Skiing in Whistler December 2004

WHISTLER, VANCOUVER December 2004

For many years, skiing was secret fantasy I harboured, dreaming that  I would one day  whiz down a snowy white mountain slope with the wind in my hair ! Thanks to my niece, Sabiha, who shared the same desire, we finally took the plunge & embarked on our journey to one of the finest ski resorts, 120 kms & a 2 hour drive into the mountains north of Vancouver.

Besides the basic winter clothing one requires for such temperatures, all ski equipment is available on hire.  Waterproof jackets & goggles were even delivered to our hotel room with a choice for size!  Armed with our gear, we were ready for our first ski lesson.

It was not as tough as we imagined it to be & we were soon skiing down gentle slopes, tho' i cannot recall how times we fell over!  In daily life, falling only means onto mud, or stone or maybe even a drain!  This, however, was pure, white, painless, powdered SNOW!  Falling was actually a pleasure so we could just lay around for awhile!

Dusk falls by about 4.30pm but professional skiers continue night skiing until as late as 10pm where the slopes are illuminated.  To the rest of us poor beginners, nothing is more inviting than a steaming hot Jacuzzi which most ski resorts provide.  These are usually outdoors & the water is pleasurably HOT to sooth those tired & aching muscles you never knew you had!  Allowing those underwater jets to hit you at the right spot, steam rising high and piles of snow all around us was one of our most awesome experiences.

There is much else to do for the non-skier.  You can step into a dog sled behind a team of Alaskan Racing Huskies & glide into the beauty & tranquility of the back country, through forests & along frozen rivers. Our sled driver even let me drive for awhile!

Or you can just go for a walk in the woods wearing snowshoes (to prevent sinking). This was a great way to learn about the ecology from our guide & slide down some friendly slopes.

For the more adventurous, snowmobiling is another option. To experienced drivers, it gives one the thrill of driving & controlling your own snowmobile.  We opted for the intermediate trails which took us up some steeper & stunning snowy terrain, into ancient cedar forests & up to some breathtaking views of the surrounding mountain peaks. 

Now for some real thrills, zip trekking is the equivalent to the local flying fox.  We were safely harnessed & went flying on a series of five zip line cables over half a mile long & spanning a creek hundreds of feet deep. Surrounded by temperate rainforests, it was a truly exhilarating experience.

Needless to say we were sad to leave our 'home' after a week of thrills & spills.  It had been snowing all night before we left & even as we drove away from this winter wonderland on a white Christmas Day.

Charming B & B's were our home for the next few days as we drove & explored a little more of British Columbia on our own. Victoria lives up to its reputation of picture perfect views, its renowned Butchart Gardens & a high nosed afternoon tea at the Empress Hotel on the waterfront.  Depending on your fancy, Vancouver city has much to offer.  From green parks, to the worlds only steam clock in Gastown, to the charming Farmer's Market on Granville Island. A gondola ride up Grouse Mountain on the edge of Vancouver transports you within 10 minutes from a concrete jungle into a snow covered summit, complete with opportunities to ski, sleigh, skate etc. It was our last chance to play & sleigh in the snow before we flew home.