After a restful night in the Log House B&B we set off for our adventure for the day. A trip over the valley between Whistler and Blackcomb mountains on a cable car called The Peak to Peak. This aerial conveyance holds many world records, the largest unsupported span being one of them. To get to this cable car a more normal alpine cable car has to be taken, where the gondolas are relatively close to the ground. The Peak to Peak station is located at the top of Whistler mountain, just above the ice line on the day we are here. The weather at the top is sunny, but there is a ten degree difference between the valley floor below and this station at the top. We are prepared and have brought some warmer clothes to slip on.
We board the Peak to Peak, my fellow traveller, myself and two young dudes decked out in mountain biking gear. It would appear as though they had already taken a trip, as they had the tell-tale badgers stripe down their shorts and up their back. One of the young lads must have had some connection with the mountain, as he proceeded to tell his young Czech companion all the superlatives connected with the cable car. He then explains the procedure for evacuation, and what lies beneath the covered tarpaulins at the top of the towers supporting the cables.
I point out to the young man that whilst I was not frightened about getting on, I am a little less happy now that I know that I am expected to climb down the tower (which I may point out is one of the highest cable car towers in the world) and ride one of the special bicycles provided to safety. He replies “don’t worry, the weather is good today, so they would probably winch us off by helicopter”. Worries over then.
For the remainder of the journey the two bikers recount extreme sport adventure tales, each one getting more extreme to the other. The local man then tells the story of someone who base jumped out of the cable car we are on at the mid point between the two mountains. I have to say that at this point I do feel a little queasy.
We shortly arrive at the Blackcomb mountain side, a little warmer than the Whistler station, and the views are just as outstanding. The mountaintop restaurant is closed for renovation, and rather than take a coffee from the temporary shop we return to the cable car to get back down.
At the valley bottom we decide to visit the Squamish Lil’Wat Cultural centre to get an insight into the lives and customs of the First Nations peoples. The Whistler region falls under the auspices of two nations the Squamish and the Lil’Wat each with their own unique identify, culture and indeed language. As a consequence road signs and place names around Whistler are displayed in three languages. The cultural centre is a reasonably new facility, very plush with ample exhibition space, and a small fully kitted out theatre and projection system. After a song by one of the First Nations people we watch a twenty minute documentary outlining the traditional skills that are making a comeback, such as basket weaving, knitting and using birch and cedar bark to make utensils.
At the gift shop some of these wares can be purchased, at very high prices. We have a coffee and a Nanaimo Bar. This is surely to be the first of many on our trip.
We leave Whistler now, and on our way back to the Log House, we stop at One Mile lake. The beach area is busy with mums and young kids out from school, and some teenagers spoiling the tranquillity with their loud music. We rest a while, take some pictures and return to freshen up.
One in dramatic tone.
The Log House B&B
