Some years ago my H did some work on a hotel in this small town -
one that could easily be missed with one's sights on getting to Whistler.
Other than taking note of the strange mountain with the flat sheer rock side
there has not much else that would stick out in your memory,
unless the kids would remember the lumberjack statue with his ax, on the side of the road.
But things may be changing.
We began hearing some excitement about the new Sea to Sky Gondola
opening on a mountain in Squamish
and thought this would be a good time to check it out and maybe get in a hike.
We drove out on Sunday . . . it's only a two hour drive, much of it along the coast.
Getting into town you can't help but see signs to Shannon Falls,
which we went to see.
And then we bought our lift tickets for the Sea to Sky ride.
Such an appropriate name . . .
as it takes you almost from the water's edge
high up into the sky - a quiet 10 minute ride on the cables.
At the top, an expansive 5,000-square-foot deck offers views every which way, including the Sky Pilot and Copilot mountain peaks.
A 100 meter long suspension bridge leads you to another viewing platform.
One of the things one can appreciate here are plaques with information
on the history embedded in this town by the first ancestors.
It's a place of unique names filled with legends that give you a glimpse into their life
and the changes they have faced.
Howe Sound also takes on a totally new perspective and beauty from these vantage points.
Upon crossing the bridge one gets access to a one and a half kilometer trail
leading to other viewpoints.
Wildlife seems to be pretty tame.
This tiny squirrel sat in the middle of the path
and let everyone take pictures.
We crossed back to the main deck, got some food and sat at a table
on the deck, overlooking the inlet and valley below.
It turned out to be a day on top of the world!
We got a room in that hotel
and made plans to hike that sheer rock looking mountain
we noted from the gondola as well as from the viewing deck again.
It needed some conquering in my mind.
9 comments:
Beautiful photos Anneliese. Some of our family live in Squamish and when we visited this spring they took us up the gondola to do some hiking. Great part of our wonderful country - spectacular views - especially for a prairie girl :)
Helen
those photos are stunning!!! such wonderful memories with the hubs!
Anneliese, you know me well enough to appreciate my thoughts on this...I think I'm glad this wasn't built yet when we came out to visit several years ago! I know it would have been a wonderful expedition, but I'm having a hard time imagining that trip up the gondola! Makes my knees quiver! What amazing views though at the top. Your part of the world is just so incredibly beautiful.
Dear Kathy ... your are right, I do know you well enough to appreciate this comment and I know we would have zipped right by this one to take you to Whistler. I'm sill so proud of you getting on that peak to peak! It was a memorable day to share! BTW I thought about you a number of times on this trip. I wore the acqua and cream (Cabo San Lucas?)bracelet and earrings from you.
Anneliese, it is so nice to see the Gondola through your lens. It's a beautiful province we live in... that is for sure!
Looks like you got some good weather to enjoy the hike and ride! That long suspended bridge gives me pause...
Beautiful! And now you have me wanting to go again!
Anneliese, it is indeed the Cabo San Lucas set, inspired by one of your pictures from that trip! I should redo that one, love those colors together.
What a beautiful day you had for your adventure! This is definitely on my list of things I would still like to do this fall.
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