I took the ferry from Vancouver Island to Vancouver on Thursday, a sunny calm day, perfect for being on the water. The approach to the mainland is spectacular on a clear day, when the snowy peaks range along the entire eastern horizon as far as the eye can roam.
My friend and I drove up to Cypress Mountain, where snow still fills the cracks between the cliffs and the hollows between trees. The ski - lifts are idle now. All the lodges are closed for some reason - maybe in preparation for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.
Cypress mountain is situated practically in Vancouver's backyard, close enough for a quick downhill ski after a winter work day. The views are impressive across the island dotted Strait of Georgia and Juan de Fuca Strait towards the glaciers of the Olympic Peninsular in the USA and Vancouver Island to the West.
The end of this mountain road is the start for many trails, from technically challenging mountaineering treks along lofty ridges to pleasant and easy day hikes on Black Mountain and Mount Strachnan - once the snow is gone, that is.
