Wildlife

Mist rising of Lost Lake

Sun Aug 8th

Mist was rising off Lost Lake on the early morning excursion with Jack and the mountains had patches of mist and low cloud across their tree-lined slopes.

I walked down from the house to extend the hike, in case it was again curtailed by a bear. It was still early and I was the only one on the lake circuit. It was beautifully peaceful.

Yesterday's rain had created lines of pine needles as it washed down the tracks and the dust that usually kicked up on the trails stayed on the ground.

Blackcomb Mountain

No bears on the lake trail, but a Chipmunk was chattering on the rocks by the house. It was the first I've seen since we arrived in Canada and it got Jack's attention.

Our first trip to Ontario and the Algonquin National Park in 1999 was our introduction to Chipmunks. They ran across our feet chattering as we walked the forest trails. This one was a bit more cautious but still allowed us within a metre.

There were two or three others around but they'd scampered into the undergrowth and gaps between the rocks.

Alvin?

We made a return trip to the Farmers Market to collect some Malbec ordered from the Sirens Call Winery stand, which they'd forgotten to bring, but we stocked up on some fresh fruit and veg. Good quality, but Whistler prices. I returned 2 hours later to pick up the wine which they'd brought up lunchtime.

We'd planned to hike down to Green Lake in the afternoon as Nick and Lizzie were off doing a 20k run, with a 519m elevation gain, up and around Whistler mountain. It's the sort of thing they do!

As we headed off for our hike along the side of Lost Lake a woman on a bike said there was a sleeping bear down the bank on the lake side of the track just up ahead Sure enough 50m further on a young Black Bear appeared to be sleeping off a good lunch, if the bear scats leading up to his makeshift bed were anything to go by.

I wondered if it was the young bear I saw yesterday morning? Several people had already discovered its presence and were quietly snapping away. It appeared blissfully unaware of the bikers, hikers and runners passing above. We didn't linger longer than it took to take the video. One very digitally immortalised bear. It was pretty special as it was only a few metres away, but best left in peace.

As we walked on the names of some of the hiking and bike trails made us laugh.

I thought the first one would make a good name for for a friend's next racehorse. (Gary - what do you think?).

Perhaps even the second one, though it may be frowned upon by the UK racing establishment!

The trail down to Green Lake (and yes it is very green) was one of the more gentle hikes we've enjoyed after some of Nick's more adventurous routes.

Fitzsimmons Creek that runs through Whistler village discharges into Green Lake which then flows out over the Nairn Falls we visited the last week.

There were many other walkers, bikers and hikers around, but still an enjoyable walk.

The trail took us down to the Mountain Air seaplane dock on Green Lake so we had to go in and check out the schedule and sightseeing trips.

The Harbour Air De-Havilland Beaver was docked. They fly out of Coal Harbour, Vancouver and serve most destinations around the Coast and Vancouver Island.

Retiring for a cup of Earl Grey at the [Jack] Nicklaus North golf resort hotel, we watched the plane take off and do a slow climbing circuit of the lake as it gained height to clear the mountains.

The bear had moved on by the time we retraced our route alongside Lost Lake though Jack, who'd been indifferent to its earlier presence, had a quick sniff where it probably climbed up out of the lake bank.