The Sea to Sky Highway

Wed August 16

Sea to Sky Highway in the 50's

I have no idea how many times we have driven the Sea to Sky Highway to get to and from Whistler, and beyond. The first time was in 2013, when Ros spent a year working for ZipTrek, having transferred from their operation in NZ. We have seen it when the snow started at the Vancouver end and at times when only when we've got close to Whistler has the snow been evident. The first half of the drive runs along Howe Sound, until just before Squamish, when the gentle climb starts up to Whistler. The road has not changed in the ten years we've been driving it, though it is very different to the 50's when the road was on a par with today's Forest Service Roads.

The road we know today was originally started during the early 1900's when copper mining started at the Britannia Mine (1904), just below Squamish. There is believed to be an older First Nations trading trail before that. It was not until 1966, when Whistler opened for skiing, that the road was metalled.

Today the highway is a mix of two and four lanes, with many stop-offs where you can explore the lakes, creeks and waterfalls that follow the road or take in the scenery such as the Tantalus Mountain range which rises spectacularly across the far side of Howe Sound. It must have been quite an adventure travelling it in the early 1900's.

In summer it is just as scenic. We spent a few days in Whistler at the beginning of August hiking some of the trails and canoeing out on Alta Lake. On the way up we stopped off at Brohm Lake which had amazingly clear water and appeared to be a popular swimming spot. Jack was in!

Rather than do any of the trails around Whistler Mountain, which would have required a Jack-sitter as dogs aren't allowed up the mountains, we explored some of the lower level trails.

First stop was to Whistler Olympic Park and along a 12k Forest Service Road (FSR) to Madeley Lake (also called Powell Lake on some maps). It wasn't the easiest of drives, with some rocky sections to the trail, but on the way up and way back we saw no other vehicles or hikers. It is amazing that in the height of summer it is possible to find trails and lakes not that far from civilisation, devoid of other people.

The lake was only accessible in a few places so after a short hike we changed tack and headed back down to the Olympic Park for a coffee.

The Park, which has not hosted a major international ski-jumping event since the 2010 Olympics has started renting out camping and RV spots to bring in some income during the summer. Despite the stunning location, the place was not particularly busy. We wandered over to the ski jumps, resisting the temptation to hike up to the 'warming huts' at the top of the jumps, finding it warm enough at ground level.

We got chatting to one of the ski jump staff, which is when we learnt of the lack of competitive use. It is used for national and BC events, but that's about it. Last time we visited the Park it was feet deep in snow and we abandoned snowshoeing as the snow was deeper than Jack is tall. We walked around the cross country ski trails instead.

Before taking the FSR up to Madeley Lake we stopped by the Alexander Falls, forgetting we'd been there once before. Easy to do when you see so many waterfalls!

Back in Whistler my regular morning Jack walk was up alongside Nita Lake to Alta Lake. My eye caught the movement of a small creature that I initially thought to be an odd-shaped rat, minus the long tale. It turned out to be a Pika, related to the rabbit family, but very much smaller. They are rock dwellers. The next day I took my camera and snapped a few pics. Cute little critters. First time I have ever seen one.

Back home on the Thursday, Nick, Lizzie and Seb arrived for the long weekend with the little'n suffering from an ear infection. He was not his normal happy self, in fact it turned out later that he had a perforated eardrum, which was not evident when he was checked out before coming over. Despite the discomfort he was still managed some moments of fun and delight. Not least when he decided to 'bag' the silverware!

The local bear put in several appearances over the weekend checking out our neighbour's front yard and crossing our front drive, before heading off to feast on berries. He or she looked a medium sized bear until it stood up to pick berries. It was big. It had already raided a neighbour's fig tree and in the last few days and mother and two cubs surprised our neighbour opposite... first with two cubs appearing out of the shrubbery followed by the mother who had been up a tree.

Crossing our drive

All in all a busy few weeks.

We are now stealing ourselves for the arrival of five former colleague mates of Fred, two of which are coming with partners.

The first are just arriving on the ferry in Langdale as I finish this blog. Two couples are staying with us and the two who didn't bring husbands are stopping with one of the college friends who lives at Halfmoon Bay, 30k up the Coast. Small world.