Summer Activities Hiking

History
Hikers were first recorded on Grouse Mountain back in 1894 when a hunting party shot a blue grouse bird and named the mountain in the bird’s honour. It wasn’t until the 1920’s and early 30’s, however, that Grouse Mountain saw the first big wave of adventurous hikers. Several thousand people flocked to the face of the mountain each year looking reach the cabins located in the Grouse Mountain village, at the foot of what is now known as The Cut ski run.

The Grouse Grind®, as we know it today, was first developed in 1981 by mountaineers looking for a challenging, convenient aerobic workout to sustain them for their longer hikes. They began by following the existing British Columbia Mountaineering Club trail, which still exists today, and offers a slightly less strenuous climb. People soon wanted a steeper route and about a quarter of the way up began using well-worn animal paths as their guide. The trail route was completed in the winter of 1983.

The Modern Day Revival
The revival began in the early 90s, when the trail was appropriately named the Grouse Grind® in conjunction with the first ever Grouse Grind Mountain Run®, now Western Canada’s premiere trail challenge. Often referred to as “Mother Nature’s Stairmaster,” the trail has become part of the fabric of Vancouver. More than 100-thousand hikers a year take on the challenge of the rugged terrain and steep climb, up an approximate 56 per cent slope (30°), which starts at the Valley Station of Grouse Mountain and finishes at the Peak’s plateau.

In 1996, the original cast of builders, along with a number of enthusiasts from the B.C. Federation of Mountaineering Club and Grouse Mountain, rebuilt the trail ensuring optimum safety and enjoyment for the high volume of hikers while maintaining the highest level of environmental protection from erosion.

Course Record
The official course record to date for men is 26:19 held by Michael Simpson set at the 2007 Grouse Grind Mountain Run®. For women, the record is 31:04 held by Leanne Johnston and set at the 2007 event. Unofficially (that is, a record set outside the annual Grouse Grind Mountain Run®) the course record is an amazing 24:22, set by two-time World Mountain Running champion Jonathan Wyatt of New Zealand. Jonathan set the record in June of 2004 while visiting Vancouver. The renowned runner has also participated in the Olympic Games and the Commonwealth Games.



The Grouse Grind® Community
The Grouse Grind® page on Facebook is a great place to meet and keep in touch with other hikers. We would encourage you all to sign up there and pick up the conversation where you left off. For those who aren't yet on Facebook, there is a discussion board, photo uploads and link uploads where our fans can share information. We will also be sending out quick Facebook updates to all fans with changes in hours of operations and other important news regarding Vancouver's favourite trail.

The Grind™ Timer Program
Grouse Mountain's Grind™ Timer Program is a great way to monitor your performance and see how you rank against other Grouse Grinders.



The Race
The 18th annual BMO Bank of Montreal Grouse Grind Mountain Run® takes place on September 21st, 2008 at the close of the hiking season. It is a challenging 2.9-kilometre race up to the face of Grouse Mountain, drawing hikers of all ages and athletic abilities. The racers begin at the Valley Station and finish at the Peak’s plateau, 1,127 metres above sea level. Winners are awarded in categories defined by age and gender. The event’s beneficiary is the BC Lung Association with funds raised going towards the promotion and improvement of lung health for all BC residents.

GROUSE GRIND® TRAIL HOURS
The Grouse Grind® trail is open from 7:00am to 4:30pm daily. Please visit www.metrovancouver.org for updates and additional trail status information.