Flash - Hollyburn Hurtle
A point to point run (down) from Cypress Bowl to Edgemont Village following the Baden Powell Trail to Cleveland Dam then on quiet residential roads another 15-20 min to back to my house.
Anybody running at turtlepace and not uptight about a few walking breaks is welcome to join us. Estimated time is about 2:30 hours. Anybody faster can of course come out as well, but maybe running alone... So far, in the turtlepace group Pat and I are confimed and Michele is mulling it over ;-)
This run involves car pooling to be able to pick up the car(s) left up at Cypress. There may be one more spot for the drive up to Cypress leaving my house at 7:20am. There will be 3 spots for the drive back up Cypress to retrieve cars. Rides need to be confirmed on a first come first served basis. If there are more runners than rides, you'll need to arrange your own transportation. Unless you arrange your own transport, please make sure to confirm your ride with me (click on my name above to navigate to my contact form).
Course: We'll start at the BP trail head at the Cypress Bowl Parking lot heading east on the BP. Follow the trail up to the Hollyburn X Country slopes, then down to the top of The Chute. Hurtle down the chute always staying on the BP until you arrive at Cleveland Dam. There are washrooms and water here. Continue on the service road east of the dam down to the Fish Hatchery road. Follow the paved road east (at the intersection with the service road and paced road this translates into going straight). Eventually, you will come to the Chinook trailhead on your right. Ignore and look for a rocky trail on your left heading up. Take this trail. It will bring you to Eldon Road. Turn right on Eldon. Continue to Capilano Road. Cross Capilano Road and continue on Eldon to Eldon Park. Go into Eldon Park looking for the trail that circles the sport field on your left. This trail ends at Sunset Rd. Cross and continue on Emerald Street (crossing a little fotbridge after about 100m) to Wellington. Take a left on Wellington. After about 20m head up a steep gravel trail (stay to your left at a fork. You'll come out at Forest Hills and Sunnycrest. Follow Forest Hills east crossing Highlands and eventually reaching Fairmont Road. You are almost at my house. Turn left and you'll see it ;-) Address will be provided as needed to confirmed participants.
What to bring? Expect to be self sufficient. Bring enough water, food and anything else you may need along.
Other: There is no fee and you don't need to be a member of Club Fat Ass to participate in a Flash event, however whining is not allowed. You are responsible for your own well being and safety and should be self sufficient.
Please read the Release of All Claims. By participating in this event you agree to the terms of the Release of All Claims.
Hollyburn Hurtle
Three eager runners drove up Cypress this morning to tackle the Hollyburn Hurtle.
Pat, Cheryl and myself were surprised by the chilly air blowing at the base of Cypress Mountain as we started our ascent to the Hollyburn X-Country area on a battered Baden Powell trail. I have not been on that part of the BP since before last falls devastating windstorms and last winters record snowfall. The trail is freed from the debris of trees and branches, but the devastation the storms brought on is still visible.
Once we reached the Hollyburn slope magical fog wafted over the tree tops. No views of Vancouver below for today! Instead, glorious mud, thick and black greeted us. Does this area ever dry up ;-)
As we made our descent past some lonely snow patches, friendly hikers and quaint cabins in the dense woods talks turned to Cheryl's fear of the beasts of the forest. Scarily, she has come upon a cougar in Capilano Canyon before. Bears and cougars were asleep - or at least kept hidden - today.
I had forgotten how long that downhill is. Cheryl still had her Kneeknacker legs and easily danced down over rocks and roots, cranking it up on the rare flat stretches. The soles of my toes were burning and I was happy when we finally reached Cleveland Dam. From there we continued on a wide gravel service road down to the Fish Hatchery Road and via some trails and residential streets back to my house. After a total of 3:19h we finished the Hollyburn Hurtle.
Photos here.