The ascent begins beyond a chain-link fence and a door that is locked between sunset and sunrise. Signs call attention to its menace, warning the unwary that a misstep could cost them their lives. Still, hundreds of people daily find the Grouse Grind irresistible. A heartless 2.9-km hiking trail that twists, turns and clings to the side of North Vancouver's Grouse Mountain as it aggressively climbs 2,800 feet, the Grind is an ultimate test of stamina. His best time up the trail is 62 minutes.
Unemployment is low, incomes are high and residents are, for the most part, well-educated.
But that is not the case. But the icy cold is fine with Linda Cooper as she jogs through an almost deserted Mount Royal park. It's refreshing and invigorating. Running has been a fixture in Cooper's life since her teen years. Her family shares a similar exercise ethic.