After we made our way to Grouse Mountain. Known as both a resort and an attraction, Grouse Mountain is a popular North Vancouver year-round mountain playground about 15 minutes away from downtown Vancouver.
"Grouse Mountain is one of the North Shore Mountains of the Pacific Ranges in the District Municipality of North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Exceeding 1,200 m (4,000 feet) in altitude at its peak, is the site of an alpine ski area, Grouse Mountain Resort, which in the winter season overlooks Greater Vancouver with four chairlifts servicing 26 runs. In the summer, Grouse Mountain Resort features lumberjack shows, a birds of prey wildlife demonstration, a scenic chairlift ride, and a 2.9 km (1.8 mi.) hiking trail known as the Grouse Grind, as well as helicopter sightseeing. Year-round operations include a 100-seat mountaintop theater and a wildlife refuge. Public access to the mountain top is by a Swiss Garaventa aerial tramway, or the Grouse Grind hiking trail (Open for hiking May-October.)"
I was a little afraid to go on the tramway but reminded myself that I didn't come all the way here to waste this opportunity so I ignored my fear. As we rose into the air, the view was amazing. I just loved how green it was. On one side was water and land on the next side.
The story about how grouse mountain came to be is an interesting one. According to their website "Grouse Mountain was named by the first recorded hikers to reach the summit in October 1894. In those days, climbing Grouse Mountain was a three or four day epic journey - there was no bridge across Burrard Inlet and no road to the base. The hardy group of hikers slogged through snow, scrambled over rock and up through the dense forest. Along the way, they hunted a Blue Grouse and honored the plentiful game bird by calling the Peak "Grouse Mountain".
We walked around checking out what was on display and took loads of pictures.
In 2001 The Grouse Mountain Refuge for Endangered Wildlife was launched. Grinder and Coola, two orphaned grizzly bears, were the first to call the Refuge their home. Grinder was found in Invermere, BC. He was wandering alone on a logging road, dehydrated, thin, weak and weighing only 4.5 kg. Coola was found orphaned on a highway near Bella Coola, BC. His mother had been killed by a truck and, of her three cubs, Coola was the only one to survive. Now the bears are taken care of at Grouse Mountain and visitors can get to view them as they go about playing in water and running in the grass. Unfortunately I don't have a decent picture of the other bear.
We were too early for any shows yet so took the chairlift ride to get to the other attractions. That was another hell by itself! I was really afraid again that I might slip from the ride but my I wasn't a coward either and this trip was all about fun.
We made our way towards the Eye of the Wind. "British Columbia’s wind energy icon and newest technological marvel, the Eye of the Wind is the world’s first wind turbine with a one-of-a-kind panoramic viewPOD at the top of the tower. The viewPOD is accessible by elevator – providing visitors with a close-up view of wind energy at work plus a 360-degree view of the Lower Mainland."
Once more the view was breathtaking. It was green for as far as I could see. The entire pod spun as the turbine's blades moved with the wind and the floor had glass a glass ceiling.
We also saw the Birds in Motion show. They had a golden eagle, red- tailed hawk and peregrine falcon. The birds were majestic fearsome animals that caught their meals with huge claws.
The lumberjack show was hilarious as the men performed cool stunts, climbed logs and did silly things teasing each other. While the show was going on, fog began to surround us. It was strange and alluring to me.
It was a fun day at Grouse Mountain and I cannot wait to spend another summer exploring the mountain soon.
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