Whistler is one of the most recognizable Ski Resort towns in the world, having held events from the Winter Olympics in 2010 under the guidance of the neighbouring host city of Vancouver, BC.
Simply put, it is a winter wonderland and a must see for anyone visiting the area. A rather unique feature is that you can reach the snow covered town in about 2 hours from Vancouver. The Sea to Sky Highway provides incredible views along the way and the Rocky Mountaineer boasts one of the top 10 train trips in the world. Lonely Planet considers it “one of the world’s ultimate experiences” as you “wind past foaming waterfalls, ancient glaciers, towering snow-capped peaks and roaring mountain streams” (Frommer’s).
I booked my trip online with what I found to be the cheapest bus tour for the day. There are a few options, but if you would like to see a few sights, a tour is the way to go. I found one for less than $50CAD but you can join tours for the day up to about $150CAD minus any extra activities once you reach Whistler. The only catch was, I found myself on a primarily Chinese catered to tour. But for a saving of well over 50%, I wasn’t about to complain!
First stop was Shannon Falls. It is the 3rd largest waterfall in BC and well worth a visit. It’s about 40 minutes along the highway and is filled with forest trails to explore.
As we climbed further up the mountain, large snowflakes began to surrounded us. The idea of spending the day in the snow was such a novel concept to me, I couldn’t wait to jump in. It was a foggy day, and while the rest of the tour group opted to take the Peak to Peak gondola up the mountain, I had other things in mind. Being a huge fan of jet ski’s I decided what better way to cover a lot of terrain, be surrounded by snow and get the full experience than to jump on the snow equivalent? So Snowmobiling it was!
“The bus leaves at 3pm sharp” the tour guide warned. “If you don’t make it back, you will have to find your own way to Vancouver as the roads become dangerous.” “Maike if you don’t want to take the gondola, you can spend the day in the village, there are plenty of good looking boys there.” The bus chuckles, but I have my eyes on the prize.
3.5 hours and counting… After a brief wander I came across the information board and in bold letters was just what I was looking for ‘Snowmobiling’. I found the company and discovered the tour was about to leave in 5 minutes. So I handed over my credit card, turned a blind eye to the hefty price tag and join the group.
My adventure was about to begin. 20 minutes later after a short bus trip to the site, we were geared up and ready to go.
We were in the Callaghan. A mountain/valley area in Whistler with nothing but snowmobiling or dog sledding trails, snow and gorgeous scenery. This is what I had come here for. Engines fired up, it was now us, our snow version of the motor bike and the open trails. After a quick orientation, we were off.
It was the most magical experience for me to be surrounded by snow covered scenery, small trails that cut through the trees and a view of the valley below. We had a quick cruise on the frozen lake and crossed small bridges while winding around the mountain.
A word of advise, if you are a little more adventurous, I strongly suggest riding towards the front of the group. Partnered snow mobiles equal slower speeds and are rather frustrating to follow. Since my tour guide was strict on the return time, I was taken aside and given a short one on one snowmobiling experience towards the end to make it back to my bus in the village on time. This was a lucky turn of events as finally, it was time to let loose and see what this machine could do. Reaching speeds of up to 70kms/hr I struggled to keep my guide in sight. I haven’t had this much fun since I discovered jet ski’s! Needless to say it was well worth it and something I highly recommend to anyone even mildly adventurous.
2.45pm and I was back at the meeting spot ready to hit the road back to Vancouver. “So, what did you do Maike?” the tour guide asked. “I went snowmobiling” I said with a grin as I took my seat and settled in for the journey back.
A few scenic stops along the way for some beautiful photo opportunities and 3 hours later we were back in Vancouver. This was the perfect way to spend a day. Would I do it again? Absolutely!
