The twin peaks of the Lions have been luring hikers and climbers for over 100 years. Even before the Howe Sound Crest Trail was built in the 1970’s, many Hollyburners, including Brian Creer, Gerry Hardman, Brownie Morris, Don Tyrell, and Alex Swanson made the trip. In the mid-1930’s, Bud MacInnes and some intrepid companions completed the trip on skis, no doubt enjoying the steep snow slopes on the northern flank of Unneccessary Mountain. Most of the earliest visitors to the Lions reached the scree slopes below the two rock pillars by hiking through the Capilano River and Sisters Creek valleys. Others, like provincial botanist John Davidson, journeyed by boat to a site near Lions Bay and then followed creeks to the alpine meadows north of the Lions. After World War I, the most popular route involved a traverse of Hollyburn, Strachan, and the Howe Sound Crest peaks. The length of the journey necessitated an overnight stay for those starting at the ferry landing in West Vancouver. A shorter, more accessible route to the Howe Sound Crest peaks was made possible by the opening of the Cypress Bowl highway in 1975. Hikers could now park their cars less than 200 meters away from the new trailhead near Yew Lake. From there they followed a route which wound its way around the western flank of Mount Strachan to Strachan meadows, thereby eliminating the traverse of Hollyburn and Strachan peaks and the potentially- dangerous descent down Strachan gully. The new Howe Sound Crest Trail was formally added to Cypress Provincial Park in 1982. Howe Sound Crest Trail hikes are described in the classic hiking guide, “103 Hikes in Southwestern British Columbia”, by Jack Bryceland and Mary and David Macaree.