January 10, 2012

Sometimes you have to change your plans when conditions change.

After checking the weather forecast this morning, I did just that.  The forecast called for totally clear skies over the North Shore for the evening and I already knew that we had a full moon this week.  That was enough to put out the call to the troop:  scratch the regular meeting in the church – it’s time for our monthly night hike on Cypress!

We had perfect conditions and everyone really enjoyed our moonlit tour of Cypress.  The biggest change since the last time we did this was the addition of all the night lighting and trail grooming for the cross-country skiers.  We had to walk single file along the edge of the trails that we were used to being the sole users of at that time of night.  Not tonight though.  Dozens and dozens of skiers zoomed by us as we hiked along.  Many were participating in an organized race.

We stopped at the Upper Warming Hut as usual and enjoyed a short break before heading back down the mountain into the bright lights of the Cypress Nordic Ski Area and then home.

Note:  Click on the first picture to start a full screen carousel slide show of the pictures with captions.

Simon and Finn enjoy the festive lights of the Hollyburn Lodge after hiking through the woods up to the Nordic Ski Area.

Finn, Isaac, Simon & Wojtek ham it up for the camera with the full moon over their shoulders after hiking to the Upper Warming Hut.

Wojtek & Scouter Jason check the map while they enjoy a snack in the Upper Warming Hut.

Scouter Jason, Wojtek, Finn, Isaac & Simon pose for photos at the end of the hike back at the Nordic Ski Area base station..

One final shot of the whole gang (Scouter Jason, Wojtek, Finn, Tavish, Isaac, Simon & Max) mugging for the camera.

Our hiking companion for the night. Good night moon. Hope to see you next time.