John Harvey Photo

Als Habrich Trail

Go to Slide Show Smaller Images Taking the kids for a hike


Helen is working this weekend and we didn't have any activities planned for Sunday so I decided to take the girls hiking.  Last year we stopped in the parking lot of the Sea to Sky Gondola to see Shannon falls and I was quite impressed with the kids playground so I did a bit more research and decided to visit again to access the hiking.

In Queue For GondolaGondola Leaving Base Station

The kids of been on gondola's before but I think rising up out of the parking lot to fly above the trees still got them excited.   

Gondola Rising Up Mountain


Walking Suspension Bridge
The top of the gondola is everything you would expect for a tourist destination - a gift shop, a cafeteria style restaurant and lots of places to soak in the view.   The kids walked out over the suspension bridge (they liked the bouncy) and we headed into the walking trails.


Climbing Up Rock StaircaseCrossing Creek With Rope
There are lots of groomed trails wide enough to support a golf cart.  We picked a narrower trail heads up to Mount Habrich knowing we would never get to the destination.  The trail starts out very good and eventually finds a creek without a bridge - I think intended to signal a turn around point for the unprepared hiker.



Blooming Lichens


We hiked for about an hour before the kids needed lunch.  We found a nice rock bluff with a view (but not steep drop offs) and shade.  I  enjoyed the view and the kids enjoyed lunch and a break.  The kids were working hard - they got hot quick in the open sun (and refused to wear their hats) and they went through their water fast.
 

View From Lunch

Lunch With A ViewRed Breasted Sap Sucker
A few birds came to visit while we ate lunch.  A Steller's Jay was looking for hand outs and a Red Breasted Sapsucker did his rounds on a few near by trees.


The kids wanted to go up a bit further so we kept on the trail and got higher into the alpine.  Heather started to appear and the trees got smaller.  Claira got silly so I decided it was time to return home.

Scrambling Up RockClimbing RocksWaterfall Hidden In TreesHeather

On the way home we looked a little more at plants.  They found cushions of moss on a seeping rock face and were amazed at how soft they were.   Years ago, Claira tried pulling moss off of trees to get me frustrated - kids do change.

Touching MossCanadian Bunchberry
 
Ice Cream At Trips End

We got back to the upper station and refilled our water bottles with cold water.  The kids spotted the ice cream (most hikes don't end in ice cream) so we had a snack. 


Gondola Ride Back Down
We got into a gondola going down (no line up!) and were treated to a great view of Howe Sound and about a hundred people kite surfing.  Helen got off work at 4pm and I had hopes that we would be in town to pick her up.  The Lions gate bridge was badly backed up (as it is most Sunday evenings) so we wound up waiting about 45 minutes to get into town.  Claira slept in the car and Mom did some paperwork.  Great day hiking!




Red Breasted Sap Sucker
Species: Sphyrapicus ruber (Red-breasted Sapsucker)
Altitude: 983m (3225 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: bird
Climbing Up Rock Staircase
Altitude: 866m (2841 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: hiking
View From Lunch
Altitude: 982m (3221 feet)
Location: Go To...
Ice Cream At Trips End
Person: Claira, Nara
Altitude: 882m (2893 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: ice cream, picnic table
Waterfall Hidden In Trees
Altitude: 988m (3241 feet)
Location: Go To...
Canadian Bunchberry
Species: Cornus canadensis (Canadian Dogwood, Canadian bunchberry)
Altitude: 887m (2910 feet)
Location: Go To...
Climbing Rocks
Altitude: 1011m (3316 feet)
Location: Go To...
Walking Suspension Bridge
Altitude: 881m (2890 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: bridge
Touching Moss
Altitude: 876m (2874 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: moss
Lunch With A View
Altitude: 982m (3221 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: lunch, meal with a view
Gondola Ride Back Down
Altitude: 654m (2145 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: cable car
Crossing Creek With Rope
Person: Claira, Nara
Altitude: 889m (2916 feet)
Location: Go To...
Heather
Species: Phyllodoce empetriformis (Pink Mountain-Heather)
Altitude: 1011m (3316 feet)
Location: Go To...
Blooming Lichens
Species: Cladonia bellidiflora (Toy Soldiers)
Altitude: 895m (2936 feet)
Location: Go To...
Gondola Rising Up Mountain
Altitude: 121m (396 feet)
Location: Go To...
Scrambling Up Rock
Person: Claira, Nara
Altitude: 1011m (3316 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: climbing, rock
Gondola Leaving Base Station
Altitude: 42m (137 feet)
Location: Go To...
In Queue For Gondola
Person: Claira, Nara
Altitude: 46m (150 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: cable car
Tags: cable car(2), hiking(1), ice cream(1), picnic table(1), meal with a view(1), lunch(1)
People: Claira(4), Nara(4)
From: John Harvey Photo > John Harvey Photo - Hiking > Als Habrich Trail

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Last Modified Sunday, January 22nd, 2023 at 00:01:35 Edit
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