Snow

When I left The Netherlands first of June this year I promised myself that I would allow myself to fly back to visit my friends and family every once in awhile. Today is that day, I'm flying home! I'm really excited to go home and hug everybody! 

When I get back to Canada mid December, there should be enough snow to start skiing and snowboarding. The first runs have already been opened, but the conditions are just not really good yet. Plus, all my gear is still at my parents' place. So, nothing better to do then to hike. Haha, yes, hiking again! I just can't help loving the mountains. And really, it is BEAUTIFUL to hike in snowy mountains! 

Two weeks ago I went up Elk and Thurston mountain near Chilliwack. Driving there we were wondering if we needed boots, or if shoes would be sufficient. "Will there be snow?" "Maybe a little?" "It did rain last nights, it might have been snow up there?"

When we got closer it seemed there was a bit of snow on the peaks. Once we starting hiking however, it turned out there was loads of snow. In some parts we would sink in untill our knees!

Most people had micro spikes (those are like snow chains for your shoes) and gaiters (Gamaschen, to avoid snow getting into your boots), but dutch as I am (meaning: not wanting to spend the money for all that fancy equipment) I wasn't that well prepared... So on the steep parts I had a bit more trouble walking without slipping and I had drenched socks at the end of the hike, but that did not lower my spirits at all. Happy as a little kid I was stomping through the snow, once in a while letting out a cry of happiness to "greet the first fresh snow of the season". Apparently I was acting totally non-Canadian as my fellow hikers asked me if I had ever seen snow, or if The Netherlands ever gets snow... he he.  

Last weekend my good friend Alex from Ottawa was in Vancouver for work. We managed to do a morning hike together to spend some time. I invited another new friend, Kerstin, who I am growing fond of as she is as crazy and uncomplicated as I am. And it was just really nice to do a Sunday morning hike with them as company.

Kerstin (totally not) feeding the birds
(Never feed the wild life!)

Top of Black mountain

Ok, my face might look hilariously distorted, but the view is amazing!

Halloooooeeoeoeoeoween!

Halloween is big here in Canada. So I joined right in! It started with buying a costume:

Vampire costume!

And then carving pumpkins. I loved to do this so much I made my roomies make another one with me the day before Halloween. The results were great! Even the kids that came to our door for trick-or-treating commented on our great looking pumpkins! 

A get together for pumpkin carving, awesome.

My haunted house creation attracted a lot
of attention. (yes, I was very proud of it!)

My other creation!

Halfway through the candy! 

What better to eat than pumpkin soup on Halloween!

Best costume of the saturday night party!
(Best thing, he totally stayed in character)

More hikes

It seems like the hikes that I am doing keep getting better and better. More challenging, more views, more fun. More dangerous...?

After hiking in the Rocky mountains this summer, I thought I had done some pretty nice hikes. But then I started hiking in Vancouver. And although the views in the Rocky mountains are spectacular, the hikes here in the backyard of Vancouver are more challenging, rewarding, fun and just a little more awesome. First the Hanes valley and then the Stawamus Chief near Squamish (described in this post), and now I'm about to tell you about the Crown and the Lions. (It has a nice sound to it, doesn't it?) 

A big challenge, and thus very rewarding to get to the top, is hiking up Crown Mountain. To get to the top you need both hands and feet at least half of the time. Steep cliffs, a difficult route, amazing views and hardly any 'normal' flat trail to just walk. It's just so much fun in my opinion! Plus, two weeks ago, we had the bonus of being above the clouds while the whole city of Vancouver was in thick fog all weekend. Obviously we had to treat ourselves to some after-hike drinks accompanied by the gorgeous sunset. 

On the way up

Well deserved lunch with a view!

On top of Crown Mt!
(And note, in shorts and T-shirt in the middle of October...)

Going down with amazing views

View on the clouds below us

Mt Baker in the US was clearly visible

Still in the sun, just before taking the Sky ride
down into the fog

Amazing sunset! 

And then, the Lions:

The Lions

The Lions are a pair of mountain peaks that can be seen from Vancouver and everybody knows them, the Lions Gate bridge is even named after them. I found my limits that day of what I dare doing to get up a mountain, but I did it! I can now, with much pride, tell you that I have stood ON TOP of the West Lion, the highest of both!  

I'm still not sure if it was just awesome that I went up the last bit to the peak, or also a bit stupid. Loads of people actually go up there, most stay on the lower plateau. For sure, I don't feel the need to ever do it again. This was the first time I was scared of heights ever in my life, quite a new emotion for me. Maybe I'm just getting old?

Early morning view 

View from St. Mark's Summit 

The Howe Sound

North Vancouver

The easy part... 

the harder part 

ok, this looks worse than it was..
or maybe not.  

On top!! 

The 'trail'  

On the way back with the sun setting 

Sunset just before we arrived to the cars