Chris N. on Mt Seymour:
“Snow was somewhat wet and heavy almost all the way to the first peak. If you stuck to the trail, snowshoes were probably not needed (but you would posthole off trail). Given the amount of snow lower down, I had expected more higher up but it may have been due to wind scour. Around the peak, there was a stiff wind crust and small pockets of wind-deposited powder. Many trees were bending under a load of crusty, icy snow and snowbombs were frequent (and dangerous as they were large and icy). Surprisingly, trail traffic was relatively light for a snowy weekend. Temperatures were warm with a slight inversion – slightly above freezing at the peak and warmer than the city at the parking lot. Visibility was outstanding but flurries moved in while we were on the peak. This became rain as we descended below Brockton Point.”
Tag Archives: Mt Seymour
Mystery Lake, 6 Aug 2014
Steve v. at Mystery Lake:
“Looking at the weather report I assumed it was going to be a cooking hot day worthy of an “after work” swim, but it turned out to be a bit cooler with cloud. I had 2 full cars of sign-ups and on game day we opted to hike first to Mystery Peak, then down to the lake. It turned out to be a good move making it a bit longer and by the time we reached the lake some sun had broken through. The added bonus is that Mystery Lake is probably one of the warmest mountain lakes I’ve ever been in (everyone agreed, not just my opinion!): in fact it was quite comfortable. After eating and drying off we walked out as the sun set.
While the nights are still long and warm enough, I highly suggest this trip for a weeknight evening escape. You can shorten the hike part by going directly to the lake from the parking lot and avoiding Mystery Peak.”
Mt Seymour cycling, 12 Jun 2013
Tu Loan cycling up Mt Seymour:
“This trip report almost did not happen. Due to problems with the service provider, TLT’s callout was sent out way past the sign-up deadline. Luckily, Emeric ignored the fine print and signed up to join her for the ride. After meeting at the Superstore in North Van, they rode to the base of Mt. Seymour to meet up with Chris M., a very last minute participant, with his classic model mountain bike. Lucky for him, this was TLT’s first callout and was just happy that anyone would want to join her for the trek up Seymour!
The weather couldn’t have been better, with blue skies and a slight coolness in the air. Wildflowers on the side of the road prettified the trip. A fawn was also spotted. These were all planned by the organizer, of course. Animated chatter could be heard all the way up to km 10, mostly from TLT. The boys put up with it until their inner-Hesjedals took over and cranked it up for the last two km, which also happened to be the steepest part of the ride. They were kind enough to double back when they reached the top to ride with TLT to the finish line. How chivalrous!
They basked in their glory for a few minutes before making the quick and cold descent. It took 1 hour 20 mins to climb from the base and about 10 mins to fly down.”
Dog Mountain 26/12/12
Chris M. night-snowshoeing on Dog Mountain:
“Melissa, Donna, Cara and I walked along the well-beaten path to Dog Mountain. Then we turned north and ploughed through wonderful fresh snow. It felt like an exploration into another world. Only a small sphere of terrain was visible, every few minutes something different growing out of the darkness. We spent an hour wandering until we arrived at First Lake again. Then took the regular trail back to the parking lot. The snow on the ground was perfect. Plus a light dusting falling down around us. Made for a terrific outing!”
Mt Seymour 23/11/12
Chris M. on a night-time snowshoe to Mt Seymour:
“Ten people roamed Seymour in the dark. There was enough snow to warrant snowshoes. We ended up on a bluff overlooking the city, however the fog obscured any views. Everyone was happy enough, playing on snow in November! Headlamps being our only light source made for a neat mood. Thanks to Lindsay, Gillian, Donna, Jeff, Alice, Hiromi, Pieter, Tracy & Danielle for making this such a fun night outing!”
Mt Seymour 10/11/12
Andy on Mt Seymour:
“Eight of us enjoyed a gorgeous blue-sky day on Mt Seymour, albeit a touch on the chilly side. Our lunch spot at the peak was the only place for miles around with a cloud between it and the sun. Brrr! Thankfully there was no wind, and when the cloud moved on, the sunshine was most welcome. Best of all, the Thermos I won at the party kept my soup piping hot! No snow but lots and lots of ice which made the trail a little tricky in a few places. The worst was between Second and Third peak where the tiny ledge was mostly covered in ice. Fortunately there was enough dry rock to make it safe enough, with care. All of the puddles and tarns were frozen over – many of the shallower ponds were frozen solid – and we found one to enjoy some sliding and even a game of curling. Just in time – I bet it’s under a foot of snow now!
There were plenty of people out enjoying the sun – the parking lot was pretty full by the time we got back to the cars. Our plan was to head to Deep Cove for a doughnut, but the wait was half-an-hour, so we made ourselves comfortable at The Raven pub instead. Thank you all for a great day out!”
Mt Seymour 29/07/12
Carollyne on Mt Seymour:
“Five of us headed up. The weather: disappointing – low cloud that turned into fog for most of the hike, so no views were to be seen until we were back at the parking lot. The black flies: intense!!! The view of Seymour from Vancouver: deceptive – there’s still a lot of snow up there. By the time you reach First Peak, it is solid snow except for larger rock outcrops such as the peak itself. Another hiker returning from Third Peak reported that from Second to Third is all snow. Due to the weather mostly, we decided First Peak was enough for today. The inspiring conversations and harmonious group (Nuria, Marisa, Holly and Melonie) made for a great hike however, regardless of the conditions.”
AST-1 Course 04/12/10
Steve on the Canada West Mountain School AST-1 course:
“Ten of us joined another 22 people in a course mixing skiers and snowshoers for our AST-1 (basic avalanche) certification. At first I thought the class size was large but what it did was expose us to 4 instructors from a variety of backgrounds.
The classroom component on day one was just the right amount to hold our attention and give us the basics and then it was out to the snow on the first of 2 and amazing Seymour days!
Saturday and Sunday we covered: snow testing, companion beacon rescue, avalanche terrain recognition and more.
A big thanks to John, Linda, and Steve from Canada West Mountain School for the break on price, and all of the wisdom they passed on to us! I highly recommend this course for anyone interested in winter backcountry travel. It wasn’t just educational, it was a blast!”
Mt Seymour 04/12/10
Chris M. at Pump Peak on Mt Seymour:
“Three snowshoers and 2 skiers started up Seymour at 2 pm. The parking lot was crammed but the trail wasn’t too crowded. We went up the southwest face of Pump Peak. Laurie, Irina and Dan walked and slid back down, while Glen and I enjoyed a few turns. The evening light for all of us was magnificent.”
Mt Seymour 06/02/10
Rob M. on an evening snowshoe to Mt Seymour:
“I had forgotten the appeal of an evening snowshoe where the visual hike is dimmed and conversation comes out suddenly from the dark. Without the big picture wrapping all around us we were kept in the moment of the snow beneath our feet. For the most part the snowpack was hiking boot enabled. With some aggressive and skilled toeing and heeling we made it to the first pump without incident. The view from Brockton Point was a nudge and carrot to carry on to the summit. The final push, while daunting at first, was approached with a spirited energy that paid off with an unlimited view of the city lighting up a low ceiling with a few starts twinkling through the canopy. The Seymour evening really lit up when two Wanderung newbies – Nadia and Shannon – offered up a warming beverage followed by sweet chestnuts and Eugene’s Belgium chocolates. With a soporific warm glow on, we floundered our way back to the parking lot. Trying to find a reasonable pub turned out to be another episode. The Raven’s Head was choc-a-bloc with wrestling fanatics. We caravaned through an industrial area around Arcteryx based on an old email someone read about a pub being in that neighbourhood.
After settling and tucking in we had a lively conversation about… silence.”
