Articles and Press
A peak experience: From Vancouver to Whistler
By MELANIE RADZICKI McMANUS, Special to the Star Tribune
A tour of Canada's British Columbia allows for hiking, mountain biking and rafting with cushy perks.
article here: http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/travel/99625029.html
MOUNTAIN BIKE
InsideLine: Whistler, B.C. (June 2010)
Article on our Sky Camp Ecolodge
Vancouver to Whistler - as seen in the Passport Newsletter
Summer views such as this, from a hiking trail on Whistler Mountain, take in neighboring Blackcomb Mountain and the area’s many glacial lakes.
The Olympic Games focused on British Columbia as a winter destination, but it also has enormous appeal in the summertime.
Last summer, we took part in a challenging, six-day hiking, rafting and biking expedition with a top-notch touring company in Whistler, British Columbia, a similar version of which is offered every year.
The program starts in Vancouver, where guides meet each group and lead off with a quick jaunt through the city’s Stanley Park, where there is a collection of totem poles carved by northern First Nations. This is followed by an easy hike in Alice Lake Provincial Park, and then the day’s highlight, a thrilling whitewater rafting excursion on the Elaho and Squamish Rivers’ Class-3 and -4 rapids.
Joffre Lake Provincial Park
Day Two involves a rather strenuous, five-kilometer hike up the rugged terrain of Joffre Lakes Provincial Park, with the reward of a picnic atop a jumble of giant rocks. Here, you can see the impressive Matier Glacier, from which meltwaters tumble into Upper Joffre Lake, a stunning, turquoise jewel. Two other equally beautiful glacial lakes are seen on the hike.
On the third day, cycling in Pemberton Meadows and hiking to Nairn Falls are the program, while the fourth day brings a day-long bike ride around the Whistler area, including a zip down one of its challenging single-track trails. The fifth day includes an alpine hike around the top of Whistler Mountain, with sweeping views of neighboring Blackcomb Mountain, the Coast Range and the numerous lakes dotting the valley floor.
Sturdy mountain bikes allow for spontaneous fun, such as a
refreshing splash through a path-side stream.
The trip ends the following day with a short hike at popular Logger’s Lake in the Cheakamus Valley on the way back to Vancouver.
In addition to offering breathtaking scenery and a wide variety of active exploration options, this program, called “Sea to Sky,” includes accommodations at well-appointed resorts. Our group stayed at the Pemberton Valley Lodge just north of Whistler and at Legends Lodge in Whistler’s Creekside neighborhood. Rooms at the all-suite resorts featured full kitchens, washer/dryer units and complimentary WiFi.
Most meals are included in the trip, with the prospect of an outstanding lunch keeping everyone going through the morning. In the middle of the day’s activities, guides manage to put together wonderfully creative meals, which might include brie and fresh fruit, excellent sandwiches and wraps, spinach-quinoa salad and triple-chocolate bars. Dinners are typically at local restaurants.
Our tour was conducted by Whistler Outback Adventures, whose guides have a wealth of information on British Columbia’s history, flora and fauna; they lead several Sea to Sky trips each July and August at a cost of about $2,200 per person. Tel: 604-935-7566. (Winter number: 604-932-7990.) www.whistleroutbackadventures.com
