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Published: September 15th 2013
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Entrance to the village Woke up to a magnificent looking day And the sound of autumn leaves falling of the RV roof. Sun was shining and we both felt better after a good nights sleep. It has been a full on trip - so not much rest time.
Organised to stay another night in the Riverside Park although we are moving to a cheaper site $36.75 with power and water.
Whistler is of course home to the 2010 Winter Olympics. The village is a very large area with plenty of shops and restaurants to keep you busy for ages. The homes that surround the village look very plush and there is a never ending stream of high quality hotels in the area as well.
Headed off to the Whistler Gondola for some exploration of the Peak to Peak Gondola. This gondola breaks 3 world records. It's the highest lift of its kind 1,427ft, has the longest unsupported span at 3.024km and it is the longest continuous lift system in the world...wow what record breakers they are up here!
There are over 50kms of hiking, walking and interpretive walking trails that wind through a volcanic landscape which are surrounded by jaw-dropping vistas,
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At the Olympic Village glaciers, lakes and wildflower filled slopes. At this time of the year the slopes are filled with hundreds of downhill bike riders who catch the Whistle Mountain Gondola up to the top and then bike it down one of the many trails.
Some other facts about the Peak to Peak Gondola are:
The journey from peak to peak takes 11 minutes.
The gondola travels at 27kph.
The Eiffel Tower can easily fit under the centre span.
The Peak to Peak opened December 2008.
Each Gondola holds 28 people and when full hold 4 metric tonnes.
2050 people can travel each way in 1 hour.
After finishing with the Peak to Peak experience we headed for a drive along the Sea to Sky Highway stopping at Brandywine Falls Provincial Park. This is a spectacular 70 metre waterfall which can be seen from a viewing platform perched high on the edge of a volcanic escarpment. A bit further down the track and you come across marvellous views of Daisy Lake and the surrounding mountains.
It was extremely hot in Whistler today and up on the mountain the glare from the sun
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Those famous rings! was difficult to cope with - even with sunglasses on. There was a fair bit of haze around the mountains today - we were told this is pollution from Vancouver. There has been no rain around the area for a well or so. The constant change of weather helps keep the haze away from the mountain areas but with a week off hot weather and no rain the haze was very visible.
Cost for the Peak to Peak Gondola was $48.95 each and worth every cent. First you catch a Gondola from the Olympic Village up to the top of Whistler Mountain and then transfer to the Peak to Peak Gondola for the ride over to Blackcomb.
This evening Geoff spotted at putt putt course at the RV campground so off we went to have a go. This an 18 hole course and is just like a real golf course....turf and all! We had a great time and the boss just beat me but I gave it a good go!
Gets dark a lot earlier here than it did in Alaska. 8pm and it's night. Its taking a while to get used to the shorter days.
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at the village in Whistler Driving to Kamloops tomorrow. Hoping for an early start.
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