To Whistler

Travel today from Kamloops to Whistler.  First through some very desolate but beautiful landscape.   It all looks like central western desert country like we see in the movies.  Deep gullies and dry ranges.  Made for some interesting driving with a few areas missing guard rails and deep drops over the sides.   Followed the train line most of the way through the mountains.

Called into Lillooet about midday for a hot chocolate and mars bar for lunch?  Then came the mountain country with streams full of spawning salmon, up into the mountains towards the snow line.  We could see trees covered in snow and we got closer and closer till we finally reached a high point in the road where we were able to get out of the car and see the snow on the ground and the branches weighing down with the snow.   

On to the Whistler resort/township.  The winter season doesn’t start for another couple of weeks but the locals are very excited about the amount of snow already on the surrounding mountains.

Called into the Visitors Centre and (on Lukes recommendation) did a walk around Lost Lake.  Yes Luke, we managed to find it, I don’t think it was THAT lost!!  Such a nice walk in the cold, clean air with pine forests all around and views down to the lake.   It was about 4pm by the time we got back to town, booked into the motel and we still hadn’t had lunch, just too busy!  Walked around Whistler town centre for a couple of hours, very clean, modern town where the average age of residents seems to be about 25, the shops are first rate with quality product and they seem fairly reasonably priced.  We didn’t buy any snow gear but all the usual clothing was pretty competitively priced with other centres around Canada.  Decided on salmon for tea.  Almost as good as Pam cooks.

Country roads from Kamloops, with the train line above us.

They farm right to the edge of the cliffs.  Trains on the track at the bottom of the hill..

Lucerne crop irrigated for making hay.

Rugged country.

Deep gullies.

With our road to the right of the picture.

Some snowy trees.

The snow was gently falling as we took these photos.

Lake jammed up with logs on the way to Whistler.

Creek around the Lost Lake walk.

Found the Lost Lake.

One of the walks we didn't take.

Pam walking the plank.

Vernon happy he wasn't pushed in.

On Lost Lake.

Snow on the Whistler mountains.

Lost Lake Park and Beach.

Trees and snowy mountains outside the Visitors Centre.