Just another adventure: 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?