The Lions (peaks)

The Lions are a pair of pointed peaks (West Lion - 1,646 m [http://www.canadianmountainencyclopedia.com/MtnPg.asp?MtnId=572 West Lion] in the "Canadian Mountain Encyclopedia"] ; East Lion - 1,599 m [http://www.canadianmountainencyclopedia.com/MtnPg.asp?MtnId=572 East Lion] in the "Canadian Mountain Encyclopedia"] ) along the North Shore Mountains in Metro Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. They can be seen from much of the Greater Vancouver area, as far as Robert Burnaby Park in East Burnaby, and south to parts of Surrey. Along with the Lions' Gate Bridge named in their honour, these twin summits have become one of the most recognizable Vancouver landmarks. The city's BC Lions CFL football team is also named in their honour.

Geology

Infobox Mountain
Name=West Lion
Photo=
Caption=
Elevation= 1654 m (5427 ft)
Location=British Columbia, Canada
Range=Howe Sound Group
Prominence = 369 m
Coordinates = coord|49|27|28.1|N|123|11|11|W|type:mountain_region:CA
Topographic
NTS 92G/06
First ascent=1889 H. Bell-Irving; J. Capilano; Native Companion
Easiest route=class 3-4 scramble Infobox Mountain
Name=East Lion
Photo=
Caption=
Elevation= 1606 m (5269 ft)
Location=British Columbia, Canada
Range=Howe Sound Group
Prominence = 121 m
Coordinates = coord|49|27|22|N|123|10|52|W|type:mountain_region:CA
Topographic
NTS 92G/06
First ascent=1903 W. Latta; J. Latta; R. Latta
Easiest route=class 4 scramble The Lions are composed of hornblende diorite, the oldest plutonic rock on the West Coast of Canada.

Hiking and rock climbing routes

Hikers can climb up to the ridge between the East and West Lion peaks using either the Binkert Trail leading up from Lions Bay, or the Howe Sound Crest Trail. The Binkert Trail, named after Paul Binkert of the British Columbia Mountaineering Club, is one of the most popular in the Lower Mainland. Hiking to the ridge from Lions Bay takes approximately four hours and gains 1280 m in elevation. Most hikers stop there as both the East and West Lion peaks require rock climbing equipment and expertise. The East Lion is out-of-bounds for climbing as it is located in the Greater Vancouver watershed.

Early ascents

According to an article by Steven Threndyle in "The Greater Vancouver Book", ["The Greater Vancouver Book", an urban encyclopedia, Chuck Davis - Editor in Chief. Linkman Press. 1997. ISBN 978-1-896846-00-2] "the earliest recorded climb of the West Lion in 1889 happened almost by accident. A group of hunters following a herd of goats found themselves at the top with no place to go but down. The hunting party was guided by native chief Joe Capilano. One of the members of the hunting team was Doctor Henry Bell-Irving, who asked Capilano if he could time one of the chief's young natives to see how long it would take him to run from the base of the West Lion to the summit. The youth, stripped completely naked, made the round trip ascent and descent in under 20 minutes.

With its steep granitic face the East Lion was believed to be impossible to scale. That did not deter John Latta and his two brothers from setting out to climb the East Lion in 1903. Hearing that climbers often used ropes for mountaineering ascents, they packed one along but actually had no idea of how to use it. Their technique was to grasp the small shrubs and bushes growing out of the cracks in the rock. The Latta brothers also climbed the West Lion on their way out.

"The Sisters"

To the Indigenous Sḵwxwú7mesh, "The Lions" are known as "Ch'ich'iyu'y Elxwi'kn" (translates as 'the Sisters'). These mountains remain sacred to the Indigenous people for their history, and spiritual value. In their history, these "Sisters" were transformed by the Sky Brothers, or "Transformers", after the sister created the path for the war to end between the Sḵwxwú7mesh and Haida. Sometime around 1890, Judge John Hamilton Gray proposed that the name be changed due to the peaks' resemblance to lions couchant from heraldry [British Columbia Place Names. G.P.V. and Helen B. Akrigg. Vancouver: UBC Press, 1997]

Gallery

References