THIS WEEK’S PIC At QUEBEC tourlet Dominic Bourgault, five, sits atop four-year-old Zulu, one of 13 horses Shannon Traii Grouse Mountain adventure. you're a firm believer in the o!d aw “Horsepower was a wonderful thing when only horses ha It,” my advice is to head for the hills, Grouse Motintain, in its ever-expanding — summer activity mandate, is hosting a two-week trial trail-riding program through July 30. And judging from the reaction of visitors atop the mountain Monday morning, the sound of horse's whinnying will become as common to the North Shore mountain as is the decp-throated beat of grouse, the click and whirr of cameras, and the short-breathed exclamations of tourists. Vancouver-based Shannon Trail Rides is operating, the trial . Company man- ager Suzanne Ainsworth belicves the trail-rid- ing experience is just the thing for the moun- tain “My mother gets hundreds of calls cach summer from people looking for trail-riding MPAA THEME «VIOLENCE COARSE Crinics' ERAGE = RATING Gone) horror SOLENNADaFnaneeenanearnesatnnseoeraaseraneses on lots Ides uses to take riders on 4 one-hour the North Shore,” Suzanne says. Her mother, Judy, is the president of the North Vancouver Chamber of Commerce, Ainsworth and Shannon Trail Rides’ owner Jim Howcroft struck upon the horses-on-the-mountain idea, ; According to Grouse Mountain president Stuart McLaughlin, hors- ¢s afc not strangers to the mountain. “Phyllis and Don Munday used to run pack horses right up the front face of the mountain back before the trolley went up Lonsdale,” McLaughlin reports. The Mundays, true mountaineers, used Grouse as a base for their excursions back into Crown and Cathedral mountains. approached When Shannon Trail Rides McLaughlin with the idea earlier this year, he decided it was time to give it 2 try. “We just wantcd to sce what the public perception is to it, and we want to make sure the horses are comfortable with the type of terrain they have to cover,” he said. PPC ORT UPR VIDEO PICK” LANG ee a PG-13 PG comedy non PG. comedy some much Naar i ly, mild mild - . y Friday, July 18, 1997 ~ North Shore News ~ 28 © urleg drive If things work out well during the two week trial, he adds, there's a orn! chance tt will be long-term operation next year Monday morning 1 was teamed with 19+ year-old Joe, the elder statesinen of the 13 sores that make up the Grouse trail-riding contingent, As it’s been 16 years since T last sat in the saddle, Joe's slow but even cadence suited this city slicker just fine, Joined by Ainsworth on Scout, guide Diana Davies atap Annie and guide Margaret Edwards-Jones on Sharka, we headed from mid-station down. Hlueberry a spell, cut across the Centennial and Expo ski runs towards the Side Cut, then prone led to the half-way point on the Cut. Ve hopped off our trusty steeds and took in the beauriful city below, It's amazing how a little sunshine makes us so quickly forget that R-word, Once the prerequisite photos were taken, we jumped back into the saddle and retraced our route back to the stable. The one-hour ride took 65 minutes, though it’s fair to say Joe's inexperienced pas- senger held up the foursome, The helpful and patient guides made that inexperience unim- portant however, as my plaintive cries of “whoa” were met with quick and simple advice that Joe seemed to understand. Horse sense, I guess. As we retumed to the stable, a young Quebec tourist was emerging from a trail head atop Zulu, a four-year-ok Norwegian Fjord horse. A closer look at this rare and exotic ani- mal revealed faint stripes along the lines of a. zcbra, The passenger, just a year older than her four-legged friend, was so taken by the horse that it was quite a job getting her off Zulu. Even when she was back on two feet, Dominic Bourgault didn’t take her eyes off Zulu. Over at the other end of the stable, a 12-year-old girl was strapping on a helmet and asking Diana which horse was hers, The girl’s father was dutifully filling out the waiver form. .. Trail riding atop Grouse Mountain is avail- able erry day through Wednesday, July 30. Cost is $35 per person for the one-hour ride. For more information, call the Grouse Mountain Adventure Centre at 984-0661, extension 317. : DEMONSTRATIC Saturday July 19 10am-Ipm :. *: A Killarney Lake Hike for adults is being held Thunday, July 24, from 9:50 aim, to 3:20 pn. on Bowen Island ‘The guided, interpretive hike in Crippen Regional Park will take you into Higleat Maple country, which is inhabited by Kingfishers, swal- lows and ducks, Pack your own lunch fora midday meal on the park’s well-maintained boardwalk, The GVRD pro- gram is §9 per persion and advanced booking [s required. ‘The fee does not include the ferry trip from Horseshve Bay For more information, call 432-6359 weekdays |. between 8 am, and 4 p.m.: eee Those with a love for the great outdoors are no doubt awed by the sight of deer in. the wild, But remember that human interaction with , serious repercussions, The Ministry of the Environment, Lands and Parks reminds the public to leave fawns alone, According toa release, mother deer often leave their young, alone in tall grass so as to throw off their concentrat- ed scent, which could attract predators such as wolves and cougars, " Met, N- Less man ~ o , * $600 | oof > ae : : eh ‘A —_ Build Retaining Walls - Like the Pros! 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