Finian's Epiphany
This year I took up snowshoeing. I love it. Hollyburn Lodge and Hollyburn Ridge are awesome. This year has seen tremendous snowfall on the local mountains. Over 500 cm base. That's like 15 feet. There's something about climbing a mountain in fresh powder that really appeals to me. There's something magical about a fresh snow dusting the trees and everything in sight. I liken the energy to a surfer who races to the ocean when the surf is up.
Yesterday was that day. The radio said Vancouver broke a record for the longest winter having the latest snowfall in it's normally rainy year. April 19 2008 saw 2 cm fall at higher elevations. Nothing compared to back east but for us that means there's still snow on the mountains even though the ski runs just closed. I seized the opportunity and headed out for Grouse. I noticed that although the ski runs were closed the snowshoe trails were open. They're doing maintenance on the red gondola so the previous blue gondola is being used.
Climbing Hollyburn Ridge was another preliminary epiphany for me. I had seen the view from Cypress look out many times. We watched the fireworks from there once but it's starting to get too crowded for that now. Climbing Hollyburn Ridge was a physical struggle similar to the Grouse grind. Yet the quiet peacefulness was unsurpassed. The occasional hiker you meet is friendly and respectful. Not like your average citizen in the city who tend to be selfish a**holes.
Climbing Hollyburn ridge for the first time I was unsure how many ridges had to be conquered before finally reaching the top. My son doesn't like heights but he likes Tennis and competes in the academic Reach for the Top tournaments. Better him than me. I can't seem to sit in a class that long and am not very good at answering all those obscure questions though I totally respect his interest, dedication and competence. He looks university bound so he does. My daughter is a hard worker and will come for a walk to Hollyburn Lodge but as a typical teenager doesn't have the attention span for a longer more challenging trek like climbing the ridge. That is my thing .
The top of Hollyburn ridge looks like the a small crater on top of a dormant volcano. There is a fair bit of space to move around and the view is amazing. Similar to the panoramic view on the from the top of Cypress Ski Chair lift.
The first real peak on the snowshoe trail at Grouse is called Damn Mountain. It is before Goat and Crown Mountain which is considered back country and closed for now due to hazardous avalanche conditions from the excessive snow.
Unlike Hollyburn ridge, the top of Damn Mountain is tiny and not much space to move around if there are several people there at once. You have to watch your step as you certainly wouldn't want to slide down the steep hills of the top or the trails on the way up. It wouldn't be serious injury but it would be very difficult to climb back up.
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So the stage is set. The thrill of the Hollyburn Ridge climb and view is behind me. The excitement of a fresh snow blanketing the trees like a magic wand making the climb in fresh powder is before me. I embrace the climb and after several pauses to take pictures and enjoy the scenery I power up the final ridge before I hit the top. I was walking so fast the peak hit me all at once. I was shocked to see how small the top was but overwhelmed with the view. So much so I exclaimed in deep reverence OMG.
I was surprised by two hikers clammy and peacefully sitting on the top enjoying the back country view and apologized for my outburst and said I haven't seen this view before. They jokingly said no worries, we thought you were a grizzly bear. No doubt a fat old man rising over the top of the peak with a vocal outburst was a bit of a shock to them as well. I looked around and hesitantly said in surprise, "I thought there was more room at the top. It's not like Hollyburn ridge." They said "It's OK were just leaving" and I said no worries, this is awesome.
We talked about the hike up and the other hikes beyond that were closed due to the conditions. I asked if they had ever climbed the Lions as that is my next goal and they said yes as we talked about various climbs and elevations. At that point I felt like Jonathan Livingston Seagull flying to a new height and meeting two new spiritual guides. My mother gave me that book to read when I was young. As we were talking they pointed out two Ravens that were sitting in the trees very close to us watching and observing us.
I joked about how when I was a kid whenever I went camping I would always be woken up early in the morning by the sounds of a raven which to me at the time was less than glamorous and sounded like a crow over and over again. Then I explained how I later found out that the natives say it's good luck to see and hear a Raven. To the First Nation's people a Raven is sacred. That helped me gain a respect for the Raven they clearly shared.
Last Sunday when I took my daughter to Hollyburn Lodge, we drove past a huge black bird sitting on a concrete divider very close to the side of the road. "What was that?!" I exclaimed. "I don't know!" my daughter responded with equal surprise. That was the biggest crow I have ever seen said me. That must have been a Raven. She agreed. Nevertheless the two Ravens that came to visit us weren't as huge but were very interested in what we were doing on their peak. When the hikers left so did the Ravens but one came back for a second look and hopped on to the peak after I stepped off it.
I walked away from that experience with a renewed respect for life, nature, people, the world. It didn't take long for reality to set in when I was back in Surrey and I saw a guy in a car at the parking lot drop some garbage out his window. As I scowled at him he looked me in the eye and threw some more garbage on to the ground and I scowled again and shook my head as I walked on. Why are people such a**holes I wondered. Nevertheless, I felt a peace with the new self control to walk on and not walk over and bitch him out and punch him in the head.
There are a lot of people out there I just don't like. Yet the good people that I have met along the way clearly make the journey worthwhile and restore my faith in the planet. As my father continues to gradually slip from this world to the next I thank my lucky stars for a good father and mother. So many are not as fortunate and many others blinded with self pity never are able to move on... much.
As I write this, the radiance from the rising sun beacons me as it bursts threw the curtains in my livingroom and I prepare to head out once again for the peak on the peak at Grouse and climb that Damn Mountain again. This time on to Thunderbird Ridge. It reminds me of that song by Augusta called Boston. I wanna see a sunrise. (a new beginning) I'm tired of sunsets (ends and terminations) some snow would be nice. It sure is. Life is good. The future is bright. Darkness cannot extinguish the light. Much. Except for a black hole of course. They say a black hole is a collapsed star who's mass is so great you have to travel faster than the speed of light to escape it's gravity. I still don't understand how a black hole can emit energy. I'll have to do some more reading. Cheers.
