As I took my fiftieth break, trying not to pant too loudly, Thomas Eleizegui patiently waited for me, barely breathing at all. We were climbing the Grouse Grind, a trail that climbs 2800 feet in 1.8 miles, and I was coming to terms with the fact that my cardio fitness wasn’t quite what I’d thought it was.
WanderFIT at the Loden Hotel
Thomas Eleizegui, co-owner of WanderFIT and the Musette Caffe
Eleizegui is a cycling and hiking enthusiast, owner of Vancouver’s Musette Caffé and tour operator for the Loden Hotel’s WanderFIT program. I had just spent a night at the Loden Hotel, and was excited to participate in WanderFIT — until I was 28 minutes into the hike and had only reached the quarter-way mark. Eleizegui’s business partner, former bike racer Sebastian Salas holds the record for the Grouse Grind: 23 minutes, 48 seconds. For the whole climb.
OMG, I’m halfway!!!
Oh well, it was a beautiful day and judging from my sweating brow and pounding heart, I was getting plenty of exercise. And Thomas was very nice company.
He and Sebastian came up with the WanderFIT idea. “At hotels, I see people going to the gym on a beautiful day. What’s better than going outside?” he said. They wanted to start a company that put fitness first and touring second. Vancouver seemed to cry out for this opportunity for visitors. “It’s so beautiful, this backyard we have. Is it accessible easily? You can take public transportation but it takes a long time.” Instead, WanderFIT provides the personal service of driving guests to a trailhead and accompanying them on the hike. If you’re pressed for time, they’ll take you on a short hike or ride. Not in a hurry? They’ll take you farther. Loden guests can book the service through the hotel. Vancouver visitors can also book directly through Musette Tours, regardless of where they’re staying.
You might ask yourself partway up, “Should I have stayed in my beautiful room at the Loden Hotel?”
The Loden offers free cruiser bike rentals to guests. But if you want a high-end road bike while in Vancouver, you can rent one from Thomas. “Every weekend bikes are all rented,” he said.
Musette Caffe
Eleizegui opened his Musette Caffé a few years ago, but now he’s getting ready to open up in a new space on Burrard and Harwood, around the corner from his former store. The café houses his cycling memorabilia collection. “When people walk in they get engulfed with cycling,” he says. Twenty percent of his customers are cycling enthusiasts. The rest live in the neighborhood.
Making it to the Top
One of those folks speeding by me.
There are two routes up Grouse Mountain: the one we took, which is mostly a combination of built and natural trails, and one that’s a little easier but also longer, with more switchbacks. The Grind is very popular for people’s regular cardio workouts. It’s a one-way trail. You trek up, then take the gondola down. Thomas said lots of people buy the gondola annual pass for $129, and use the Grind like their gym, climbing it two or three times a week. I pulled over to let lots of them pass. Last year Thomas and a friend decided to make the ascent 100 times in a year, a popular local challenge.
If I lived in Vancouver, I’d consider trying it again. But for now, I’m glad to say I made it up once. Even if it did take me an hour and 40 minutes.
