PRE GL ta nae ie date! apy big ORIGINALLY CALLED Sheba’s Paps, the Lions are Vancouver's most distine- tive alpine landmarks. By John Moore Contributing Adventurer The slightly higher West Lion (1,646 m/5,40] ft.) has been a favorite mountaineering destina- tion since it was first climbed in 1889 by H. Bell-Irving, J. Capilano and a native companion. The lower (1,599 m/5,245 ft.) East Lion, deceptively more benign, is actually a pile of unreliable, treacherous shale de- servedly unpopular with climbers and to be avoided by novices. It's also technically in the wa- tershed and out of bounds. Forget it. Aside from its geographical prominence, climbing the West Lion offers an opportunity to field-test a wide range of moun- taineering skills: walking, trudg- ing, moaning and groaning, blister first aid, crossing snow slopes and finally, vertical rock-climbing with a nerve-rattling exposure factor, There are two main approaches. The Howe Sound Crest Trail out of Cypress Bowl is long, in- terrupted by several serious ravines, and not practical for a day-trip except by masochistic spandex-clad commandos or Foreign Legionnaires on vacation. If you're really into the March or Die! thing, go for it. -The express route leaves from Lions Bay via Harvey logging road, accessed from Sunset Road in the Upper Lions Bay area. Note: . this is a residential street without special parking facilities, and if you leave your heap par- tially obstructing someone’s driveway, expect that person to act as you would under similar circumstances. Make an early start; the swit- chback logging road always seems one turn too long and is best. done, cool, while the sun. is still behind © and abundant; it’s an: easy rock- the peaks. At the top, your complaining thighs get a break as the road takes a long, level southern swing toward Harvey Creek,. and the... north slopes of the aptly named ; Unnecessary Mountain. “horizontal The road swings west toward Harvey bow! behind the Lions’ ice-sheathed north slope. Markers on the right’ indicate where a trail descends to Harvey Creek; cross it and put your head down for some serious slogging. The trail has been vastly improved but it's sti! one of the great reasons for quitting smoking. You break out of the trees on a tidge behind the Lions, which of- fers views of the bowl and the idyllic littke ice-lake at the foot of the Lions’ usually hidden north side. Take deep breaths and follow the ridge across the rock/snow slope southwest up to Unnecessary Ridge (the long conspicuous shoulder of the West Lion). At this time of year, there is still a formidable cornice of jive and compact snow overhang in the north side of the ridge. It is worth keeping an eye on it and being aware when you walk up it from the saddle between Unnecessary Mountain and the West Lion. Stick to the southwest slope of the ridge; you don’t want to ride the Avalanche Express to Lions Bay. : The ridge offers magnificent views of Howe Sound and the Sunshine Coast on one hand and the entire Lower Mainland on the other; a perfect picnic spot, and from here on, your susceptibility to vertigo will be tested. If you go for the summit, you’re through hiking and into climbing. There is a fixed chain, if you can find it under the snow, to help you descend from the ridge to a very narrow saddle between it and the Lion. Jt only takes one step to cross, but it’s a huge step with no hand-rail and heart-skip- ping exposure on both sides. Hard to make if your knees are watery. : Once across, follow the orange dots painted on the rocks ina traverse around the west side of the peak to a shallow vertical couloir/gully that leads to the summit. Hand- and foot-holds are solid ‘climb that’s been done by people in sneakers and biker-boots. “/{The record for Youngest First Ascent is held by Maxine Fischer, ‘daughter of: The Edge Climbing Centre’s ‘general manager, Ed, SET EEDP ACR ECR PEN ERIE ACOUET INET i SOTO EEE NEWS photo Torry Poiers THE LIONS are a distinctive sight on the North Shore mountains. High. Adventure reporter John Ploore takes you on a step-by-step, hand-over-hand, ascent of the West Lions in today’s high adventure. Maxine did it at five months, in ufero, a mark | suspect will stand for some time, particularly because it was under semi-blizzard conditions in mid-March. Top that, boys.) oe Though this isn’t a difficult rock-climb, the degree of ex- posure is dramatic. Some people get a Mat- terhorn-sized adrenalin rush while others, even seasoned hikers, freeze or, worse still, fall. . Fatal here. The view. from the flat summit is simply the most head-spinning 360-degree panorama: in the Lower Mainland, but please don’t get goofy and stroll too close to the edge, particularly on the north side when snow is. still present. There may actually be nothing under you but air. Lots and lots of air. - Allow about three hours for We Specialize| . Fn Renovations Kitchen Bathroom Ceramic Tile Basements In law suites Garages Carports and Decks Professional Planning — Planning and Building Consultant REFERENCES AVAILABLE — FREE ESTIMATES JENID UNTERIGIS LTD. 929-7204 accidents have occurred | return; after a three- to four-hour approach, a very full day. Tighten your faces and watch your step on the logging road go- ing down — tired legs and loose shale underfoot are a recipe for a twisted ankle. Enterprising kids from, Lions Bay sometimes flog lemonade on: the trail; higher elevations charge higher prices. You .won’t care. Pay the toll to the trolls. TO CELEBRATE THE . 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