March 27 – The Left Coast Crime conference opens tomorrow, so Rachel and I used today to visit Whistler and Shannon Falls, a couple of hours north of Vancouver. We had scheduled the visit for Monday, April 1, but weather forecasts predicted rain and/or snow in the mountains, so we rescheduled for today. Today’s temperature pushed 60 degrees with bright sunshine and blue skies.
LandSea Tours provided a comfortable, 30-passenger bus for the 10 ½ hour day. The driver and guide, Tim, introduced each of the 17 passengers before we departed for our first stop, Shannon Falls, the third highest waterfall in British Columbia. We had 25 minutes for photos and it was a bit brisk early in the morning, so we walked fast, took pictures, and jumped back on the bus for the ride to Whistler, a winter lover’s paradise and the site of a portion of the 2010 Winter Olympics. Along the way, we passed the snow-covered Tantalus Mountains, along with many breathtaking water views. There is no shortage of scenery on Highway 99, the Sea to Sky Highway, on the drive to Whistler.
We arrived in Whistler about 11:00 a.m., where Tim passed out maps of the village and provided tips for how to get the most out of the five hours we would be there. The central portion of Whistler, called “The Stroll,” is strictly for pedestrians. Vehicle traffic is allowed only around the periphery of Whistler. Ski shops dominate the village, with many hotels, restaurants, and shops of various kinds sprinkled throughout. We had plenty of time to explore any and all of the shops, play tourist, and get something to eat. We did all three.
One of the highlights is a gondola ride that takes you to the top of either Whistler Mountain or Blackcomb Peak (35 minutes), across from one mountain to the other (15 minutes), and back down whichever mountain you choose (35 minutes). I’m not a big fan of heights, so we passed on the ride but still watched the gondolas go up and down the mountains.
The return ride to Vancouver took a bit less time, but we arrived during rush hour, so we weren’t always moving as fast as we did earlier in the day. Tim continued his narration of fun facts (“Where does Whistler Mountain gets it name? The whistling marmot, which hibernates for about 11 months a year and whistles when disturbed during the one month (late July, early August) it isn’t sleeping.”) and corny jokes (“What do you call a bear with no ear?”…”B”).
Enjoy the photos.