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Projects
- > Hollyburn Historic Sites Walking Tour
- > Hollyburn Lodge Renewal Project - List of Donors
- > Hollyburn Lodge Renewal Project - A Historical Perspective - Lessons Learned
- > Official Opening of the Renewed Hollyburn Lodge (January 15, 2017 - Photos)
- > Hollyburn Lodge - Thank you for being part of the future! - Jackie Swanson
- > "It Takes a Community to Build a Lodge" - Kevin Healy
- > Hollyburn Lodge Renewal Project Photos (2016)
- > Hollyburn Lodge Renewal Project Photos (2015)
- > Hollyburn Lodge Farewell BBQ - April 24, 2015
- > Hollyburn Lodge Restoration Project Timeline
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Proposed Fred Burfield's Tractor/Bombardier Museum at First Lake
- > Fred Burfield's Bombardier on Hollyburn Mountain -Vintage Photos
- > The Restoration of Fred Burfield's Bombardier - Steve Richards
- > The Restoration of Fred Burfield’s Bombardier - Photos
- > John Deere Tractors on Hollyburn Mtn - Video & Photos
- > Fred Burfield's John Deere Tractor Restoration Project – Peter Tapp
- > Fred Burfield's John Deere Tractor Restoration Project - Video & Photos
- > Fred Burfield's John Deere Tractor After Restoration - Photos & Video
- > Pioneers
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Geography
- > Howe Sound Crest Trail 2020
- > Views from the Major Summits in Cypress Provincial Park (Photos)
- > The Hollyburn Shoulder & Romstads Run (Photos & Video)
- > Hollyburn Plateau Lakes (Photos)
- > Hollyburn Plateau Lakes (Videos)
- > Hollyburn Mountain Public Access Trail
- > Hollyburn Lodge, First Lake (Videos)
- > Hollyburn Ridge Lakes (Photos)
- > West Lake (Videos)
- > Blue Gentian Lake Videos
- > Hollyburn Ridge Creeks (Videos)
- > Natural Historians at Work on the Brothers Creek Trail (July 2013 - Photos & Video)
- > Old Growth Conservancy on Hollyburn Ridge (Photos)
- > Black Mountain Plateau Lakes (Photos)
- > Yew Lake In Cypress Provincial Park (Powerpoint Slides, Photos & Videos)
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History
- > North Shore Mountains Historical Timeline (1875 - 2010)
- > Artifacts of Yesteryear (A.G.M. F.)
- > The History of Hollyburn Lodge - Don Grant
- > Hollyburn Lodge Photos (1924-1984)
- > Hollyburn Lodge Videos: "Hollyburn Lodge Through the Seasons & Generations"
- > The Hollyburn Trail (1922-1927) Articles by Pollough Pogue
- > “The Ski Camp At the ‘Old Mill’ Site” – Eilif Haxthow’s Hollyburn Journal (October 1924 - January 1928)
- > Searching for the Nasmyth Mill Site - Part 1 (Don Grant)
- > The Hollyburn Pacific Ski Club of Vancouver, B.C. - Rudolph J. Verne (1927)
- > Hollyburn Mountain Articles by Pollough Pogue (1927) & Photos from HHS Archives
- > The Swedes At the Hollyburn Ski Camp (1927 -1946)
- > The Burfield Family At Hollyburn Ski Lodge (1946 -1983)
- > History of Hollyburn Ridge - Ted Russell
- > Walks in West Vancouver - Hikes on Hollyburn Ridge (1929
- > Hi-View Lodge & the Chairlift (1951 – 1965)
- > Hollyburn Ridge Brochure circa 1954
- > 1962 Boy Scout Map of Hollyburn Mtn
- > West Lake Camp/Lodge (1932 - 1938) "The Other Side of the Mountain"
- > Westlake Ski Lodge (1939 – 1987)
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Prose & Poetry
- > "Heritage of Hollyburn – Holmenkollen (Cabin 225)"
- > "The History of the HWTC" – Bob Tapp
- > "The Bread Lady's Cabin" - Vince Hernandez
- > "Cabin Builders on Hollyburn Ridge (1930’s)" - Hal Plumsteel
- > "Hollyburn Cabin ‘North Plus Fours’ Through the Generations" - Don Grant
- > "Many A Notch In Time" - A.G.M.F.
- > "The Building of Alasker Inn" - Dick Andersen
- > "Par-a-dice Inn" - Jack Branston
- > "Youthful Days on Hollyburn Mtn – 1960’s (Part 1)" - A.G.M.F.
- > "Youthful Days on Hollyburn Mtn – 1960’s (Part 2)" - A.G.M.F.
- > "Braced for Every Season" A.G.M.F.
- > "Hollyburn Hideaways" - A.G.M.F.
- > "Cabineers" - A.G.M.F.
- > "Called To Higher Ground" - A.G.M.F.
- > "After Autumn Leaves" - A.G.M.F.
- > "Ridgeline Vignettes" - A.G.M.F.
- > "A Reverent Ode to the Outdoor Commode" - A.G.M.F.
- > "A Ramble on Hollyburn Ridge" - A.G.M.F.
- > "When A Mountain Comes to Mind" - A.G.M.F.
- > "A Fine Place to Rest" - A.G.M.F.
- > "To A Cabin In the Woods" - A.G.M.F.
- > "TWIXT TIDE AND TIMBERTLINE" - A.G.M.F.
- > "HEWN BY HAND" - A.G.M.F.
- > "On Winter At First Lake" - A.G.M.F.
- > "Hollyburn Lodge" - A.G.M.F.
- > "A Curious Encounter" - A.G.M.F.
- > Cabins
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Competitive Sports
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The Jack & Thelma Hutchinson Collection
- > The Jack & Thelma Hutchinson Collection (Page 2) Photos
- > The Jack & Thelma Hutchinson Collection (Page 3) Photos
- > The Jack & Thelma Hutchinson Collection (Page 4) Photos
- > The Jack & Thelma Hutchinson Collection (Page 5) Photos
- > The Jack & Thelma Hutchinson Collection (Page 6) Photos
- > The Jack & Thelma Hutchinson Collection (Page 7) Photos
- > The Jack & Thelma Hutchinson Collection (Page 8) Photos
- > The Jack & Thelma Hutchinson Collection (Page 9) Photos
- > The Jack & Thelma Hutchinson Collection (Page 10) Photos
- > The Jack & Thelma Hutchinson Collection (Page 11) Documents
- > The Jack & Thelma Hutchinson Collection (Page 12) Documents
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The 'Golden Age' on Hollyburn Mtn (1927/1928 & 1928/1929 Ski Seasons)
- > The 'Golden Age' on Hollyburn Mtn (1929/30 & 1930/1931 Ski Seasons)
- > The 'Golden Age' on Hollyburn Mtn (1931/32 & 1932/1933 Ski Seasons)
- > The 'Golden Age' on Hollyburn Mtn (1933/34 Ski Season)
- > The 'Golden Age' on Hollyburn Mtn (1934/35 Ski Season)
- > The 'Golden Age' on Hollyburn Mtn (1935/1936 Ski Season)
- > The 'Golden Age' on Hollyburn Mtn (1936/1937 Ski Season)
- > The 'Golden Age' on Hollyburn Mtn (1937/1938 Ski Season)
- > The 'Golden Age' on Hollyburn Mtn (1938/1939 Ski Season)
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Pollough Pogue's Hiker & Skier Magazine - Volumes 1 & 2 (1932/1933)
- > Pollough Pogue's Hiker & Skier Magazine - Volume 3 (1934/1935)
- > Pollough Pogue's Hiker & Skier Magazine - Volume 4 (1935/1936)
- > Pollough Pogue's Hiker & Skier Magazine - Volume 5 (1936/1937)
- > Pollough Pogue's Hiker & Skier Magazine - Volume 6 (1937/1938)
- > Pollough Pogue's Hiker & Skier Magazine - Volume 7 (1938/1939) Nos. 1, 2, 3
- > Pollough Pogue's Hiker & Skier Magazine - Volume 7 (1938/1939) Nos. 6, 7, 8
- > Heroes of the Harnessed Hickory (Parts 1 & 2)
- > Heroes of the Harnessed Hickory (Parts 3 & 4
- > Hollyburn Mountain
- > Grouse Mountain
- > Mount Seymour
- > Princeton
- > Revelstoke
- > Banff, Alberta
- > Pacific Northwest - Snoqualmie & Mt Hood
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The Jack & Thelma Hutchinson Collection
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Recreational Skiing
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Recreational Skiing In Cypress Provincial Park
- > Historic Ski Runs On Hollyburn Mountain
- > Recreational Skiing on Hollyburn Mountain - 1920's & 1930's (Photos)
- > Recreational Skiing on Hollyburn Mountain - 1940's (Photos)
- > Recreational Skiing on Hollyburn Mountain - 1930's, 1940's, 1950's (Videos)
- > Recreational Skiing on Hollyburn Mountain - 1950's & 1960's (Photos)
- > Recreational Skiing on Hollyburn Mountain - 1970's (Photos)
- > Historic Ski Runs On Mount Strachan (Photos)
- > Recreational Skiing On Black Mountain (Photos)
- > Recreational Skiing On Grouse Mountain (Photos)
- > Recreational Skiing On Mt. Seymour (Video & Photos)
- > Recreational Skiing Near Princeton, BC (Photos)
- > Recreational Skiing On Mount Baker (Photos)
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Recreational Skiing In Cypress Provincial Park
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Hiking
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The Trail to Hollyburn Peak (Photos & Video)
- > Lake Country on Hollyburn Mountain
- > Historic References to Yew Lake (Cypress Lake) - 1920's
- > Yew Lake & Black Mtn
- > Howe Sound Crest Trail Part 1 - Mount Strachan
- > Howe Sound Crest Trail Part 2 - Strachan Meadows to West Lion Peak
- > Howe Sound Crest Trail Part 3 - West Lion To Deeks Lake
- > Mt Brunswick Peak from Porteau Cove circa 1940 (Varsity Outdoor Club)
- > Hiking Near Grouse Mtn
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Garibaldi Provincial Park
- > Explorations In Garibaldi Provincial Park - 1930's
- > Garibaldi Provincial Park: Around Garibaldi Lake
- > Garibaldi Provincial Park: Elfin Lakes & Diamond Head
- > The Black Tusk
- > "The Brandvolds of Diamond Head" - Irene Howard
- > Brandvold Family Reunion At Diamond Head Chalet – September 15, 2007
- > Garibaldi Provincial Park Hike Videos - Summer 2019
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The Trail to Hollyburn Peak (Photos & Video)
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Cypress Now
- > Cypress Creek Lodge
- > X-Country Skiing & Snowshoeing Videos
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Snowshoeing Photos
- > Snowshoe Trails To Hollyburn Lodge
- > Ancient Giants & Marr Giant Connector Trail
- > Ridge Traverse Trail
- > Ridge Fall Line Trail
- > Far East Trail
- > Upper Glades Loop Trail
- > Public Access Trail to Hollyburn Peak
- > Snowshoeing On the Black Mtn Plateau
- > Snowshoeing On Mt. Strachan
- > Howe Sound Crest Trail To Bowen Lookout & Binkert Kiosk
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Hiking Photos & Videos
- > Cypress Provincial Park Map - Section 1 (West)
- > Cypress Provincial Park Map - Section 2 (East)
- > 10 Minute Trail to Hollyburn Lodge (March 2013 - Photos)
- > Hollyburn Lodge via the Westlake Road & the Main Trail (April 2013 - Photos)
- > Brothers Creek Trail to the Junction with Crossover Trail (April 2013 - Photos & Video)
- > Brothers Creek Trail to the Junction with Blue Gentian Trail (April 2013 - Photos)
- > Brothers Creek Trail - Crossover Trail Junction to the Upper Falls (July 2013 - Photos & Video)
- > Baden-Powell Trail to the Snowline (May 2013 - Photos)
- > Views of Lawson Creek along the Baden-Powell Trail to the Crossover Trail (May 2013 - Photos)
- > Crossover Trail on Hollyburn Ridge (June 2013 - Photos & Video)
- > Trail to Blue Gentian Lake & the Baden-Powell Trail from the Upper Brothers Creek Bridge (October 2013 - Photos)
- > Blue Gentian Lake to Hollyburn Lodge via West Lake (November 2013 - Photos)
- > Descent of the Fire Access Road In WV's Upper Lands (July 2013 - Photos))
- > Upper Brothers Creek Trail to Lost Lake (July 2013 - Photos)
- > Views of Small Lakes & Ponds along the Unknown Lake Trail (August 2017 - Photos)
- > Hollyburn Peak via the Powerline Trail & the Plateau (July 2013 - Photos)
- > Hollyburn Plateau via the junction of the Baden-Powell Trail & the Old Strachan Trail (July 2013 - Photos)
- > Old Trail to Mount Strachan - Part 1 (August 2013 - Photos)
- > Old Trail to Mount Strachan - Part 2 (August 2013 - Photos)
- > Black Mountain (July 23 - Photos)
- > HSCT East - Trailhead to Binkert Kiosk (July 2013 - Photos)
- > HSCT - Binkert Kiosk to Mt. St. Marks (July 2013 - Photos)
- > HSCT Trail (Summer 2017 & 2018 - Photos)
- > Partners
- > Site Map
Physical Geography
Hollyburn Ridge & Cypress Provincial Park
For people whose connection with the mountain goes back several decades, the name “Hollyburn” evokes many thoughts and emotions, much like the name “Shangri-La” does for people of a certain age. Most of the key geographic features that are connected with the history of Hollyburn lie within Cypress Provincial Park.
1. The MOUNTAIN PEAKS and related high points:
The Lions, Unnecessary Mountain, Mount St. Marks, Mount Strachan, Black Mountain, Hollyburn Mountain; the Hollyburn shoulder, Hollyburn Ridge.
2. The MOUNTAIN LAKES & PONDS
a. THE LIONS glacial ponds
b. HOLLYBURN LAKES & PONDS:
The Hollyburn shoulder - Heather Lakes
The Hollyburn plateau lakes & ponds - Triangle Lake, Sixth Lake, Fifth Lake, Fourth Lake, Third Lake, Second Lake, Elsvik Lake & Unknown Lake
The Hollyburn Ridge lakes - First Lake, West Lake, Blue Gentian Lake & Lost Lake.
c. BLACK MOUNTAIN LAKES:
Cabin Lake, Theagill Lake, Sam Lake, Owen Lake, Cougar Lakes
d. CYPRESS BOWL LAKES:
Yew Lake
3. CREEKS
a. CYPRESS BOWL
Cypress Creek
b. HOLLYBURN RIDGE
Marr Creek, McDonald Creek (West Branch), McDonald Creek (East Branch), Brothers Creek
For the most part, the creeks that flow southward from Hollyburn Ridge to the sea lie within District of West Vancouver’s upper lands.
During the first two decades of the 20th century, the most frequent visitors on Hollyburn Ridge were loggers who built a network of trails, roads, an inclined railway and flumes to access and transport the abundant timber resources that were harvested on the Ridge. A network of ditches dug by the loggers directed water from the plateau lakes and small creeks to the flumes that carried shingle bolts cut at the Nasmyth mill to the West Vancouver waterfront. By the early 1920’s, the mill was abandoned. By this time, hikers were already using the roads and trails to reach the plateau lakes and Hollyburn Peak. In January 1925, the cookhouse for the mill and several small cabins became the first commercial ski operation on the North Shore Mountains. A year later, after two winter seasons of low snowfall, the cookhouse was dismantled, moved higher up the mountain, and renamed the Hollyburn Ski Camp.
Since the fall of 1926, Hollyburn Lodge, then known as the Hollyburn Ski Camp, has sat on the western shore of First Lake on Hollyburn Ridge. For over 90 years, hikers have been climbing trails near Brothers Creek and Lawson Creek to reach the Lodge. On their way up to ‘the Ridge’, they often stopped at Lost Lake, Blue Gentian and West Lake, known to Hollyburn’s early loggers and hikers as East Lake, Middle Lake and West Lake.
After a relatively short climb above First Lake, hikers arrived on the Hollyburn plateau and the small lakes & ponds clustered around Fourth Lake, where they would sometimes pause for a quick swim. Then, after a long, gradual ascent, they reached the bottom of a steep incline known as Romstad’s hill. (During the winter, the route up Romstad’s extended as far as the Hollyburn shoulder, and for the next three decades was a popular downhill ski run for Vancouver’s first generation of skiers.) Hikers would then follow a summer trail that led gradually westward to the Heather Lakes on the Hollyburn shoulder. After another short, steep ascent, the reached Hollyburn Peak.
For many years, a well-maintained trail on the northwest side of Hollyburn Peak led down to the col between Hollyburn and Strachan Mountains. From there, the trail continued on to the summit of Mt Strachan. Hikers who wanted to bypass Hollyburn Peak and head directly to Mt. Strachan would turn left onto another trail before reaching the bottom of Ramstad’s. This trail, on the west-facing slopes of Hollyburn, went through Strachan Valley and past Frank Lake before reaching the col between Hollyburn and Strachan. From there the trail continued on to the south peak of Mt. Strachan. Today, one can still follow this route, but it is not well maintained.
Hikers whose ultimate goal was the ascent of the West Lion, would descend a gully between the north and south peaks of Mt. Strachan to the Strachan meadows. From there they would climb westward until they reached a long north-south ridge that took them over the summits of Mount St. Marks and Unnecessary Mountain and then on to the Lions. Today this ridge route is part of the popular Howe Sound Crest Trail.
During the twenties and thirties, before the construction of the Lions Gate Bridge, the Hollyburn chairlift, the Sea-to-Sky Highway, and Cypress Bowl Road, hikers wanting to climb the Lions began their journey by taking a small ferry to West Vancouver. They would then hike up to Hollyburn Ridge before following one of two routes described above; quite an amazing feat!
Yew Lake and Black Mountain were two other popular destinations for hikers and skiers in the early days. Hikers would often follow a route similar to that of today’s Baden Powell Trail past Whyte Lake and Donut Rock, through the lake country on Black Mountain and then, onto the summit.
Photos taken by hikers and skiers in the ‘30’s and ‘40’s indicate there was another route that led to a point close to Yew Lake and then up the north facing slopes of Black Mountain. During the mid-1920’s, Hollyburn pioneer, Eilif Haxthow, had a small cabin and a trap line on the north side of Yew Lake, (then called Cypress Lake.) On occasion, Daily Province writer, Pollough Pogue camped near the lake. Most likely, Eilif, Pollough, and other early hikers and skiers heading for Black Mountain followed the old Strachan trail for a short distance, and then followed a westerly route to Yew Lake similar to that of the Baden-Powell Trail today.