In 2005 Amy Tso climbed Grouse Mountain for the first time. Huffing and puffing, she marched to the summit, filled with elation as she looked down upon Vancouver. She soon found herself returning for another Grind once a month, then twice a month, then she was grinding every week.
By 2009 she had set a new goal for herself: match fellow female hiker Vicki Manns record of 13 climbs in a single day. Although Tso had to stop at 10 climbs when she sought the record two years ago, her determination and endurance earned her the nickname Queen of the Grind. Since Grouse Mountain opened May 11, the queen has returned and is determined to become the first woman to reach 1,000 grinds before she ends her reign.
Tso, 31, currently stands at 812 climbs, and she hopes to finish the remaining 188 by the first week of October and, in the process, beat her record 10 grinds in a single day. Tso has been climbing Grouses 2,830 steps multiple times a day in order to meet her goal and often drives to the mountain from Surrey at 6 a.m. to polish off a few more ascents before work. She has even slept in her BMW.
Tso, who attended Templeton secondary, has watched as her numbers climb the rankings. So have the other Grouse regulars. Climbers times, total ascents and rankings are posted on the Grouse Mountain website, and competition between hikers can reach remarkable peaks.
There is some rivalry, Tso said, and theres some jealousy, but you can also get a lot of inspiration [from other hikers.] But in the end its just another number.
However fierce the competition becomes for reign of the Grind, Tso has always received encouragement from Terry Byrne. The 72-year-old retiree acts as a mentor to Tso and many other hikers since he completed 1,090 grinds in the seven seasons 2007, making him No. 2 on the overall ranking list. Hes known as Grandfather on the Grind or Dad on the GG and shares what hes learned with other hikers, including Tso, who he describes as a very determined young lady.
She has a goal, he said. I think she really has a tremendous innate ability to hang in there and reach her goals, too.
Achieving the 1,000 mark, he said, Is going to be very easily reachable for Amy. She just has to find the time for it.
Tso is also motivated in her charity work. In 2011 she raised close to $13,000 for the Canadian Cancer Society, a cause close to her heart since her mother passed away from breast cancer when Tso was only nine.
Because of her Grouse ambitions and previous fundraising history, Tso was selected as a Grind for Kids ambassador this season. For the annual fundraiser, hikers ask donors to pledge money for each ascent they complete between June and October. Sponsors money goes towards BC Childrens Hospitals and since 2010 has totaled more than $460,000.
Tso has built her legacy on Grouse Mountain for four years but at the end of the season the Queen of the Grind will be relinquishing her throne. [Grouse] will always be there, Tso said in an email to the Courier. I have achieved a lot on the trail and met some amazing people on the Grind. Who knows, maybe when I retire from work Ill be like Terry Byrne and hike the Grind again. At least I can look back on how much time I have spent on the Grind, how many amazing memories and experiences Ive encountered, [the] great friends Ive met that inspire me to climb. I will miss it.
Before she packs up her boots, Tso has another goal in mind for the Grouse snowshoe grind this winter, but shes keeping it a secret for now. Afterwards, she says, she wants to give marathons a shot. Hail to the queen.
