AWM - Day 2: Coastal Rainforest Trees Are Smart and So Are We!

Coastal Rainforest Trees Are Smart and So Are We!

Time travel and I don't get along so well apparently. I woke up at 8:45am this morning, started into a panic (because we wanted to be up at 8 to get ready for ziplining) only to realize that it was 8:45am Sudbury time, and only 5:45am Whistler time. I'm happy to announce that was the worst part of my day.

Adventure #1 was ziplining. Carolyn is an experienced zipliner, and I... a virgin. Nevertheless, with MooReece safely tucked (where he would not fall out) and Snaily zipped into Carolyn's pocket we got all harnessed up and started the ascent. Our tour guides, Darragh (from Ireland) and Bradley (from Alliston ON - SMALLWORD notice: Bradley used to be babysatt by one of Carolyn's good friends) were excellent and coming from someone who was deathly afraid of heights once upon a time, this ziplining business is amazing! Yes, I'm an adrenaline junkie, no surprise there, but climbing off that ledge with nothing but a giant wedge between you and certain death is enough to disconcert anyone. 5 ziplines, the 4th being one of the longest and fastest in North America and the last one giving us the opportunity to zip upside down, my introduction to ziplining has got me hooked! I think MooReece would agree. What a rush!

The Sun was out and so after a quick lunch we decided it was a great chance to take the gondola up Whistler Mountain and then the Peak-2-Peak towards Blackcomb. Apparenlty we weren't the only ones who enjoyed our lunch because while meandering our way through the crowds, a man walking with his lady let one rip. Would not have been such a big deal had he not *gasped* and then turn to look at us and say "oops, sorry!" Before I knew it Carolyn was gone like a bat outta Hell! Recovering from my shock, I take off after her and here the man chuckle... by the time I catch Carolyn, she can barely breathe from having tried to contain her laughter. Thankfully he wasn't in our gondola... the ride up was stuffy and nauseating - 20 minutes of torture but well worth it. At the top, everywhere you turn is a postcard! Nothing but breathtaking WOWs and photo ops for us and the boys. Because of the late snow the hiking trails are still closed up on the mountain but there is still alot to explore and snow to play in :) The Peak-2-Peak was mindblowing. Nothing but 4 towers suspending the cables that run the gondolas from Whistler to Blackcomb. Much smoother, the enormous gondolas allow for a beautiful ride between the peaks. We could have ridden that thing all day. Too cool! On Blackcomb I treated myself to my first Gelato since France and it was Caramel Machiatto!!! Yes, my favourite Starbucks treat comes in a gelato flavour - HEAVEN! I'm on vacation - don't judge me! The italian ice cream also made the 20 minute trip back down the mountain much more bearable.

Crankworx is in town. It's a huge mountain/stunt bike festival. Whistler is packed with people and bikes right now. The base of the mountain is set up with an impressive course and we got to catch some international riders compete for Gold. Those guys are nuts! Some nasty crashes unfortunately, but overall a fun thing to watch. A 15 year old was sitting in second place when we headed back to get ready for dinner.

This place is amazing. Our ziplining guide was doing his Coop placement for Ziptrek... wow does that suck! HA! I mean, how much better does it get? I can see why people move here for a short while to work in the tourism industry. I couldn't live here forever, but I could definitely see myself working suffering through the hardships of having to work in such an environment for 6months-1 year.

As for the title of this blog... Whistler is situated in the Coastal Rainforest and some of the trees here are actually self-pruning trees. If you find a tree riddled with holes that look like Woody the Woodpecker was building an apartment block, those holes are from the branches that have been pushed out by the tree. These trees are so tall that the lower branches "prune" themselves in order to conserve energy to grow taller and get more sunlight. The density of this forest is incredible. I understand now why British Columbians are so very 'tree-hugger-y'. If I lived here, I would hug a tree too!