I was out of the house this morning hours before most people even contemplate their first cup of coffee. NBC’s The Today Show is using Grouse Mountain as their home base during the Games and I wanted to re-confirm my university crush on Matt Lauer. I am still crushing….. Unfortunately for those of us that value our beauty sleep they start broadcasting at 4.00am to accommodate the East Coast viewers.

Grouse Mountain is only 15 minutes from downtown Vancouver, is completely accessible by public Transit and during the Games is open 24 hours a day. Ever wanted to go skiing at 5.30 am? No problem. Truth be told, the snow conditions are not fantastic. But the groomers and snowmakers have done a great job with what snow they have. They have also organized a Shuttle Bus that covers the overnight hours when transit is not running.

Grouse has a ton of other stuff going on during the games beyond The Today Show and being open 24 hours a day. Sunrise and sunset Snowshoeing tours, Kids Hockey World Cup on the 8,000 square foot skating pond, Athlete training for a number of Alpine Sports, DJ’s, Nightly Torch Parades, as well as Oakley Training Labs. Check here for the 2010 Events Calendar.

This is all in addition to their regular activities: Ziplining, The Eye of the Wind, Restaurants, Shopping, The Theatre in the Sky, Lessons, Rentals, Snowshoeing, Timberwolves……. Lots to see and do up there!

Although the big interviews (with recent Gold Medallists Apolo Ohno and Bode Miller) were pretaped, and the Americans were a little smug about the Team USA’s victory over Team Canada in the Hockey, it was still fun to watch The Today Show filming. Lots of Americans up there hoping to get on camera so their family and friends back home can see them. The hosts are fantastic with the crowds: signing autographs, taking photos and chatting with people in between shots. Very genuine – no diva like behaviour witnessed.

Watching the sunrise from the top of Grouse Mountain is so totally worth the trip. If only those pesky trees would move out of the way so you can get the perfect shot! Regardless, it is so pristine and beautiful up there. Being at the top of the Mountain makes you forget that you are in a city of 2 million people. A little escape from reality for a few hours.

Note that to participate in The Today Show you do have to buy a ticket to go up on the Skyride. However, NBC is covering the costs of the first 100 or so people who show up each morning. I went up just before 3.30am (as I have a pass) and there was probably around 100 people waiting. Get there early. Conveniently there is a 24-hour Starbucks at the base of the mountain to help get you started!