[th]

Hi;

This is my first post here, so I will introduce myself a bit first, and then get down to business. My name is Tomas H., second year at SFU (english), and I enjoy mostly hiking, though I like normal (i.e. not mountain - never tried) biking. Canoeing is great too. Anyways, I mostly have experience with hiking, and with the West Coast Trail (which was awesome) under my belt (though I am sure some of you can run it), I feel fairly ok with my abilities. I also did the Bowron Lakes this summer, which were cool and fun, so my canoeing is passable. I am interested in the other outdoor activities, and hopefully, I will get a chance to learn some of them through this club.
Anyway, to the matter at hand. I was going to go for a hike this Tuesday (i.e. today), but since the few ones that are accessible by bus (no car, in residence) are pretty short, I looked at Hanes Valley (never been there). This looked ok, but people said it was difficult at times and perhaps long, so I didn't want to do it alone. So, a word out, anyone fancy going, perhaps this weekend or next Tuesday? (contrary to this post, I am fairly quiet on hikes, so I am pretty comfortable to hike with).
Here is a review of the trail:
http://www.trailpeak.com/index.jsp?cat=hike&con=trail&val=479
Anyway, sorry about the long post;
T.H.

[M.A.X]

I was just hiking in the area this past weekend. We hiked up Goat Mountain which overlooks Hanes Valley (from Goat ridge, instead of ascending Goat you can actually go down to Hanes valley from where you can either do the loop to Lynn or go up Crown Mountain which is a sweet scramble as well).

If you leave early you can actually do a full loop starting at Grouse Mountain and going along Goat ridge, down Crown Pass to Hanes Valley and coming out at Lynn Headwater Park. Here is a route description: http://www.clubtread.com/Routes/Route.aspx?Route=238

I’m on coop and working full time so Tuesday is not an option, but if I’m around on one of the weekends I’d be up for doing the loop hike.

We also have a club group hike organized to Goat Mountain on Saturday Sep 22nd if you’re interested.

[th]

Yup, the whole loop was the thing I had in mind. I realize that not everyone on Tuesday has no classes, so if a weekend would be better suited, I am available either Saturday or Sunday. In any case, I think there are two ways to do the loop - from grouse to lynn, or lynn to grouse... personally, I would prefer the lynn to grouse, because I like going up better, and there is that reward at the end (gondola going down).
And yep, I am up for that Goat Mountain on 22nd!
Any more takers for Hanes?
PS - I didn't mention this before, but this hike is bus accessible.
_________________
Tomas H.

[david m]

I'm up for a weekend but not during the week.

[SamRosenberg]

I'm up for some hiking if its on the weekend. I'm new to this club too, and sfu for that matter. Send me an e-mail, sbr1@sfu.ca.

[th]

Ok, sounds like the weekend is the universal time to go - Sunday or Saturday folks? Please mention ASAP. Anyways, will check back this evening to see how things are going.
Best,
T.H.
_________________
Tomas H.

[Leo D]

I can come this Saturday (i.e. the 15th) and potentially the 16th as well, depending on how long this takes (I need to be at Brentwood Mall by around 5:30 or so). Saturday gets my vote!

I'd love to do this route: I've seen it on a few maps and it looks like a good romp through the outskirts of North Van.

And th, I have Tuesdays free of classes, so if you can tolerate me and you want to schedule something a week or two in advance we can probably work out a hiking time. I want to do Diez Vistas but I'm not sure what the bus access is like to Buntzen in the fall.

[david m]

[th]

Ok, so far, Saturday is winning (personally, I am for Sat as well). As for the time of arrival, it all depends on when we set out - I was thinking be at Lynn by 7:00AM... so we can be done by 3-4PM (depending on how well I survive).
As for the Diez Vistas, sure, if you are up to it on some Tuesday, let's go for it. And yeah, the bus goes all the way to Buntzen only in the summer, and as David said, it goes to Anmore during the rest of the year, so not too bad.
Ok, folks, Saturday or Sunday for the rest of you? The weather is pretty much identical;
Best,
T.H.
_________________
Tomas H.

[ohuang]

Hello everyone...greetings

Pardon my jumping in here...

I'm an outdoor enthusiast 'wanna-be'. (Well why wanna-be? cuz for various reasons as my on-off presence on in this forum can attest, I don't get out as much as I want but am still very enthusiastic at heart )

Anyway...this hike looks and sounds quite interesting and I want to hike some more before digging out my rain and snow gears.

I'll opt for Sunday but Sat may or may not work for me. Will confirm later on.

Just one questions though, 'at Lynn by 7:00am'.....I'm asuming we'll be going north-west-south in a counter clock direction? Will we be taking the Skyride off Grouse at the end of day?

Cheers

[char]

I'd love to come, but could only come Sunday, not Saturday (dentist on Sat. at 9am) - too bad it looks like most prefer Saturday...

[th]

Ok, since Leo said he wouldn't mind Sunday as long as we got back in good time, and I don't care either way, and two people can go only on Sunday, Sunday it is. Besides, someone is throwing a BBQ on the 15th, so we will not be in conflict with that date.
To the nit-picking detail:
I am personally in res, and for those of you who are, this is the bus route to take:

135, 028, 210 7:19a 8:35a 1h15 min. 2 0.27km $2.25

Arriving: 8:05a on 09-16-2007
Travelling From: SFU, UNIVERSITY DR, BURNABY
Travelling To: LYNN HEADWATERS REGIONAL PK, LYNN VALLEY RD, NORTH VANCOUVER

Depart: 7:19a - SFU TRANSPORTATION CENTRE BAY 1
On route: "135 BURRARD STN"
Arrive: 7:40a - KOOTENAY LOOP BAY 7

Transfer: 8:07a - KOOTENAY LOOP BAY 6
On route: "28 PHIBBS EXCHANGE"
Arrive: 8:14a - PHIBBS EXCHANGE BAY 5

Transfer: 8:17a - PHIBBS EXCHANGE BAY 3
On route: "210 UPPER LYNN VALLEY"
Arrive: 8:35a - NORTHBOUND UNDERWOOD AV AT DEMPSEY RD

So, with the earliest bus that goes there on Sunday (which go later than the week ones/Saturday ones), I can be there at 8:35 AM. Which means, we probably couldn't make it back by 5:30 precisely, but counting extremely good time, let's say we do the hike in 8h, and finish at 4:30PM, Leo could get back to Brentwood in decent time.
Since I don't have a car, and Sunday busses start rather late, this is the best I can come up with...
Yes, the hike ends at the gondola, so bring 5$.
As well, for those who do not live on campus, 210 is the bus to take. How you get there, that's for you to figure out.
Any suggestions apart from this?
_________________
Tomas H.

[Leo D]

Excellent, this arrangement should work for me.

Also, everyone planning on coming on this trip needs to know this: as I recall from a guiding book, this hike requires crossing a creek (Lynn Creek) which has no bridge over it. This means we will be fording (i.e. walking through) it. I'm going to call ahead and figure out what the flow is like and determine if it's possible to cross right now. It should be fine because the weather has been hot and dry for the last week or so, but just in case. I'm also going to call and ask about the snow conditions on Crown Pass and Goat Mountain. I will post back if there are any problems. ***Edit: I called after getting home today and the information line reports that as of Sept 13 all backcountry trails on Grouse are open and that Lynn Creek is very low and passable. For those who are interested, the # I called was: 985-1690***

Now, a few warnings and some advice:

This is reported to be a difficult hike. 18km in one day is hard enough, but it's over fairly rough terrain, especially the scree and possible snowpack. Beginner hikers or people who are not fit should think carefully about coming on this trip or not. There will be easier trips planned for people who don't have alot of hiking experience.

Before I mention anything else, let me state what is probably the most important thing you can do to prepare: tell someone you know and trust where you will be going, when you are leaving, when you expect to return, what your route is and a contact number they can reach you at (just remember that cell phones may not work where we are going). Don't just tell them this, write it all down for them too.

And, of course, everyone needs to bring the appropriate gear with them: warm clothing, rain gear, water, extra food, sun glasses, sun screen, a headlamp or flashlight, a toque of some kind, good socks (cotton socks are lousy, ask me why!) and appropriate shoes or boots. As someone who has worked in a shoe and orthotic store, the topic of footwear is near and dear to me: please don't wear running shoes on this hike! Most running shoes don't have the traction, rigidity or side-to-side stability to handle an extended day hike like this. Please ask me if you have any further questions about footwear, orthotics or hiking gear in general (I'm an aspiring gear geek and I love talking about it). One final word on gear: this hike goes through bear country. I will be bringing a can of bear spray, but if you seriously want to get into back country activities you should probably buy one for yourself as well. They're available at MEC after you sign a form.

Hopefully someone here also has a first aid kit and has taken a wilderness first aid course too (I'm planning on taking one at some point but haven't done so yet).

None of this is meant to alarm people, I just want everyone to know what to expect and for everyone to stay safe while hiking.

[david m]

Dear lord, you're going to kill us all.

I'm debating coming, I don't want to be a liability and I need to set up a culture at some on Sunday. Also I'm currently sick.

[ohuang]

Please don't let it rain. I haven't digged out my rain gear!