Expedition Canada

A Mountain Escape Mon Aug 22 Alta Lake, Whistler A bit of a gap since the last blog as we’ve been on hols in Whistler.  Some might suggest we have been on holiday since we arrived in Canada April 3, 2021!  The jumps and bumps will be flattened for the ski season After a few months of tour guiding, which we have thoroughly enjoyed (a new career maybe?), it was time for a family catch-up.  Ros has been up in Whistler volunteering on Crankworx (the name similarity was purely coincidental).  Nick and Lizzie were in town either end of our week, so it was a last chance to spend time with Roz en-famile, before she headed back to NZ Sunday evening.   Popular as a winter resort, there is just as much fun to be had in summer as there is when snow shrouds the town.   From October to April, trails are turned over to cross-country skiing, lakes are frozen and are largely left to be admired and the fun is up the alp.  In the summer, it's hiking, biking, s...

In Canada! Happy is a Spaniel in snow! Thu Feb 3rd  I don't know what it is about Tory leaders but they seem to be, or were, in a precarious position. If you were hoping the headline referred to the UK, I am sorry to disappoint but it is the leader of the Canadian Conservative Party, Erin O'Toole, who has upset his MP's and been ousted .  Boris hangs on in there! We escaped up to Nick and Lizzie's apartment in Whistler for a few days on Tuesday, which is located in Whistler-Creekside.  We have always tended to stay up in Whistler-Blackcomb alongside the ski-run that returns to the main lift up the mountain. Pony Trail Piste down to the Creekside Gondola Nick & Lizzie chose Creekside as it's quieter and well located for Nita and Alta lakes.  Having been up here during the summer we can see the advantages of being a 5 minute walk to lakes and in winter the same to the Creekside Gondola.  Tuesday was a beautiful 'bluebird' day and we got up the hill at lunc...

Last Minute Adventure Gates Lake Thu Aug 5th  Just as I was about to sit down with a glass of wine and write up today's rather thin activities, a text arrived from Nick.  Do I want to go canoeing? An evening's paddle has to be much better for you than sitting down drinking wine, staring at a computer screen.  It wasn't in today's plan. As part of our search for the right location  we planned to head up to Pemberton, about 25 minutes  north of Whistler.  We'd stayed just north of there in a log cabin on a 14 acre former smallholding, next to Gates Lake some years ago.  We'd liked the town but hadn't been in house hunting mode back then. Our first stop was the 60m high Nairn Falls, on Green River.  A 1.5k walk along a steep wooded valley side.  About a third of the way along a narrow path went down to a small beach area, away from the roaring torrent of Green River.  At the far end of the dirt track a short steep climb up an area of rocks ...

Asleep by Lunchtime! Mon Aug 2nd Lunchtime Nick and Lizzie arrived in Whistler late Sunday evening and the first text pinged.   "Want to meet for an early morning canoe or swim".  The pressure was on. Nick was planning a swim and we could canoe or swim.  It wasn't the plan.  Fred was going to have a gentle walk with Jack, while I took the pain for both of us! In the end Fred, Jack and I canoed around the lake.   It kinda set the pace for the day and expectation for the rest of the week!   After the morning canoe session we headed off to Rainbow park, on the other side of Alta Lake where Jack was able to enjoy another swim.   After all the early morning exertion, we headed back for lunch after a coffee in Olympic square. The large mountain on the right at the end of the video is Whistler Mountain, the peak at the back beforehand is Blackcomb Mountain.  Tomorrow we are walking the first of the two! For the afternoo...

Lakes 3 - Temp 30 C Sun Aug 1st A few years ago we were staying in a traditional log cabin north of Pemberton for a few days.  The main rail line that ran  North,  ultimately   to Prince  Rupert Sound passed within 20 metres of the cabin.  Being on a curve in the track we grew familiar with haunting train whistle that is so synonymous with North American trains.  The same trains run alongside Alta Lake in Whistler where this picture was taken. We've yet to hear or see the trains, though the likelihood increases.  CN (Canadian National railway) are planning to increase train frequency on this route because of the disruption to rail traffic from forest fires in the interior of BC. Freight trains are being blamed for some of the wildfires in the interior.  As yet unproven.  We have seen a lot more bear scats today, full of seeds,  but no bears.  On my morning walk around Lost Lake first thing, this pa...