Only experienced climbers should approach the summit

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ing the very deep ravine between you and your goal.

The trail clearly descends to your right into Crown Pass. It is more of a route than a trail at times. Keep a sharp eye out for the fluorescent tapes and watch your footing — the last part follows a steep, often wet, ereekbed.

Strewn with huge boulders, Crown Pass looks like the devil's back garden.

Snow lingers here in the shade, so a word of warning: whenever you hear running water beneath snow, proceed very carefully. Probe with a stick or the shaft of an ice-axe before you put your full weight on a snow-slope that may be eaten away by meltwater underneath.

} once crashed through and landed on all fours in a stream five feet below — refreshing, but if there had been a rock or snag sticking up...

Snow is likely to be rotten at the edges where undercut moats form between it and exposed rock. Be especially careful when transferring from snow to rock or vice yersa.

From the Goat — Little Goat ridge — you will have seen a ver- tical rock face on the south-east side of Crown Mountain

The flagged. route rises in the trees just west and is steep, but easier than you’d expect from the frontal view.

It also parallels the cliffs so closely in places that a careless step off the trail into the huckleberries could have you walking on air, so be aware.

The flagged route takes a long westerly zig across the Slabs to a saddle in the western ridge, then a cerresponding zag cast along the tidge-top to a notch where the west face af The Pyramid meets a ragged arete (sometimes called The Widowmaker) to form a deep crater hidden from below,

This is a perfect spot for those who dislike exposed heights to stop, have lunch and enjoy fan- tastic views of Capilano water- shed, the Lions, Lynn Head- waters, the Lower Mainland, ete.

The rock scramble to the top is not technically difficult, but if you fall, you're toast,

The first time 1 climbed it, | saw my partner strolling around up there in the breeze and assumed it was a flat summit. When | slung my leg over the rim, it went down the other side and | felt like a man mounting a very skinny horse. .

The drop on the north side doesn’t match the south, but it will cause you to suck wind if you're not expecting it, I'm sure you'll note a very clear set of my fingertips etched into the rock.

Kiss the summit marked by an orange dot for luck and retreat to a ledge for lunch. Both the slightly lower Camel, (4,900 feet/1,495 m) and the arete offer excellent rock climbing in a superb alpine set-

ting, but should be approached only by experienced, well-equip- ped climbers,

For routes to 5,9 (high degree of difficulty) on The Camel, con- sult’ Bruce Fairley’s A Guide to Climbing & Hiking in Southwest- ern B.C. (Soules, $24.95, and worth every penny).

Note: Crown Mountain is technically in) a corner of the Capilano watershed. According to Hoyle, you should have permis- sion to go in there.

Because of the beauty and con- venience of the approach, it's become a popular destination, and the rules aren't being enforced to the letter. You can bet they will be if irresponsible visitors trash the place.

Don't contribute anything to the water system you wouldn’t want to drink later, and pick up any- thing left around by people less conscientious than you.

A final note: whenever you go on any hike, tell someone who’s not going along where you're go- ing, by what route, and what time you expect to be back; then check in the minute you're out of the woods.

You don’t want to be found swilling self-congratulatory margaritas in Jumpers while the North Shore Rescue Team is com- bing the hills, just because you forgot to make a phone call.

And don't change destinatio:s or routes on a trailside whim; you can come back and_ explore another day.

NEWS phato Cindy Goodman

FOUR-YEAR-OLD Madeline Sioan, her sister Penelope and dad Frank paint on a huge piece of fabric in Cates Park. The hands-on art was just one of the many things to do at the Under the Voicano festival held on Sunday, August 8.

_ Teams match wits in spelling bee

VANCOUVER BIZ BEE... Come and join the fun as Vancouver’s best spellers emerge from a 30-

team spelling bee. The action takes place on Thursday, Aug. 26 at the Discovery Theatre in the Plaza of Nations in Vancouver. The North Shore News is but one of the local businesses that have entered a three-member team. Proceeds from the celebrity-filled event go towards Literacy B.C. For more information call Linda at 684- 1481 or 687-5077,

MEDIEVAL FESTIVAL...

sudden-death elimination -

Journey back in time to the days of King Arthur and the knights of the Round Table, damsels in distress and fire breathing dragons on Sunday, Aug. 29 from 1 to 5 p.m, at Waterfront -Park (200- bleck West Esplanade, North Vancouver). The Society for Cre- ative Anachronism will be perfor- ming a number of demonstrations in period costume, including swordfighting and dancing. Call 988-0304 for details.

FITNESS INSTRUCTOR COURSE... This 43-hour course at the Wes: Vancouver recreation

centre meets every Wednesday from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., Sept. 22 to Dec. 15. The course, open to all. ages, will include theory and practical experience in basic anat- omy, exercise physiology, kinesiology principles, C.P.R. and much more. Please register by Sept. 13 at 926-3266. The fee is $209 plus GST.

if your community group has an upcoming event, send a press release to Community Bulletin Board, c/o North Shore News, 1139 Lonsdale Ave., North Vaa- couver, V7M 2H4, or fax 985- 3227,

PHOTO submitted

HIGH ADVENTURER John Mocre straddles the peak of Crown Mountain and plants a kiss on its craggy crown.