Fromme / Grouse ride to the top this weekend?

[thewalrus]

Hi everyone... this will be my first post here, I just registered a few days ago. I've been riding XC for the exercise, don't own a serious freeride/downhill bike yet.

I rode to the top a few weeks ago, after one of the first snows. The top 1/5 of the road was a bit slippery with packed snow but it's doable with lowered rear tire pressure. I definitely needed *two* water bottles to do the elevation gain from 200m to 1125m (as measured by GPS).

Having not been to the top of Grouse in many years I was surprised to see an electric fence with wolves and a grizzly bear inside it. When was that installed? There were lots of tourists with cameras snapping photos of the animals...

Would anyone be interested in a exercise ride from the gate to the grouse mountain chalet (and back down again) on the 27th or 28th (Sat/Sun)?

[allex]

whats the snow situation up there in the ski area?

[thewalrus]

Originally posted by Location:.
whats the snow situation up there in the ski area?

I was at 790 metres elevation on the Fromme/Grouse road on Sat. afternoon, there were a few really tiny patches of snow before I turned around for the ride down... I think the chalet is at 1100-1150m, the peak is at 1250m.

The grouse mountain weather report says everything is still closed for skiing/boarding:

12 HOUR OUTLOOK:
Rain. Alpine temperature steady near 3. Rainfall amounts 15 to 25 mm. Freezing level 1300 metres.
24 HOUR OUTLOOK:
Rain. Alpine high 7. Rainfall amounts 25 to 35 mm. Freezing level 2200 metres.

I'm guessing that rain is going to melt away any accumulation.

http://www.grousemountain.com/report.cfm

[Lady Gravity]

i'm sure dante would love to join you - he'd probably do it in half the time, too

[Team2K]

i saw the grizzlies when they were babies (were suposed to be freed into the wild before they became big.....), but the wolves is news to me...

so far i've only made it to the saddle on the big bike a few times, but the encroaching darkness wouldn't allow me to continue my climb... would love to go all the way, but more likely something for the spring

[Danksi]

By 'Fromme/Grouse road' I assume you mean the Mt Highway access road? (I'm not up on my local geography yet)

How quickly would you be wanting to ride up and what trails would you be wanting to ride on the way down?

[thewalrus]

Originally posted by alan.danks
By 'Fromme/Grouse road' I assume you mean the Mt Highway access road? (I'm not up on my local geography yet)

How quickly would you be wanting to ride up and what trails would you be wanting to ride on the way down?

Yeah, the continuation of the Mountain Highway paved road... past the last trail heads (around 750m elevation) it continues westward to the ski area.

the last time I rode up I averaged around 8-11km/h by my bike computer, stopping a few times to rest. I ride a 26 pound XC hardtail bike, so any suggestions for not-too-extreme trails to hit on the way back are welcome.

[Danksi]

I've only ridden as high as Seventh Secret until now, not sure of the pace we were going - I'll be using my Gemini, but it's a good all round bike.

Some of the more natural Fromme trails I've enjoyed so far are 7th Secret, Leopard, Krinkum, Griffen etc, which makes a nice link-up and would take you back to Mt Highway.

I'm not sure about trails above 7th Secret, or how 'extreme' they are. Anyone else any thoughts?

Sat or Sunday morning would good for me.

[Team2K]

anything above 7th that i know of is eXtreme with a capital X. Just take the fireroad back to 7th and then the mellower 7th-Leppard etc. route which is good on an xc bike

[Tap]

I would be in for a weekend ride up Fromme. I've never been past the 7th switchback and I'm curious to see how far up it goes. I'm not sure how fast/slow I usually get up there but if you're not too focused on breaking the sound barrier I'm up. Connecting with 7th Secret would make for a great ride. You can do it with a full xc setup (i do).

Both Sat or Sun are ok with me.

[thewalrus]

Originally posted by Tap
I would be in for a weekend ride up Fromme. I've never been past the 7th switchback and I'm curious to see how far up it goes. I'm not sure how fast/slow I usually get up there but if you're not too focused on breaking the sound barrier I'm up. Connecting with 7th Secret would make for a great ride. You can do it with a full xc setup (i do).

Both Sat or Sun are ok with me.

Hi Tap,

It goes all the way to the grouse gondola and chalet at the top... the hot chocolate at their cafe is pretty good. bring a WARM jacket and gloves for the ride down, it's freezing up there! I was at the top today, there's no snow accumulation, but a few random flakes were falling.

here's a cut-and-paste from a PM between myself and Alan:

thewalrus wrote on 11-24-2004 05:32 PM:
Hi Al,

Would 10:00 (Sunday) be a good time for you? There's a slight chance I might have to cancel due to family engagements (american Thanksgiving south of the border), but I'll let you know on Fri. evening if that's the case...

I'll be at the mountain highway water fountain (left side of the road going up) wearing a red jacket, riding a silver Gary Fisher.

Sounds like a plan. I'll look out for the water fountain on the way up...

Depending on the weather, I'll be wearing a blue/black jacket, riding a Black Gemini, with either a black lid or bright yellow full-face.

Cheers,
Al.

[Danksi]

Originally posted by Tap
Both Sat or Sun are ok with me.

Hi.

I don't think we'll be trying to break any climbing records, but should be an interesting round trip...

We're meeting up at 10am Sunday, by the water fountain (left side of the Mt Highway access road going up)

Ok for you?

[Danksi]

Ah - you posted at the same time as me!

[thewalrus]

Originally posted by alan.danks
Hi.

I don't think we'll be trying to break any climbing records, but should be an interesting round trip...

I definitely need to stop a few times to catch my breath... I wonder how this guy would do if we put him on a Litespeed Niota Ti?

VANCOUVER (CBC) - A 31-year-old visitor from New Zealand recently set a record for the Grouse Grind

[Team2K]

i was happy to break an hour doin' the grind 24 mins is insane.

while u guys are @ the water fountain, have a look for my armour Are my signs still there?