Bowl of Cypress for Breakfast

I stood at the entrance beside a monument.

Yes, this is one of the famous sites of the recently played 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games.  It seems like years ago somehow but it was just this past winter that Canada cleaned-up with a whopping 14 Gold Medals. Not too bad for a home game, I was proud.  First thing yesterday morning my friend Kim and I drove over to Cypress Mountain (or the Cypress Bowl as they say).  I had never been before though it’s just a few kilometers from where I live.

At this time of year there are no staff present at all.  Just a bunch of empty clubhouses…it’s a bit strange.  There are however, a good number of hikers.

Today Eagle Bluffs was our destination.

We set out with snacks and packs in tow. It was foggy at first but the temperature was right.

This tree was just incredible. (below)

The trail presented the most interesting mixture of terrain.  It was a great 8 km hike.  The colours are truly as you see them below.

Kim in what seems to be an impressionistic painting.

 

At the top of Black Rock we encountered some unexpected visitors, two very large Ravens (apparently a married couple) and a few Whisky Jacks.  The two ravens were arguing about something. They have the funniest voices…they don’t chirp.  Just listen to them below…

*|YOUTUBE:coCsarYwYnA|*

Kim informed me that Whisky Jacks are quite the assertive birds. She gave me some trail mix to feed them straight from my hand, this was the highlight of the day for me.

*|YOUTUBE:RT086GXGkzo|*

Damn that was cool.

Time to move to our next destination.

It was still quite cloudy and when we arrived the expansive view we hoped for was not to be seen. Instead, we stared into an abyss of cloud…

Which in itself was very mysterious looking.

Moments later however, we were able to catch a few peeks at Bowen Island and the Sunshine Coast in the distance.

And then..another surprise.  A chipmunk came to visit us. (below)

*|YOUTUBE:MmzX7YU_7es|*http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmzX7YU_7es

This man was feeding the same two ravens we had seen earlier.  He was teaching them table manners.  It was quite entertaining and funny because it was working.  Just look at how huge these birds are.

I love the screaming sound they make, here they are again!

*|YOUTUBE:waoLq9zza4I|*http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waoLq9zza4I

On our way back, the sun came out.

I kept having to look twice to really capture what I was looking at, the colours in particular where so incredible.

*|YOUTUBE:HQclmN3JiXA|*http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQclmN3JiXA

Much is revealed when the sun comes out.  Ahead the ski slopes are clearly visible coming back from the trails.  It’s time to strike a pose…

Those are Ninja Boots that I’m wearing.  They were a conversation piece for much of the hikers along our way.

It seems that on our way into the trails I didn’t notice this thing standing there.  (below)

Thanks for the picture Kim and for the good hiking suggestion.  That’s me down there Mom.

Time to head home…

See you again soon Cypress Mountain.

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