September 28, 2014 – How’s that for a lovely place to contemplate the world? Two inviting chairs, a milky glacial creek, and the quiet of thick forest to complete the package.
Kirk celebrated his half-century birthday this week, good thing he’s really still a child at heart. As a surprise (sort of, I told him a few days in advance since there was rain in the forecast and I wanted to give him a chance to bail) I booked a hotel for two nights in Whistler, and booked us on the full meal-deal Zip-Trek Mammoth Eco-Tour.
He didn’t bail, and I am sooooo glad! Damn that was fun! Wheeeeee, doesn’t begin to explain it. Unless you are afraid of heights, then it would have been simply terrifying!
We travel up to Whistler a lot, but usually just for a coffee or lunch after a ride on the motorcycles. We have only stayed up overnight a few isolated times, and it was nice to do so during the week instead of on a busy weekend. September is past the business of summer tourist season, and, since the snow hasn’t yet flown, it’s not yet into the busy winter season. That means it’s a nice relaxed time to visit and just hang out.
When Kirk and I arrived to check in, Kirk said we were on the Mammoth tour, and the person looked at us and said “Paige?” Ummm, yes, how’d you know? “Oh, you’re the only ones on this tour today.”
Cool! A private tour. 4-5 hours, two guides, and us. What a special treat!!
I wasn’t really sure how I’d react when I got on the platform and was confronted with the prospect of simply stepping off into nothingness. I’m not afraid of heights, and there isn’t much that really scares me – spiders notwithstanding. Turns out, jumping off a platform wasn’t a problem and in no time I was zipping along upside down, hands and legs extended and just laughing the entire way along!
The tour encompassed nine lines (was supposed to be ten, but I think one line was being worked on), a fair bit of walking and talking, and a great deal of interpretive discussion on the forest. They provided lunch for us at a shelter halfway through the tour.
Sure, the day was a bit sketchy, but it didn’t really rain to any extent until we were walking off the mountain. On the second to last line there was a bit of rain, and the zip was so fast that the rain really hurt on the face. But it was way too much fun!
Our two guides – Bjorn and Neil – were entertaining and informative, and invited us to come take snowboarding lessons with them once the snow starts flying. Not a bad plan since we’ve not been boarding in many years.
When the last line was zipped all we wanted to do was do it all over again, it was that much fun! Instead we went for a walk, ran into a former neighbour, did a bit of shopping, celebrated over a few drinks, had a nice dinner, and relaxed the last bit of the evening away in the hot tub.
Happy 50th Kirk! I think you enjoyed yourself 😉
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We went zip lining in Whistler for Erika’s stagette, it was super fun. Glad you two had such a fantastic time!
What a great gift Paige !! Happy 50th to Kirk please tell him for me 😉 I love all the photos , you are such a crazy chick …flying around upside down on those zip lines !!
Hmmmm…not sure it would be a wheeee for me, but who knows? 🙂 You both are crazy tho. 🙂
Marne, one of our guides is like you, not a lover of heights, but he says that he can do the lines because of the mental knowledge that he’s physically attached.
Stepping off the platform the first time is perhaps a bit nerve-wracking, but after that you fling yourself off. So much fun!