Big White is AWESOME! Big White Challenge v. Grouse Grind...

Now before you go thinking to yourself 'oh he is totally biased...' let me just tell you that yes, you are right. However, despite my ability to embellish stuff, I will also point out some facts. (of course, they may be distorted, and may omit bits... but still facts).

I was messaging someone on Thursday about the Big White Challenge, (Facebook Page) and they mentioned that the Grouse Grind in Vancouver gets 150,000 hikers every year! Two days later I found myself, with little to do, in Vancouver. "Since I am all about the Big White Challenge, I had better increase the number of Grouse Grind visitors to 150,001. So off I went.

No, no, no... please charge me more...

From downtown Vancouver it is a 25 min drive to the bottom of Grouse Mountain. The first thing that irritated me (I am easily irritated) was parking - you had to pay, and you had to stay for a minimum three hours, with a minimum charge of $6... why...? I am only here for a hour... irritated...

The Grouse Grind is a one way hike, you can go up, but you cannot hike down. The only way down is via the gondola. The gondola charge is $10 (irritation #2). Before I have even started the trail it had cost me $16. Big White's gondola is free, even in winter! 'But Mr. Pickles, the Big White Gondola only runs in the winter...?' 'Yes, I know, but that does not help me distort the facts does it!?' Stop asking awkward questions.

The Big White Challenge - parking is free, the route is circular so there is no requirement to pay for or use the chair lift. Of course on the weekends when the chair lift is running you can ride for a nominal fee... but it is optional.

My first (and only attempt so far) for the Big White Challenge, I had a time of 58m 34s. My first visit to the Grouse Grind was 47m 13s. Why is this relevant Mr. Pickles? Er... dunno... er... I think cos Paul Doherty is interested... maybe...

The differences.

The Grind starts at 991 feet, (302m) elevation. The Challenge 5,764 feet (1757m). 
Physically, how does this affect you? I have no idea - but here are some pretty graphics.

At 302m, the standard barometric pressure is 98kPa (734 mmHg). This means that there is 97% of the oxygen available at sea level.

At 1757m, the standard barometric pressure is83 kPa (622 mmHg). This means that there is 82% of the oxygen available at sea level

But what does all this gobbledegook mean? Good question... But I still have no idea, looks good eh? The pinky/purply lines have a bigger gap... which probably means something tho...

The official website stats for the Grouse Grind - 
Length: 2.9 kilometres (1.8 miles) 

Elevation Gain: 853 metres (2,800 feet)
Base: 274 metres above sea level (900 feet)
Summit: 1,127 metres (3,700 feet)
Total Stairs: 2,830 

However, mapmyrun has me starting at 302m and finishing at 1081 - or 789m elevation gain. I used mapmyrun for both trails so to compare apples to apples, the stats I use -

Big White Challenge
Length: 6.94 kilometres (4.1 miles) 

Elevation Gain: 394 metres (1293 feet)
Base: 1757 metres above sea level (5,764 feet)
Summit: 2150 metres (7,054 feet) 

Grouse Grind

Length 2.71 km

Elevation Gain 789m

Base 302m

Summit 1081

Okay, other stuff.
Views - the views along the Big White Challenge are spectacular, Rhonda Lake, the Monashee Mountain Range, Christian Valley... The views on the Grouse Grind... it is fairly limited to the stairs/trail, you are looking down all the time and when you look up you are looking at the trail - it is so steep you don't have any option really. Yay...! lets look at 2830 stairs... However, coming down on the gondola you do enjoy great views of Van city.

Family Friendly - The Big White Challenge is hard but it can be enjoyed by families, kids as young as five could probably, fairly safely, manage the hike. The Grouse Grind, not so much, maybe young kids could make it, but it does not 'feel' that family friendly.

Access - The Big White Challenge can be accessed from any property/home on the mountain. The Grouse Grind you need transport to get to the bottom of the trail. And you have to ride the gondola down - did I mention irritating...

Hey... can we come do the Grouse Grind?
No!

Rhythm - The Big White Challenge has varying but open trails, if you have the ability, running the trail is optional. The Grouse Grind cannot be run at all, the terrain is too variable.

Dogs - permitted on the Big White Challenge, not permitted on the Grouse Grind - I did not have my dogs with me, but if I did... I would have been irritated.

So a family of four doing the Grouse Grind would spend $46, the same family doing the Big White Challenge - $0. The Big White Challenge has better views, better terrain, is longer, has less elevation gain but starts and peaks, much much higher, and is more family (and dog) friendly. And because it is brand new... has far less visitors - great for misanthropic people (like me).

Oh... we prefer Big White anyway.

Sólido Properties owns, rents, lives, hikes, runs, and lives the million dollar lifestyle (without the $1m cost) at Big White - the two season resort in BC.