Eagle Bluffs

April 22, 2024 - Cypress Provincial Park in West Vancouver

Stats: 9.45 km / 630m gain / 1248m high / 3:15 hours MT

What better way to celebrate Earth Day than to get out into the nature on such a brilliantly sunny day?

We started out on the Black Mt. trail of which 99% of the trail was covered in snow. So the stone stairs were not visible and neither were the tarns.

Our first viewpoint overlooking Howe Sound, just past the Cabin trail junction and on the Baden Powell trail -- west.

After this viewpoint the trail angled downwards to Eagle Bluffs.

The Lions in the background.

Faint evidence of the water underneath.

The up side about doing this hike in the snow, is that we ran into only three people on a normally busy trail.

Group shot, back row, left to right: Cal F, Fred H, Lonja B, Brian H, Case T, Dave S, Danny G, Terry B, Lori B

Front row: Peter F, Lorenz B, Susan V, me and faithful Peter E holding the flag (looks like he's taking this responsibility pretty seriously)

video taken from Eagle Bluffs

The skyscrapers and harbour of Vancouver engulfed by the Stanley Park peninsula -- southeast.

Horseshoe Bay with Vancouver Island on the horizon -- south.

Howe Sound -- southwest

Bowen Island -- west.

The birds were quite bold on the bluffs. You couldn't leave any food out or the ravens would grab it.

Terry favorite bird.

This baby raven was being fed by it's mother. Between feeds it made a consistent high "caw".

Other than a young couple, we had the whole bluff area to ourselves.

On the way back, we turned left by Cabin Lake and hiked about 20 minutes to the summit of Black Mt.

Howe Sound.

The Lions.

It was approaching mid afternoon and the snow was getting softer and more slippery.

A few hikers did some butt sliding down the steep sections. Whether that was their choice or not, remains an unknown for the sake of their self-dignity.

Lesson to be learned: at this time of year, its best to always keep your micro-spikes in your backpack. Thanks to those who lent some of us one of their micro-spikes. It would've been difficult to go without. Hats off to Dave, who did.