Do the gruelling Grouse Grind

Before leaving for Vancouver my friend asked me 'How fast do you reckon you can Grind?'. I was quite taken aback.

The Grouse Grind is a famous hike 2.9 kilometre, 853m elevation gain one-way hike that keeps the North Vancouver locals fit! Give yourself around ninety minutes to conquer the 2,830 steps (but who is counting) to the top. After wiping the sweat away or having a refreshing beverage you can catch the skyride gondola back down for a fee (around $15).

If you get very serious you can buy a 'grind timer' RFID pass to race your friends. The grind has excellent opening hours and is generally open until October. Go in the cooler Autumn months for fitness training before the snow-sports season. You can use public transport or evo car share to get to the start.