North Van Hiking

About the Hike:
Experience this 8.5-km loop trail near North Vancouver, British Columbia. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 2 h 34 min to complete.

This is a nice introduction to mountain hiking on a trail that is mostly flat with a few short steep elevation changes. The loop descends Homestead Trail to Fisherman's Trail, a gravel path along the Seymour River, with plenty of opportunities to step off the path to take pictures of the running water, including at the Seymour River Suspension Bridge. The loop continues via the Baden Powell trail through Seymour Canyon and Lynn Canyon - this is the most difficult section of the loop. There is easy access to the 30-foot pool prior to a staircase ascent to the finish back at Kilmer Park.

*Before pressing attend please be certain you'll attend. In the case of 3 "No-Shows" or 3 "Not Going", attendees may be removed from the group. For the same reason, please exercise common sense and common courtesy when using Event Chat

Difficulty, Distance, and Elevation:
Easy, 8.5 km trail (loop), 305 meters of elevation gain

Meeting At:
Kilmer Park, North Vancouver
At the side of the grassy field (top field), near the parking lot

Parking: Kilmer Park, North Vancouver

Recommended Hiking Clothing, Footwear and Gear:

1. Hiking boots or hiking-appropriate winter boots (must have good traction) (required)
2. Microspikes
3. Gaiters or rain pants
4. Small Daypack or Hiking backpack + 2-3 bottles of water + Lunch + Snacks
5. Sweater or a hoodie
6. Winter Coat/Parka or Puffer Jacket with hood OR Rain jacket (ideally insulated) combined with sufficient warm layers (required)
7. Winter weight gloves/mittens and hat/toque (required)

UPDATE FOR WINTER CONDITIONS: Everyone must be prepared to spend several hours outdoors in snow and temperatures below freezing. Anyone who is not dressed appropriately will not be allowed to go on the hike.

Our main after-event is going for food, coffee and drinks at Browns Socialhouse Lynn Valley. If you'd like to join, stay near me (the event host), after the end of our hike, and I'll organize car-pooling. This event is optional.

This is a moderate hike through lush forest and canyons with plenty of easier sections for socializing.

LEGAL INFORMATION, LIABILITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

We are a group of volunteers. We are NOT a professional organization or pro trail guides and/or pro event organizers. We will however, look out for each other. The organizer and any/all assistant organizers and other attendees are in no way responsible and liable for your personal safety and health state, before, during and at anytime after this event. Risks of attending hiking events include, but are not limited to: getting lost; slipping and falling; snow and ice; extreme cold; extreme heat; dangerous animals; falling trees or brush; falling rocks or landslides; flooding; bridge failure; and falling in fast moving water.

By RSVP'ing "Yes", for this event, you acknowledge that you fully understand and accept the aforementioned conditions and following event attendance conditions and, you are solely responsible for your own health, safety and well-being before, during and at anytime after the event as stated previously.

All attendees shall forever hold harmless the organizers and other attendees and unconditionally waive any liabilities resulting from attending and/or participating in this event.

About the Hike:
PLEASE READ BEFORE CLICKING ATTEND.
This is a weather permitting event. If weather is not cooperative, event day will be changed to Sunday. If both Saturday and Sunday weather forecast remains uncooperative, we go to, with crampons, the Eagle Bluff. In that case, start time will be changed to 9:00 AM.
Alan and Monty are offering, Red Heather Meadows to Elfin Lakes, Garibaldi Provincial Park.
Welcome to ice and snow season. It is a Snowshoes event. You may get-by having crampons, weather dependent. Therefore, this is a *4.6 Hard hike.
We will cover 20.1 km and gain 816 meters of elevation within a time estimate of 8 hours, in cold and on snow.
This is a very popular area for backpacking, camping, and cross-country skiing, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime.
*Before pressing attend please be certain you'll attend. In the case of 3 "No-Shows" or 3 "Not Going", attendees may be removed from the group. For the same reason, please exercise common sense and common courtesy when using Event Chat.
*If you are on the wait list and are not confirmed, please do not attend. We limit group size for some hikes for safety and logistical reasons.
Difficulty, Distance, and Elevation:
Hard, 20.1 km trail, 816 meters of elevation gain. However, hiking with Crampons and/or snowshoes are always more difficult and slower.
Meeting At: We ALL will meet at the St. Davis United Church Taylor Way, West Vancouver at 6:00 AM and consolidate our carpools, if needed, and head toward the trail, together.
Our second stop before heading to the trail head will at 6:30 AM and Squamish McDonald, for bathroom break and picking a coffee.
We will then continue as a caravan.
We need to travel together in case anybody experiences difficulty on the side road, in snow season.
We need to start early due to short daylight at this time of the year.
We will start the hike at 7:30 am.
Trail head address is: Diamond Head Trail Parking Lot, Garibaldi Park Rd, Whistler, BC V0N 0A0
Parking: Diamond Head Trail Parking Lot, Garibaldi Park Rd, Whistler, BC V0N 0A0
Transit Access: No
Carpool List:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1FNa_pJyQX3UeNFFGmB53vjyjzP5Zy5zGUUmZ3rrUhww/edit?gid=0#gid=0

BC winter tire restrictions (chains) start Oct. 1st:
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation/driving-and-cycling/traveller-information/seasonal/winter-driving/about-winter-tires.
However, we will be on side road at high elevation and therefore one may encounter steep road which may not have been cleaned or treated with salt and sand. Therefore, one must have snow tires or auto trac chains.
Recommended Hiking Clothing, Footwear and Gear:

1. Hiking Boots or Hiking Shoes.
2. Snowshoes. You maybe able to get by using crampons, however, at this time of the year, we may have a big dump of snow any time in the area. In that case, one must use Snowshoes.
3. Small Day pack or Hiking backpack + ample amount of water, + Lunch + Snacks
4. Sweater or a Hoodie
5. Sunglasses and a Hat, Sunscreen if required (all optional)
6. Warm Jacket
7. Warm layers and Rain Jacket
8. Bear Spray, we will be in bear country. Weather dependent, bears may still be awake, looking for more calories.
9. Gloves.
10. Hiking/Scrambling Gloves
11. Head lamps
12. Snow Poles
    LEGAL INFORMATION, LIABILITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
    We are a group of volunteers. We are NOT a professional organization or pro trail guides and/or pro event organizers. We will, however, look out for each other. The organizer and any/all assistant organizers and other attendees are in no way responsible and liable for your personal safety and health state, before, during and at anytime after this event. Risks of attending hiking events include but are not limited to: getting lost; slipping and falling; snow and ice; extreme cold; extreme heat; dangerous animals; falling trees or brush; falling rocks or landslides; flooding; bridge failure; and falling in fast moving water.
    As a condition of your participation in the event, you assume all risk of personal injury, death or property loss resulting from any cause whatsoever including NEGLIGENCE, BREACH OF CONTRACT OR BREACH OF ANY DUTY OF CARE ON THE PART OF THE HOST. You agree that the host shall not be liable for any personal injury, death or property loss and release the host from all liability and waive all claims with respect thereto.
    Negligence includes failure on the part of the host to take reasonable steps to safeguard or protect you from or warn you of the risks, dangers and hazards referred to above. You assume all cost of your own rescue or evacuation.
    By RSVP'ing "Yes", for this event, you acknowledge that you fully understand and accept the aforementioned conditions and following event attendance conditions and, you are solely responsible for your own health, safety and well-being before, during and at anytime after the event as stated previously.
    All attendees shall forever hold harmless the organizers and other attendees and unconditionally waive any liabilities resulting from attending and/or participating in this event.
    We hike together at a moderate pace, but if you cannot keep pace then you are responsible to safely hike your way back to the starting point.

About the Hike:
Lighthouse Park is one of Greater Vancouver's most beautiful parks located along the shores of West Vancouver. The park boasts some of the largest Douglas Fir trees in Greater Vancouver as well as breathtaking views of the water.
There are a variety of trails through the park that take you past old growth Western Red Cedar and Douglas Fir trees. The trails are all fairly easy with only a few having a short hill to ascend or descend. Take a look at the park map at the trailhead and plan your route so that you do a circle through the park and end at the lighthouse.

Difficulty, Distance, and Elevation:
Easy, 5.8km trail, 267meters of elevation gain

Meeting At:
Lighthouse Park, West Vancouver. At the end of the parking lot, where it becomes pavement. Attendees without cars, please check the "How to find us" section on the right of this page.

Parking: Available inside Lighthouse Park.
There isn't any overflow parking but there are a number of residential side streets that are 5-10 min from the park entrance. Some people park along the nearby streets when parking is full.

Recommended Clothing, Footwear and Gear:

1. Sweater or a hoodie (if cold)
2. Bring a rain jacket (if the sky is overcast or raining)
3. Your shoes should be hiking shoes or hiking boots. Running shoes are okay.
4. Gloves (optional)
5. Toque or a hat (optional)

An easier hikes with views of the lighthouse for photos.