Grand Loop: Segment 3

Another installment finally...

Segment 3 is really days 3, 4 and 5 spent in and around Whistler. With our 'base-camp' established in a two-bedroom, 2-bath with a living/dining/kitchen, a fireplace and little balcony vacation unit, we set about relaxing and doing summer activities at a winter resort.

First day after arriving was all about the ZIP... as in zip-lining. Dangling from a suspended cable traveling propelled by gravity from one end to another. In our case, we traversed down hillsides and across a little valley.

We decided to sign-up for the WildPlay Zoom zip tour. We booked our adventure at one of the kiosks in the Whistler village. There are two tour companies offering zip-lining tours in Whistler. WildPlay goes off-site to Cougar Mountain. EcoTrek, I believe has their cables set up across the valley between Blackcomb and Whistler mountains.

The video above is a compilation of our zooming above and through the forest. I've included a bit of the preparations prior to the zip to let folks see that part. The tour consisted of instructional sessions and a short test zip. Then onto longer runs. "Godzilla" is the first of these lines. The WildPlay equipment was interesting and comfortable. They have adapted the harnesses used for hang-gliders, making for a comfortable seated position well supported by the back of the harness. Much more coverage and support than the open harnesses used by others. The "trolley" or the wheels seems fairly unique as well.

Zip-lining is quite fun, but the lines don't last long enough. But isn't that case with any 'speed' activities? The stop at the end of each line was also more violent than I expected. In this case you come zooming into a series of springs that compress to slow you down and then collide into crash pads. I understand, other's use different methods to slow the rider down at the end of the line. Is it worth it? Yes, particularly if you haven't been zipping before. If you have, you may be seeking longer, higher and faster lines. Again isn't that always the case... more adrenaline please!

The second day... the bikers went for a ride north up BC99 and Jim went kayaking. The video from the ride is a little summary of day. We left Whistler in the morning under gray skies, which turned to misty rain when we got up into the mountains, then things dried out when we reached the eastern slopes approaching Lillooet. And the afternoon was comfortably dry!

I started recording about 70km north of Whistler traveling towards Lillooet. Then on the way back, I started recording from about the same spot travelling southward back to Whistler. We would get to do the ride again in a couple of days when we would leave Whistler to loop to Kamloops and Kelowna on our way back to the States.

The following day in Whistler, Jim and I signed up for an ATV tour and James and Brett went up the mountains to hike about. These first two days were clear, but on the third day smoke from the forest fires further out in the province was starting to creep in to the Whistler valley. This of course impacted the vistas to significant extent.

The ATV tour, like the zip-line, started with some instruction about how to handle the Honda ATVs and how to maneuver over obstacles. The guide thought I would best be as the group's sweep, with my experience motorcycling so I brought up the tail end of the train. This of course I received the dust of most everyone in front of me. The tour covered a bunch of terrain, mostly forest roads, but there was a little run on dirt through the trees. Because of the smoke the views across the valley weren't what they could have been.

Evening hours were spent over dinner, both out and at 'base-camp'. Brett and James prepped a nice plate of chili! Some trip planning for our loop out of Whistler. Walks about the village. And black bear watching, right in the village.

Apparently the bears have been coming right into the village all summer long. The one to the right was seen while I was walking Drusilla one evening along one paths. It appeared to be an adult out foraging. I first spotted him/her when we were about 40m away. Dru wasn't interested and didn't understand why we were stopping.

Two nights later, while out our stroll through the upper (Blackcomb) village we encountered a cub solely interested in the trash cans. This time was along a crowded path with kids and parents and pets all meandering by.

There wasn't much in terms of shopping bargains. We picked up a some things here and there. A couple of souvenir items. Some bicycling shorts and gloves for Jim.

Whistler is a off-road biking mecca in the summer. Bikers of all shapes and sizes go to have fun. We saw our fair share of braces, casts and crutches while wandering about the village.