A Trek to Tunnel Bluffs
Social bonding while physically distancing
A slow start to summer meant that everyone in Vancouver was yearning to expend their pent up energy. Months of isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic only exacerbated the feeling. British Columbia is a fantastic place for mountain hikes and residents of Vancouver like to make the most of it.
While in many cities people like to spend a long Friday or Saturday night over drinks at a bar, many Vancouverites prefer to turn in early so that they can wake up and spend their weekend in the mountains. This suits me perfectly.
The trek we had chosen was Tunnel Bluffs near Lions Bay, a tiny municipality between Vancouver and Squamish. This erstwhile camping destination was once accessed by boat from Vancouver but has now grown into its own village hanging precariously onto a cliff offering picturesque views of the Howe Sound and its islands.
The biggest challenge in accessing the trailhead is parking. The previous trail could only be accessed by having to dangerously cross the highway on foot.
Fortunately, there is now another trail which replaces the risk of getting run over with the possibility of a fine of $200–250 and/or getting your car towed away.
To avoid this, we left early, drove along the incredibly scenic Sea to Sky Highway and arrived at a medium-sized gravel field next to Lions Bay Elementary School which serves as a parking lot. Even though we reached early — it was 7:40 am — the parking lot was half full and scores of vehicles kept pouring in leading to a bit of a circus. I put on my mask and walked away to avoid the dust and potentially, coronavirus.
The new trailhead is a short 10-minute walk up the road and there’s a portable toilet, the now ubiquitous sensor-activated hand sanitiser and a signboard that warns of bears and what to do in case we encounter one. It also has a map showing several trails leading to Mount Brunswick, Mount Harvey and the Lions. Our destination was Tunnel Bluffs.
Our group was small in order to take all precautions during the pandemic. We began on a somewhat steep trail in the forest with a few switchbacks. The path led to Magnesia Creek which can be crossed over two wooden logs. A few more switchbacks lead to a much flatter terrain and the rest of the hike was like a walk in the park. A couple of wooden signs pointed right to the Lions and Hat Mountain but we turned left twice towards Tunnel Bluffs.
Time just flew as I engaged my fellow hikers in conversation. Everyone had interesting stories to tell so we kept talking as we walked.
There is something inexplicable about hiking that brings people together. Perhaps it’s the collective effort requiring hikers to look out for one another. Or maybe it’s the love and respect for nature, wilderness and the outdoors. It might just be a combination of all of these.
We suddenly looked up as the others from our group turned left. We were surprised for in less than two hours, with barely much effort we were at Tunnel Bluffs, a wide rocky platform with panoramic views of the Howe Sound. I couldn’t believe I was already there especially since I was told that this was a difficult hike. I later found out that it was the previous trail that was steep.
The weather was fabulous, perfect to enjoy the panorama unfolding before my eyes. The ocean was a deep sparkling blue reflecting the clear sky. Despite the sunny day, a light breeze kept us cool.
I sat down to contemplate the sweeping views beneath my feet. Green mountains including Mount Harvey stood tall above the Sea to Sky Highway on the left. I could see BC ferries going between Horseshoe Bay and Bowen Island. The islands of Bowyer, Keats, Anvil and Gambier were clearly visible in front of me while the Sunshine Coast on the mainland wound its way along the coast on the right.
This was just the perfect place to enjoy the views while maintaining a safe distance from each other. It was a great relief to be able to go out and enjoy the forest, mountains and ocean with a healthy dose of social bonding in these times of physical distancing.
Hi, I am Prajwal Madhav. I hope you enjoy my posts.
