Hiking

Photos from up in the mountains. Most of these are within Vancouver’s nearby north shore mountains, but a few come from further afield.

Orange-tinged boulder field in front of steep rocky cliffs with a chairlift running diagonally out of frame along the ridge, blue jagged mountains with evident ski trail cuts through the forest behind. — Whistler peak in the summer shows the questionable terrain that snow usually covers

Mountain vista showing layers and layers of different ranges all the way to the horizon — Crown mountain, southeast view

Small stacked rocks on boulders in the fog — Summit cairn on the aptly-named Unnecessary Mountain

Coliseum Mountain lookout, Cathedral Mountain and one of the Cornett lakes behind

Dirty hand grabbing a chain hanging down from a root-covered rocky cliff face — Only one way up (or down)

Tree-covered islands jutting out of the ocean as seen between nearby framing trees — Howe Sound from the Binkert Trail

Fog obscures anything beyond a few thin deciduous green-leafed trees — Tree varieties can say a lot about elevation, deciduous forest is more common at the start of a hike than near the top.

Solitary figure sitting on a rock outcropping overlooking the city of Vancouver far below — Looking down on Vancouver from Crown Mountain

Looking down a spillway draining into a tree-lined river canyon from the top of the dam — Overlooking the Capilano Dam, a required crossing on the middle stretch of the Baden Powell trail

Snow-lined crystal clear blue pond surrounded by rocks at the top of a mountain — Mid-summer ice on a Coliseum tarn

Gravel paths leading to a chairlift base that runs up jagged rocky cliffs behind on a gorgeous sunny day — Whistler peak chair is even more intimidating in the summer

Self-portrait in sunglasses while seated on a chairlift that runs down the mountain behind — No lift was hitched, the Skychair on Cypress was in between seasons

Profile view of the East Lion, as seen from the West Lion ascent

Trees in the foreground open to reveal a mixed view of hills and forests and cityscape below with a jagged snow-covered peak in the far distance — Mt Baker in Washington state is visible from most parts of Vancouver on a clear day, this was a particularly crisp view of it from Mt Strachan

Dirt and rock trail winding through cedars in the fog — Punching above the fog by the top can be a gamble

Grass-covered sloping hill runs diagonally out of frame top left to bottom right, jagged blue mountain peaks in the distance — Alpine trails in the summer, Whistler BC

Solitary figure atop a sheer cliff face on the left side of the frame with nothing but clouds filling the rest of the view — The West Lion lookout ridge

Very blue ocean, shoreline, islands and roads seen from above. — View from the confusingly-named Tunnel Bluffs, Lions Bay BC

Looking up a fairly sheer cliff face with a blue rope running down the length of it — Luckily, this rope was brand new and very well secured so I was able to trust it. They aren’t all like that.

Blurred rocks in the extreme foreground, mountain ridge and cloud below — The view while descending the West Lion. Hold tight.

Sweeping mountaintop vista from high up overlooking ocean, trees, snow, lakes, and other mountains below — The mighty panorama from 1788m up, atop the Brunswick Mountain peak behind Lions Bay BC, 2021

Three-blade wind turbine jutting out of the trees, seen to the right of a snow-covered trail — The Grouse Mountain turbine that never spins

A few tiny figures on a grassy bluff top right overlooking layered strata descending down into a valley far below under a cloudy sky — The Badlands of Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta

Rock formation and some trees in the foreground bottom, but most of the image is the urban environvment far below with street grids, trees, skyscrapers, ocean, and mountains in the far distance given a blue tint from atmospheric fade — The cityscape below from Crown West, aka Beauty Peak. Possibly the most distinctive peak visible from the city.

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