Goat mountain

Activity date: Early October 2010
Energy level: 9/10
Cost: $0

We made it to the top of Goat Mountain!

It was a lovely Fall day -- 23 degrees C, and sunny. As we rode the gondola up to the Grouse Mountain recreation area we passed through a layer of low cloud that made me wonder whether it was prudent to go hiking in the woods, but the cloud was just passing. The entire day was lovely. I actually got slightly sunburned.

We followed the Alpine Ridge trail from Grouse Mountain. When we signed in at the trail head, there were notes from hikers that there were two bear cubs and a mother bear on the trail. We kept our eyes open, but did not see them.

The trail is rugged but the boys and I were full of energy. There were some good spots to stop along the way and forage for blueberries.

After an hour and half of scrambling over rocks and tree roots, the trail leveled out. We were on a ridge, skirting the crater around Kennedy Lake. We stopped to admire the view.

The signs said we were about 1km from the summit but what they didn't say was that the rest of the hike was vertical. There were even a few chains installed to hold onto while climbing the rocks. Our trusty trail guide book says the final ascent is 120 meters.

I think that my reassurances that "we're almost there" will never be given any credence in future. But we made it to the top -- a rocky mesa with spectacular views in all directions.

Thing 1 and Thing 2 are in excellent physical shape but this is by far the most grueling hike they have ever done. I was hiking in boots but they were only wearing sneakers. The trail was wetter than it had been on our previous adventures, and some of the rocks were slippery. Next season they get their own hiking boots. Several older hikers were impressed to see a six and eight year old tackling the mountain.

On the way back, they still had plenty of energy although Thing 2 stumbled several times. They were hoping for a treat from the concession stand in the touristy area at Grouse Mountain but it was just after 5pm when we got back and the stands were closed.

I always tell the boys to keep a look out for deer on the side of the trail. There was a deer casually grazing in the touristy area, oblivious to the tourists with their cameras.

We had to wait in line approximately 20 minutes for the gondola back down the mountain, then we headed off to the nearest Scottish restaurant to scarf down some dinner.

The boys slept well and were none the worse for wear the next day.