Whistler 2: Boardwalks, Berms, Corny Messages in Trees, and that Time a Bear Strolled Right by our Lunch Spot

First morning in Whistler, Brady ran off to meetings and I ran up the mountain.  Oh, how I love the corny, messages posted on the trees here.  I peel my eyes for deer (and call out regularly for bears) while taking in the mountain air that cannot fill my lungs fast enough with such a steep incline.

It is so peaceful.

After teaching classes and enjoying a lunch in the hotel restaurant while I worked, Heidi and I met up with the boys for a gym session, sauna, steam, and hot tub.  These are all things I've mocked in the past and I am learning to enjoy.  

Next up, dinner on top of the mountain.  We waited in line for an hour to go up the gondola and barely made it off in time to see the sun dip down and get a few photos in the magic lighting.

We met up with Peter and Candace.  She has no recollection of this photo and that makes me lose her even more.  When in Whistler...

There is so much to love.

The next morning: another mountain run while the boys worked, then meeting late morning to rent bikes and get our downhill passes.  I was significantly more nervous this year than last.  Heidi decided it was not for her, and I completely respect that!  But I also didn't want to do the hard runs with the boys and I have a healthy fear of downhill biking and therefore no desire to be alone.  On top of that, the runs I'm acquainted with were closed and it was a completely different side of the mountain.  As we went up the ski lift, I was trembling and had weak limbs.  It is so much scarier to go down than up!

Michael McClychock went with us--a 60 year old, formerly avid biker who almost died last November with heart issues.  He was such a good sport to go slow on wait on me the first ride down.  After that run, my nerves calmed and I started having fun.

It was so much warmer than we all expected.

This only part of the mountain open was the Creek Side, "for advanced and expert riders only."  Thus, my nerves...  There were more berms but the boys helped remind me how to navigate them with more speed and it was so much better with their tips.  It also helped that the 2nd ride down we did a technical blue, and it was so tricky that everything the rest of the day was a cake walk.

Brady captured so many fun pictures of me and I kept asking to go ahead of the group to take a few.  I finally escaped ahead and demanded they stop, but I was much closer to the group than they expected and my pictures do not compare to his.

It looked like a pretty spot and I was scrambling just to get in front and have a chance for photos.  Next year, I am demanding more time and attention to detail--like a better angle, a better hill, and more patient boys while I capture them in action.  This spot was pitiful! 

After our 3rd run, our quads were jello and we needed food.  Lucky us to have a bear walk right by when we were eating lunch!

We split up for the last run of the day--Nic wanted to be sure he got the bike back before closing time.  Brady and I came in 2 minutes late after I ate hit hard on the mountain.  I do not even remember what happened but I was scared and it took me many long minutes to feel confident enough to jump back and get to Brady.  He was ready to start walking uphill (not very doable) to find me when I finally came down the bend.  I was shaken up, remembering the guy who rescued us off Whistler when I was pregnant with Owen and all his stories about being the last guy down the mountain and having a bear tail him.  I was definitely the last one down the mountain as the lifts were all closed and everyone was faster than me.  I was also convinced that if I fell again, no one would be down to save me.  It's comforting to know there is always someone behind you when you are doing something outside your comfort zone; it's fun to see a bear when you aren't the only potential victim.  It was a less-than-ideal way to end the day, but the remaining half of the run with Brady recouped my confidence.

We met up for dinner.  Brady and I hoped to walk the town but Michael's legs were shot so it was a short meander.

We found this sign for Zac:

 

We had most of the day before we needed to be in Vancouver and couldn't wait to do some more hiking.  Our plan to hike Joffre Lakes folded when we got up to secure permits only to discover the hike was closed.  Brady and I looked up hiking options but the Clarks weren't into it this time, and stayed back to rock climb.  We hit our favorite Whistler smoothie bar and took off for the gondola to our hike.

I pass this yellow chair on every trail run and bike ride and think to myself, "Next time we are here, I'm going to sit on that chair and read."  Fail.  I want to be a vacationer who reads on a yellow chair.  I have a cute picture on a yellow chair.  So, baby steps.

As we took the gondola to our hike, we saw where we got stranded 8 years ago.  It is so developed now compared to before.  When we were stuck, it was a chair lift.

Flashback photos from 8 years ago.  Coming in from our hike and noticing there were NO people around--only dozens of marmots:

Taking a photo of the kids on the chair lift we were supposed to ride down while mountain rescue came to our aid.

Another pair of then and now photos:

Another "then" (2019) and "now (2023)."  

So striking with the blue skies!

High Note Trail heads around the backside of Whistler Mountain.  We had sweeping views of Garibaldi Provincial Park as well as Black Tusk--the famous volcanic pinnacle at 7,600 feet above sea level.

I'm always surprised by how few people we see on longer hikes, especially one so well maintained and with such payoffs.

Our favorite part of the hike was turning the corner and gasping at the turquoise waters of Cheakamus Lake.  While we took photos, two brothers talked up the alpine backpacking and it went straight onto our bucket list.

Clear Black Tusk view on the middle left:

The hike ended at Cloudraker Skybridge, the suspension bridge with sweeping views of Whistler and from above.

Three years ago, the weather and views were vastly different.  The rain and chill was biting and you could see about 10 feet below.

The Whistler Mountain Inukshuk, the stone landmark used by the Inuit peoples in the region.  It watches over the valley below and likely has roots as a reference point or navigational point for travelers.  It was built as a symbol for the 2010 Winter Games and since, this structure has appeared throughout Canada.  I'll always remember it fondly as a lunch spot with Zachary, Kate and Brady before getting stranded on the  Blackcomb mountain later that day.

The only bear we saw that day:

Later that day, we drove to Vancouver and stayed in a  hotel recommended by our friends.  We were excited to check out the amenities which were subpar compared to what we left behind in Whister.  We had one more dinner with friends, then left early the next morning for home.

One of my favorite moments of the trip was seeing Blake's mission homecoming talk and Rachel's departure talk, as well as Sariah and Elise's musical number.  We watched it virtually as the airplane prepared to depart.  I cried through the whole thing. 

We returned to happy kids and a still-smiling Sarah.  Success!  We are so grateful for the days away and even more grateful to come back after a few days of mountains.