THE ADVOCATE 127
VOL. 79 PART 1 JANUARY 2021
NEW BOOKS
AND MEDIA
By R.C. Tino Bella*
The Glorious Mountains of Vancouver’s North Shore: A Peakbagger’s Guide,
by David Crerar, Harry Crerar & Bill Maurer (Rocky Mountain Books,
2018), 503 pages (https://baggerbook.ca/)
Reviewed by Roy Millen
A Saturday morning hike up the Grouse Grind or walk out to Dog Mountain
can be quite satisfactory for many, as evidenced by these options’ popularity.
The authors of this book go further, off the beaten path and indeed at
times beyond any obvious trail, where there tend to be far fewer people.
Most importantly, the authors insist on getting to the top: “bagging” the
peak. This book is a marvelous addition to the information available on hiking
the backcountry near Vancouver. It offers inspiration for many days of
adventures for a wide range of outdoorspeople, from casual dog walkers and
parents with children to committed trail runners.
The book is truly focused on peaks: 67 of them, ranging from Mt. Killam
and Mt. Liddell on Gambier Island in the west, to Capilano Mountain above
Furry Creek in the north, to Mt. Dickens above the end of Indian Arm in the
east. Each of the listed peaks, apart from those in Howe Sound, is at least
1,000 metres in elevation, and 45 metres in “prominence” (elevation above
the low point between it and the next peak).
All peaks described in the book are attainable without ropes—so, for
example, the East Lion is not included. Happily for readers, the authors
have healthy self-preservation instincts, which is reflected in the trail
descriptions (Mt. Harvey: “Children and beagles have climbed it. ... If you
ever feel unsafe, retrace your steps: you are off course”).
Readers of this publication will recognize the first-listed author, David
(now Mr. Justice) Crerar, also an author of the rather more legal Mareva and
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