Grouse mountain is in north Vancouver and its one of three mountains in the range that are big hiking/snow sports type places. Its currently summer so no snow but amazing views. They also have two wolves and two bears. Ed's uni friend Hobbit works on the mountain, he currently lives with Amanda who has worked there for 5 years and manages stuff. She gets to live in a cabin on the mountain for free and has very kindly been putting us up. This is amazing for us as we get to ride up and down the mountain every day in cable cars for free. We also got to see all the shows like birds of pray and the lumberjack show on top of the mountain for free.
The best part so far due to Hobbits connections is that we got to do a honey call for the bears. Normally only staff do this. Its in case the bears ever need to be shut in the covered part of their habitat for any reason they 'train' them to come to the house when called to be fed honey.
So with only a metal fence between us and two honey craving grizzlys we got to fed them with a spoon. We were so close they could sneeze on us and I even got liked by one whist holding the bowl to the fence for them to finish of the last of the honey. Their names are Grinder and Cooler and were both orphaned in different incidences so brought to Grouse mountain. I don't always like animals in captivity but they probably would have died in the wild plus their habitat is very big and natural and they seem pretty happy. One thing I will say is they are huge (60 stone), particularly when a foot away from you, you can really appreciate the size and power, so so cool!!!!!!!!!!!! I love Bears!!!!!!
We also got to go up a chair lift to the eye of the wind, which is a huge turbine on top of the mountain, with full panoramic views.
As for hiking we have to do a small very upward climb from the cabin to the cable car to get off the mountain, this has been some welcome exercise after over indulging in tacos in Mexico. However there is a trail called the Grouse Grind that is very well known and a must do. We'll see, we may attempt it at our own pace.
By Things
Photos of the view from Grouse, an Eagle from the birds of prey show, the bear I fed and the Eye of the wind.
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