The Grouse Grind (week 6: 20th)

It's a Grouse Grind

What the grind looks like

Ben takes a picture of us at the start of the mountain.

Hello. So I did the grouse grind! Well, me, Andrew, Ben and Sabrina did.
Or more precisely, I cycled to Mink. Met up with Ben (We left our bikes locked together there), Sabrina and Andrew. We then did the grouse grind. It involved walking up many steps, but don't think of a staircase, think more like bits of timber holding up dirt. After the climb cycled back home.
There is more to it than that, but it's 1.21AM right now, and work starts at 9am.
So here are pictures that describe the day on my flickr, starting from the first picture. There will be more on this trip later!

OK! I can be bothered to write now, so hopefully you can be bothered to read too.

So starting from mink. 1st thing me and Ben did was to lock up our bikes together with both of our locks. We aren't paranoid that our bikes will be stolen, honest.

So after mink was straight to the seabus, and from the seabus a bus that goes straight to the bottom of grouse mountain. We just managed to get on, or should I say, we just managed to squeeze on! Yea, so what I learnt was that taking photos on a packed bus while holding onto nothing means that you will most likely go flying without warning (yes I know... duh!).
Well, after learning that, we got to the mountain, which was what we were here for.

The mountain, you'll notice the gondola wires, we could have taken that, but NO, that is not the way to grind your knees!

Now the grouse grind for those that are sitting there confused by the name is basically a very steep climb up a mountain, and by climb I mean walk, and by walk I mean walking up many steps. The hight is 2800ft. The record, according to a google search on the internet is 24 mins 18seconds. So we planned to beat this (yea right). I looked upon the mountain and thought

"This can be done"

Onwards! So, the walk began. I tell you what, it starts off ok, but keeps getting steeper. Also, I hate steps. I feel like there is much more effort in taking steps rather than an uphill gradient. Anywho, there were steps, and walking, and a hell of a lot of people doing the grind! Seriously, some people were like us, people just trying it out, looking for something to do, while others were the serious speed climbers, walking very fast, looking like they had just got out of a shower from the amount of sweat dripping of them. Yep, it was an interesting sight. We didn't take many breaks, but got to the half way point by 45mins. Only just off the pace of the record, so close. Ben and I were waiting at the half way point, predicting the expression of Sabrina at the half way point. We thought one of, 'WE ARE ONLY HALF WAY?!', was likely. We saw Andrew first, he was waving his arms about like a mad man. Followed by Sabrina, when we told her that it was half way, we got the look we were looking for. Hehe.

Ben and I waiting at the halfway point

Much more walking later, and we see some opening in the tall tall trees showing the view. It was a nice view; the people trying to walk as fast as they can probably miss this, but then again, they've probably already seen it. I personally don't see why apparently some people only go half way and then quit. It's not that bad a climb/walk, just take your time people! Me and Sabrina did hear the most stupid comment ever walking up. A lady was on her phone to her friend and said, "Everytime I go up this mountain, I run out of water half way". Now I dunno about you, but if that kept happening to me, I would just take more water, like a second water bottle. This lady we decided was stupid. After more walking at a comfortable pace, some little breaks where we just looked upon the scenery and the people passing by,

A relaxing break near the top

and random photos (superheroes/evil smile/me and a tree), we had made it to the top in about 1hr45mins.

We appreciate the view after all that walking

The top had a rather nice view, not only of downtown, but pretty much all of Vancouver.

The view from the eating place at the top of the mountain.

At the top we ate on an outside table, chatted, looked at the view, and generally relaxed after the walk. Oh, also had some of the nicest smoothies ever. At the top wasn't just a view though, there were bears. Ok, so there were 2 bears that live there since orphan times. As for the bears up close, there can only be one thing said about them. When not wild, they do look cute, fluffy and friendly, you just want to go hug them. That is until they give you an evil bear look.

The bear is not happy with the situation

Hmm, what else. What else indeed. Well being a mountain, there was something up there that was white. Despite being summer, we had a snowball fight. Ok, so it wasn't really snow as much as solidified snow, also known as ice. It did the job though, as we found out when getting hit by the snowballs!

Andrew throwing snowball at me, but cannot see the one heading towards him from Sabrina... Nice photo Ben!

Andrew has a rather good shot. Me and Sabrina both got him in the ear. Apparently it makes it very cold, so says Andrew. Actually, just as we were walking away, Andrew decided to throw a random snowball at this girl fighting with her friends. Now this was quite a distance away, but what happened was that the ball hit her leg. She yelped. It was hilarious! We all suddenly looked away, but couldn't stop laughing, so made a quick exit. As you do.
As for Ben, he does not like snowballs being thrown at him when he is holding his beloved camera. Fair enough I say, but it's still funny.
The way back can also be done by walking, but we decided that would be insane. So the gondola was the way we went. It was kinda like a rollercoster, after each pylon-like structure holding the wires, people let out excited cheers as the gondola went faster. The view again was just so beautiful.

The view from the gondola.

Yep, that was pretty much the trip. Got bus and seabus back. Chilled at Mink, talking with Lynda's workmates. Oh, and also had my first taste of an amazing drink called a London Fog. Basically, its a shot of vanilla, with earl grey tea served in foamed milk, but with the added greatness of cinnamon on top! It is very nice indeed.
The others took the bus back, Andrew was over an hour late for work, but no-one is ever there to check on him so I guess it wasn't all bad. I however was dumb and decided that no, I would use my bike. The next day to and from work on the bike I realised that I was a little more tired than normal.
So my verdict, Grouse grind is good, not as hard as one might think, good experience when with friends, lovely view, Bears are cool, people doing the grind for speed get very sweaty.
Oh, and everyone should either make there own, or get someone to make them a London fog. It is yum.