Hope Lookout, and beyond, hike birding report

[tmanson]

Fraser Valley Birders: A fairly long title, and a strenuous hike, ( Hope's equivalent of the Grouse Grind ), for relatively few birds. Did get a real close look at a relatively unconcerned BARRED OWL, and a more concerened SOOTY GROUSE.
My eyes were too full of sweat to see much of anything else!! Cheers. Thor

Thor Manson
Hope, B.C.

[Dave]

Is this the hike that starts next the highway and zigzags up to a rock slide area?

If not, which hike is this?

-Dave

[tmanson]

Dave: Yes. As you come off Highway 1 from the West into Hope, you turn left at the first set of lights. At the second set of lights, on the right side is a concrete barrier sectioning off a small parking area with a picnic table from the road To access this area you have to turn right at that second set of lights, which puts you on the Old Hope Princeton. Almost immediately, there is a right turn which takes you under the overpass, and immediately to this parking area. The hike basically starts here. There is a small sign saying pedestrian access, which marks the beginning of the trail, or you can take a shortcut up what appears to be rock slide, but acutally is a planned drainage system for the mountain. It just avoids a few twists and turns at the beginning of the hike.
About 20-25 minutes into the hike, you come to Hope Lookoff, but you can keep going up the side of the mountain, and you will take a circular route that eventually brings you back down to the lower section of the hike. It is steep like the Grouse Grind, with some stairs, and hand holds.
I saw both birds in the lower section of the hike before the lookoff. Cheers. Thor

Thor Manson
Hope, B.C.