Hollyburn Peak Snowshoe, Cypress Mountain

Trail key: M~2~ST~V~H~FT~KF~DF

2015~Drive to top of Cypress Mountain and turn right at the fork in the road. Go to the sign board and find parking where you can. This SS is a BC Park's maintained trail so it is free. At the trail head it says, 5 km's but it is in fact 8 km's and about 450 meters elevation gain.

There's a flush toilet just past the signboard. Once at the signboard, start left up the wide road like trail. Your elevation begins right away as the trail winds and curves into a switchback. For a few minutes it is flat and then drops down a steep hill where it is flat for a short time. Here you see the ski run on your right, keep going as it is hilly. A pond appears on your right and then another short hill and right after a steep hill. It is flat and windy trail for awhile and soon a sign post appears on your right. Here it says you have 1.8 km's to go or 50 minutes to Hollyburn Peak. You have gone 2.2 km's, according to the sign.

It is here that you see what lies ahead as Whiskey Jacks swoop down to greet you. If you put nuts and seeds in your hand they'll land and eat from your palm. Now you must decide as there is newly formed trails everywhere...You can tackle the next few sections through the woods where the grade is gentle or you can go straight up hill. You will have about 4 of these steep hills to climb, the last two being the steepest. Just as you are nearing the top the last grunt is the steepest of all but the shortest...once past this you have made your goal to Hollyburn Peak. Hopefully you timed it on a clear day where mountain tops greet you from every direction and more Whiskey Jacks try to share your lunch.

Once you have filled your camera and had some nourishments you can head down through the forest or straight down the steep hills. The first two are the worst and after it's not so bad. Poles and MICROspikes are handy for some parts of this trail. If there's enough snow you might be able to do some bottom sliding,  just make sure no one is coming up.

Scaredy Cat says, you won't loose any of your nine lives. Happy & safe snowshoeing.

Lori aka Scaredy Cat