Skiing Rules from Canada writes:
Grouse Mountain is an excellent place to go for a memorable day of skiing. You will start on a road called Nancy Greene Way, there will be multiple parking lots but usually, unless you are there early, Lot D is the best because it isn’t as crowded and it is free, unlike the others. After you are parked haul all of your stuff up to the Skyride. The line is usually about 15min long but it’s not that bad, unless you aren’t used to ski boots in which case those 15 minutes will be torture. But it’s all worth it when you are going up to the top and see the magnificent views of Vancouver. At the top, walk down the stairs. If you need to use the washroom, or if you haven’t yet done your boots up, put your skis in the racks and make the slippery walk into the Chalet. The Chalet is also the place to go if you need to get warm after skiing. When you get out of the Chalet grab your skis but don’t put them on just yet. I suggest, as the first run of the day, “the Cut”. From the gear rack go right up a small hill and then put your skis on. Continue down the trail. If you go off the trail near the beginning it takes you to the “Paper Trail” which is a fairly easy blue run that goes into the trees and has a lot of small jumps off to the sides but is not a terrain park. If you continue down the trail it will feed into the Cut. This is the second easiest run, next to “Paradise”, on the mountain but even me, as a pro, can enjoy it. There is lots of terrain to choose from. If you want a terrain park the cut jump line is for the pros and the “Side cut” and “Lower Side Cut” are for all abilities. But don’t be fooled, the side cut does have some very large jumps for those who are up to it. All of that terrain, the “Paper trail”, “the cut” and the “side cut”, goes into the Screaming Eagle High-speed Quad chair. If you get bored of that then go to the other side of the mountain for other runs. “Expo” is always a good run. It is probably the next easiest run after “the Cut” but it is still a fairly steep run. “Centennial” which is like skiing through moguls for giants is probably one of my favorites. There is a really good ungroomed run that I think should be classified as a black called “Blue Face”(yes, that is the actual name of the run). I don’t suggest it for people who are in the early stages of skiing/riding but for more advanced people I defiantly recommend it. The entrance is on “Expo” but there is an upper entrance and a lower entrance so be careful. There are also lots of black runs, these include “Blazes” “Hades”, “Inferno” and “Purgatory”, a double black. But my favorite black is “Coffin” which is a natural half pipe. I love it. So all of those runs lead into the Olympic express High-speed Quad chair, but it’s not over yet. The Olympic Express goes to the top of “The Peak”, an amazing blue run. “The Peak” is very steep so if you look at it and don’t like it, there is an easy run off to the right called “Heaven’s Sake” that takes you to the same place, trust me. There is another benefit to “Heaven’s Sake” is that you get to pass very close to The Eye of the Wind, the wind turbine. If you want to figure out where to go there is a map of the entire mountain there as well. If you explore the mountain you will find lots of trails and paths that can add to the experience. If you are feeling snacky, at the bottom of “The Peak” in a small shack they sell a favorite Canadian treat: Beaver Tails. For all you people out of town they are not actually beaver’s tails, just really yummy pastry. For lunch I suggest Lupins café. My favorite is the macaroni and cheese. So the bottom line, literally, is come here and you will get an experience that you will never forget.
2012-03-27 |
