Forever young (Whistler)

A stunner of a day

This is the final post from Whistler and it contains a few reflections, not just on Whistler but on things we have observed on this trip. I'm sure you remember J.M.Barry's classic tale, Peter Pan, my literature loving reader. Whistler is Never Never Land, the place that Peter returned to time and again with the Lost Boys so that he wouldn't have to grow up. 

Whistler is like that. It is full of people avoiding life, adulthood, responsibility. There is no one country that wins this competition, although if it were an Olympic event, Australia would certainly be in medal contention. The majority of work is fractional and many people are employed in a number of different places to make ends meet. Most jobs are hospitality related, many pay below award wages so relying on tips is essential. It is very much a work to party culture. This is well beyond work to live. After the party ends, and it will end someday, there is nothing to fall back on. The cost of living here is extreme, particularly rent. On the weekend just gone, the weather was (for this time of year) appalling, the bars and pubs and cafes were packed from morning till well into the night. While this lifestyle might appeal for a while, even Peter Pan gave up the pursuit of being forever young. And with that we cleverly link to today's title. There are many versions of this 1984 Alphaville song but my favourite is Youth Group (2005), and a song regularly featured on The O.C.

The same view as the last two mornings

The base of the ride

Our final full day here dawned an absolute stunner, blue skies and no cloud. Perhaps it was a little quieter than the weekend, that, or everyone is up on the mountain. We wandered the Village and ended up back at Purebread for breakfast. The pastries are delectable. I even had them make me an upside down Americano coffee, like we make coffee in the rest of the known world, water first then coffee shot. It wasn't bad, but should've gone for a double shot. Then we took a few photos of the Village and surrounding mountains and just enjoyed the sunshine and the warmth in preparation of the Peak to Peak walk.

As we strolled the Village Stroll, I was forced to ask, not for the first time since we have been away, why do some people need to shout when the person they are talking to is standing next to them. This affliction appears to be indiscriminate in terms of gender, but seems to be a market cornered by a few specific nationalities. It is a problem that occurs outside as well as in the confines of a bar or restaurant. In reality it is little more than an inability to consider anyone else, much like the right wing of the Australian Liberal Party. Happily it is a minority and not everyone else is shouting their conversations, just like the right wing of the Liberals represents a minority of privileged white middle class men who are out of touch with reality. I'm looking you Tony Abbott and company.

This is for you Cait

The glorious morning melted into an equally glorious afternoon and we decided to brave the crowds and the queues (well Dan did) and we secured tickets for the Peak to Peak gondola and the Skybridge. It would appear that my previously irrational fear of heights has almost disappeared. Although it would have been truly tested on the Skybridge which, unfortunately, had just closed by the time we made the summit.

The Skybridge

Despite the altitude it really wasn't that cold up there and the crowds of people that had been lining up all day had amassed on various parts of the mountain top. The Gondola ride from peak to peak is a feat of engineering. It is almost 4.5km in length and the longest unsupported span is over 3km and it is 436m above the valley floor. It is a remarkably smooth ride and the lines moved quickly and efficiently, especially on the trip back as it was nearing closing time.

The queue for the gondola back down the mountain to Whistler was enormous and as we moved toward the gate we watched the queue ebb and flow until at one point it had doubled back on itself and it was difficult to see the end. Again, the line moved quickly given the hundreds of people waiting for a ride for back down to earth.

The ski runs look like a golf course

Don't step out the door unless it's been snowing

The view from the top

The view from the gondola

On the way down I saw a bear foraging in the undergrowth. He was golden in colour. Danaka said the colour of the fur probably meant he was big and old. Cool. My first exciting piece of Canadian wild life. The geese do not count.

Today is a transit day as we say goodbye to Dan and Danaka and move from Whistler to Kelowna. The maps suggest it is around 5 hours 30 minutes so no doubt it will take me longer, which means there may or may not be a post tomorrow.

Until then ...