More than just the Olympics: The Road to Whistler and beyond, British Columbia

In our continuing series, "There's More To BC Than the Olympic Games", we take a look at what to do when you are in Whistler this Spring and Summer and what lies beyond Highway 99 North.  As we mentioned previously in our first post on this topic, we get cluttered with information on the Olympics and loose track of what made Whistler what it is today.  There is so much to see and do.  This is your guide.

Whistler Air Float Plane Tours

Experience the glaciers and mountain tops from a completely different vantage point. From the air! For 30 minutes, you will be on top of the world. Whistler Air is located adjacent to the Nicklaus North Golf Course and just minutes away from your campground. Flights are daily during the late spring through late summer. The cost at time of printing was $135 for adults and $68 for children under 11years of age. This is a very popular tour, so booking ahead is recommended. Contact: (604) 932 6615. www.whistlerair.ca

Hummer Tours

Let’s face it, some things you just can’t see from Whistler Village or the RV Park. Take a 2 and a half hour tour to the top of the mountain in a hummer. These tours include hiking. $109 per adult and $79 per youth 9-14 years of age. You can reserve your mountain excursion by calling 1-250-932-0647.

Zip Trek Bear Tour

This is the original tour and the one that made these people famous with five incredible ziplines joined by a network of suspension bridges, boardwalks and trails. Stunning aerial vistas over Fitzsimons Creek complete your eco-adventure. This tour is perfect for families, groups, and those who have never ziplined before. Contact : 1-866-935-0001. Email webres@ziptrek.com.

Tree Trek Tour

Explore Whistler from a Bird’s eye view. Discover secrets of the ancient rainforest. Educational, adventurous, exciting. Tree Trek is a fully guided ecology tour. Contact: 1-866-935-0001 Email webres@ziptrek.com

Bear Viewing

Experience wildlife, glaciers and the vast coastal hemlock-cedar forests of Whistler Blackcomb as you learn about the importance of conservation and the measures we are taking to help sustain healthy populations. Sheltered amongst the deep old growth forest, you can visit active bear dens, daybed and feeding sites. Let our guides Michael Allen, a self taught black bear researcher with 19 years of experience and Arthur DeJong, the Whistler Blackcomb Mountain Planning and Environmental Resource Manager take you on a unforgettable unique adventure. Contact: 1-888-882-8858 or by email reservations@enjoywhistler.com

Mountain Biking

Variety and magnificent mountain vistas make Whistler a destination "must" for cyclists. Here you can cycle terrain to fit all levels of experience, ambitions and energy: glide along lakeside paths, sail through coastal forest or fly down mountain trails, dropping 1,219 m (4,000 ft) in minutes. Bikes can be rented from a number of shops including The Whistler Bike Company 101-4205 Village Square.

Today, the highway will take you further back into the Coast mountains to Pemberton, through the Mount Currie Reserve of the Lil’wat group of the Stl’atl’lmx Nation, one of the many small native reserves, and then you will climb into the sky, or so it will seem, on the Duffy Lake Road (Hwy 99). This will eventually get you to the other side of the mountains, out of the coastal vegetation into the arid climate characterized by deep canyons and the search for gold.


Mount Currie: the Whistler Valley was an isolated wilderness frequented only by the Lil’wat Nation from the Mount Currie area and the Squamish Nation who lived in an area stretching from present day North Vancouver to the Squamish river watershed and the northern area of Howe Sound (Gibson’s Landing).

Joffrey Lakes: It is well worth to stop at the signage and walk into Joffrey Lakes. It’s often a beautiful spot.

Duffy Lake: The lake is on the highest point of the traverse through the Coast Mountains. The lake is visible from along the highway. It is along this stretch where you get a bit of a break from the twisting and turning and then start the long decent into Lillooet.

Lillooet: The town of Lillooet has a population of only 2,800. The population includes three large bands of the St'at'imc or Lillooet Nation whose reserves abut the town on all sides, and another three large reserves within 32 km (20 miiles). Historical populations have included large numbers of Americans and Chinese, although there are few of either today (there are many long time local families, First Nations and non-First Nations, have some bloodlines from both). The town's non-native population has been historically multi-ethnic in extraction, with a relatively high-rate of intermarriage between all groups.

POINTS OF INTEREST IN THE LILLOOET AREA: (Information courtesy District Lillooet)

The Visitor Centre is situated in downtown Lillooet at St. Mary the Virgin, a former Anglican church. The original St. Mary's, which was torn down in 1960, stood on the same spot and arrived on the backs of miners and their mules, who carried the timber, piece by piece over the rugged Harrison-Lillooet trail in 1860. Hours of operation are 9:00 to 4:30 May until the end of June and until 6:00 throughout most of the summer. For more information contact: Phone 250.256.4308 Admission is Free.

The Mile '0' Cairn

The Mile '0' Cairn was erected in 1939, marking Mile '0' of the old Cariboo Road. From this point in the early stage coach days, all road houses and stopping places from here to Barkerville were known by there mileage from Lillooet - 70 Mile, 100 Mile, and so on.

The Chinese Rocks

On both sides of the Fraser River at Lillooet one can find "Chinese Rocks" - a reminder of the search for gold by Chinese people before the turn of the century. Washing the sand and gravel for the elusive yellow metal, the Chinese neatly piled the washed rocks, in some places more than 12 feet high, in long rows. Close to the Hangman's Tree one can find an example. Others are just downstream from the Old Suspension Bridge and on the east side of the Fraser.

Begbie’s Hangman Tree

This old Ponderosa Pine tree is located on the bench above Main Street. Turn left at the United Church and head up the hill. "Hang" a right at the first road you come to, and there, on your left in the park above the road, is the tree. It was used as a gallows for the administration of justice more than 100 years ago, when the law in these parts was Sir Matthew Baillie Begbie.

Seton Lake

Located just west of Lillooet off Highway 99, offering up an incredible view and picnic area.


Travel Images www.westshoregalleries.ifp3.com