It's considered a Lower Mainland rite of passage. The Grouse Grind, a popular North Vancouver hiking trail dubbed "Mother Nature's stairmaster," is a steep, 2.5-kilometre trail with an elevation gain of 800 metres and 2,830 stairs that wind up at the south face of Grouse Mountain.
And while most people do it a handful of times, Jason Chong, 49, has achieved a new record, according to Grouse Mountain , ascending the mountain for the 5000th time. "It's a hard workout but I love it," Chong told CBC News as a reporter and camera operator hiked the trail with him on Thursday — his third Grind that morning. Chong is a part of a niche but tight-knit group committed to pushing their limits, as a way to maintain their physical and mental health while connecting with the community.
While most people hike the Grouse Grind occasionally, some people complete it multiple times a day. (Ben Nelms/CBC) Nearly 20 years in the making Chong first attempted the Grouse Grind when he was 30 in 2005 as part of a hiking club. It was a foggy spring day, with snow still on the ground, he recalled.
He ended up getting lost, and it took him almost three hours to complete the hike. "After that experience, I was just miserable. I did not want to come back again," Chong said.
5 great hikes around the Lower Mainland you can do without a day pass But he chose to return because he wanted an exercise that could work multiple muscles at once. Now, 19 years later, his average time to complete the Grouse Grind i.