The wait is over for adrenaline junkies who have been chomping at the bit to get back on the Grouse Grind.
The popular hiking trail is set to open for the season this Friday — a little earlier than normal. That’s the word from North Vancouver City Mayor Darrell Mussatto, speaking on behalf of Metro Vancouver, which oversees the trail.
“Since we didn’t have as much snow (this year), we were able to actually get on (the Grind) and do a bunch of maintenance,” said Mussatto.
Every year Metro budgets $200,000 to maintain and upgrade the 2.9-kilometre trail. This year’s facelift, which started three months ago, was more extensive and involved the installation of new steps and rock walls on the heavily eroded Grind.
“If you move a little bit of soil and do that times 500 or 1,000 people, it starts to make a big impact on the mountain,” explained Mussatto. “And then when they hike it when it’s raining, it causes more damage than when it’s dry.”
People hiking the Grind when it’s closed during the winter months is a perennial problem for Metro staff. Mussatto said it’s a risky move and can be quite dangerous because the trail is not monitored at that time.
During the Grind season North Shore Rescue does a sweep of the trail in the evening to ensure every hiker made it out OK.
Approximately 150,000 people ascend the Grind each year, said Grouse Mountain spokeswoman Jacqueline Blackwell, who added the resort’s regulars are excited about the trail re-opening this week.
