The Grouse Grind Trail is located in North Vancouver, B.C., at the base of the Grouse Mountain Resort ski area. It is an extremely steep and mountainous trail that begins at the 300-metre-elevation and climbs to 1,100 metres over a distance of approximately 2.9 kilometres.
Hiking times vary considerably depending on each hiker's individual fitness level. The Grouse Grind hike is difficult and those planning on climbing the trail should be in excellent physical condition. Those individuals with any health concerns including high blood pressure, heart and breathing problems are warned not to attempt to hike the trail. Hikers should always be personally prepared before setting out on the Grouse Grind. As a minimum, you should leave a hiking plan with a friend, never hike alone, and carry adequate water, food, warm clothing, flashlight and a cell phone.
A full winter closure typically takes place in November of each season and lasts until snowmelt sometime in the late spring.
Be aware that there is a fee for going down in the gondola and walking down the Grind is not permitted. You may want to walk down the BCMC trail and get the caches on that trail, and then jump over and up the Larson trail for the cache there.
North Shore Search and Rescue (NS Rescue)have caches on Grouse Mountain. North Shore Rescue is a 100% volunteer run organization and NSR depends on public donations to operate. This cache is placed, with permission, behind one of the North Shore Rescue caches, to help make the hiker aware of their vital role in maintaining safety of hikers on the north shore.
The cache is magnetic and is hidden on the lower back metal plate of the cache, no bushwhacking, just a simple “cache and dash” and is marked “cache”. BYOP. Do not bother to look on the front of the NSR cache or try the lock. The caching experience is meant for climbing the grind rather than searching for the cache. It is a magnetic key holder.