Return to Grouse Mountain July 2019

 We took a gondola ride to the top of Grouse Mountain in North Vancouver.

I didn't see it posted anywhere, but if you can prove you are local (BC driver's licence) you can get a discount on a return gondola ride.

Mountain Admission Tickets include a scenic round trip Skyride, access to the Peak Chairlift, World-Famous Lumberjack Shows, Birds in Motion Demonstrations and visits to the Grizzly bear habitat.

We were very lucky to see both Coola and Grinder.

Grinder was found in 2001 in Invermere, BC. He was wandering alone on a logging road, dehydrated, thin, weak and weighing only 4.5 kg. His mother was never found so we’ll probably never know why he was alone. Grinder is outgoing and high-spirited. He has established himself as the dominant bear despite his smaller size. If you see Grinder and Coola play fighting, you can bet he started it. 

In 2001, Coola was found orphaned on a highway near Bella Coola, BC. His mother had been killed by a truck and, of her three cubs, Coola was the only one to survive. Coola is an easygoing bear who’s content to let Grinder take the lead in new discoveries. He can usually be found submerged up to his neck in the large pond, carefully feeling around for his underwater 'bath toys' - a log, large bone and favourite rock.

 https://www.grousemountain.com/wildlife-refuge 

Had to stop for a snack after the Ranger Talk about the bears and what could be better than a BeaverTail (a Canadian doughnut)

We learned a lot from the Remarkable Raptors demonstration.

Grouse Mountain

A view of Vancouver from the gondola

Grouse Mountain towers 4,000 ft (1,200 m) over Vancouver and offers winter and summer activities.
On this trip we had a 4 year old photographer.

Waiting to take the gondola up the mountain

Lunch at the top. The view is amazing!

He took a lot of pictures of the trees

Passing another gondola car

The photographer resting in an owl carving

Fawn, with her spots, and mother

Grinder or Coola?

Grizzlies, Grinder and Coola, were found orphaned in 2001 and relocated to the Wildlife Refuge at the top of the mountain. At the bottom of the mountain we saw Alpha, the timber wolf.