiot who tried to see if something was a fungus or not.

[John1]

I went awhile back, I was the idiot who tried to see if something was a fungus or not.

Magic mushrooms?

[cheeseshredder]

Magic mushrooms?

There was some weird mold type thing (size of a melon) near a tree, was curious, so my friends and I tried to get a closer look.

[sfu_lifer]

Going to bump this because I'll be doing this for the first time soon.

When going down, are there alternate trails that are safe to hike because I don't want to take the ride down, or wreck my knees going down the original trail.

You should not go down the trails. I was told by some folks who upkeep the trail it leads to major erosion (plus it's not exactly wide so you'll get some pissed off folks going uphill on your way down). Pay the $5 and relax .
I'll go next weekend. I haven't taken my annual trek up. Great exercise, that's for sure.

[cheeseshredder]

You should not go down the trails. I was told by some folks who upkeep the trail it leads to major erosion (plus it's not exactly wide so you'll get some pissed off folks going uphill on your way down). Pay the $5 and relax .
I'll go next weekend. I haven't taken my annual trek up. Great exercise, that's for sure.

There are alternate trails though, and I'm assuming those are easier to go down.

[sfu_lifer]

There are alternate trails though, and I'm assuming those are easier to go down.

Just make sure it's well marked.
We've had too many incidents of folks going down the wrong path and not being found for days.

[bokchoy]

I've gone 4 times this year so far, the trail seems to look different every time I go up. I usually do it 6-7 times a year

Don't bother going back down afterwards, just take the $5 gondola ride down. You'll be packed in with some sweaty stinky people but it's easier on the knees

Also it can be quite cold up top. bring a jacket when you reach there. and use some mosquito spray. they get quite annoying halway up.

When you reach the 1/4 mark it will feel like you will never make it, but it's measured by elevation so the rest of the way will go much quicker.