28 — Friday, September 12, 1997 ~ North Shore News

| Expand your boundaries

THE stated purpose of the Outdoor Pursuits Centre

(OPC) is

simple: To

expand per-

sonal tound-

aries

through a

shaved wilderness experi- ence,

Since January, the unique North Vancouver recreation __. commission program has bees “sharing and expanding the fives of North Shore adventurers.

The brainchild of John Mullins, the former head of the commission’s outdoor recre- ation section, the OPC charges a yearly membership fee and in retum offers numerous out- door adventures, including hik- ing, biking, kayaking. Adult memberships are $49 a year (family and senior rates are in the works).

In addition, OPC members get dis- counts and special offers from the private companies - affiliated with the centre, including Deep Cove Canoe and Kayak Centre, Pinnacle Pursuits, The Edge Climbing Centre and retail stores the Great Outdoors and Coast Mountain | Spores.

“Everybody is trying to ways to make money "nd make things pay for

themselves, and John’s idea from the inning was to get the centre off the

. *2* ground, and then sell the concept to other

Seca ue Dil o i ject. To date, the OPC counts bo. elt

members, and while Dibnah says they were hoping for more at this stage, the positive response from participants bodes well for the future. “I thought we'd have 200 by now, but ., considering we're really limited with out marketing dollars we’re doing okay,” Dibnah says. Although the outdoors —

year,”

reports Mountain’s Nancy Chilton.

especially of the variety here on the North Shore -— is often anunforgiving environ- ment, the CPC tailors its guided programs for novice and — semi-experienced adventurers.

“We're trying to make people feel safe out there, to develop their own skills so eventually they can go out on their own without a guide,” explained Dibnah. “Buc we also have alot of people who have expe- rience but are just looking to meet people to do stuff with.”

According to Dibnah, a recent graduate of Capilano College’s highly-regarded Outdoor Rec program, the graded hiking program has Been the runaway success story of the CPC's first season,

In particular, a summer dayhike to the Lions was so well-received it was added to the Fall Moderate Plus hiking scries (Sorry, but it’s too Iste to register for the Sepr. 14 hike). Future hikes offered include Elfin Lakes (Sept. 27) and Petgili lake (Oct. 12).

Upcoming dayhikes in the popular Easy Hiking Serics include Yew

Grouse

moring would give anyone that extra litde something to

TAGGING along on an Outdoor Pursulte Centre day hike will take you on many a varied trail, including this new foot bridge over the Checkamus River on the trail up to Black Tusk near Whistler.

Lake (tumorrow), Lynn Canyon/Rice Lake (Sept. 20), Cedar Mill Trail (Sept. 27), Goldie Lake (Oct. 4), Spanish Banks (Oct. 18) and Capilano Regional Park (Oct. 25). Ourings in the Moderate Hiking Series include Black Mountain Loop (tomorrow), Lynn Peak (Sept. 20), Brother's Creek Traij (Sept. 27), Seymour 3-Peaks (Oct. 4), Lower Hollyburn (Oct 18) and Mosquito Creek-Capilano Loop (Oct. 25). A weekly bicycle daytrip offers relatively casy 20-50 km rides through some of the Lower Mainiand’s most scenic destinations: Seaside Bicycle Route (Sept. 14), Pacific Spirit Park (Sept. 20) and Pitt River Dyke (Sept. 27).

If you’re interested in checking out this great way to explure the North Shore out- doors, attend the next OPC Info Night (the first Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m. at the Lonsdale Recreation Centre (123 East 23rd St., North Van).

Or, call the OPC office at 987-7529 (local 9666).

And prepare to expand your bound- aries.

draws. All are also invited to the

post-race barbecue on top of:

Grouse grind

* YOUR chance to pat your

thighs to the test hits the trail next Saturday.

The 7th annual Grouse “Grind Hill Climb — gives “Grinders” the opportunity to measure their vertical prowess _ against sweaty contemporaries in a competitive, yet fun, event. “We're really hoping ro get over 400 participants this

* Despite the fact more than 80,600 people have “done the grind” this year, the annual competitive event attracts only a few hundred. Chilton believes many who do the grind weekly shy away from the annual

event because they aren’t really

interested in “racing.”

“But the way they should look at it is to just try and beat their own personal best time,” says Chilton. She adds that the competitive energy on race

post a personal best.

In vidition to the requisite tshirt, this year’s participants will get a fanny pack/water bottle holder and a chance to win a number of random

Grouse. The Grouse Grind starts at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 20. Late registration 1s from 8 to 9:30 a.a. For more details and to register call 930- 9311. — Andrew McCredie

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