Nestled in-between the ultra-popular Grouse-Grind and BCMC trails, this subtle and tasteful hike brings a bit of adventure to a well-known location. I started off on the BCMC trail, following well-maintained wooden stairs upwards for some time.

BCMC international highway
BCMC international highway

Eventually I encountered the hidden metallic sign showing the start of the flint and feathers trailhead.

Furtive cutoff
Furtive cutoff
Mysterious signage
Mysterious signage

It's quite easy to miss this simple metal sign embedded into a tree with scratches and markings all over it. At this point the trail becomes a bit unconventional and a bit more difficult to follow. It narrows and leads down to a riverbed which was dry and very mosquitoey.

Hazardous trail, wrong way for BCMC is my middle name
Hazardous trail, wrong way for BCMC is my middle name
Dude, where is the trail?
Dude, where is the trail?
Likely exciting crossing this while the river is running
Likely exciting crossing this while the river is running

At this point I lost the trail and started scrambling up the other side of the riverbank. After just a brief moment I encountered the trail once more in all its glory.

Trail?
Trail?

The main trail is fairly well-troden so it becomes clear once you are back on it. Trundling up the mountain further I came across some exciting rock features which begged to be scrambled. Egged on, I scrambled up these features, enjoying the excitement and taking in magnificent views of Vancouver behind. Scrambling up proved to be fairly straightforward and I found it to be a great place to practice technique.

Warmup
Warmup
The real deal
The real deal
Very cool, right side is less mossy
Very cool, right side is less mossy
The Lions, east is looking tempting
The Lions, east is looking tempting
Views of Vancouver
Views of Vancouver

Now the trail continued for a bit before merging back onto the BCMC highway.

Oh deer...
Oh deer...
Secretive beehive, nestled in the mountain field
Secretive beehive, nestled in the mountain field

I had a sudden thought, what about scrambling up under the Grouse peak chairlift? Stealthily, I made my way up to the rock formation and began doing some ugly climbing/scrambling. A bit mossy but it wasn't too difficult.

Scrambling is a go
Scrambling is a go
flint-and-feathers-22

At the top I hydrated, basked in the evening sun, immersed myself in the views and began the journey down. I ran the BCMC route to the bottom, it was fairly brutal on the legs and feet. They became quite tender. Overall a fantastic route that is absolutely worth doing.

Inert wind turbine. Legendarily non-operational due poor placement in a non-windy area
Inert wind turbine. Legendarily non-operational due poor placement in a non-windy area