Day Two: Sea to Sky

Off the ferry at 8:15 AM sharp. Everybody else was going straight for Vancouver but we turned left and headed toward Squamish and the Sea to Sky Highway. The day was absolutely stunning. The photos do not do it justice. There was not a cloud in the sky, the mountains loomed everywhere, snow capped and glistening. River appeared out of nowhere to dazzle and rush their way to the Pacific. Fire weed was just blooming (willow weed to Anglos) and everywhere was green and gorgeous.

Early morning, with a bit of mist in Howe Sound on our way to Squamish..

At a turnout, we saw an indigenous Squamish Information display. It said that the Squamish people call this mountain “double headed serpent”. 

Squamish is both the seat of the Squamish native people, and also a large lumbering processing location.

Off and up we go. 

The  mountains are everywhere, and here and there one can catch a glimpse though a pass, of the mountains in behind. These mountains are folded and uplifted and a mass of jumbled peaks.  I think of the courage and determination of the early explorers, and admire. The intrepid Scot, Alexander Mackenzie made it through territory like this to the Pacific in 1793, 14 years before Louis and Clark reached Astoria, Oregon. It humbles one.

We had never done the Sea to Sky trip before, so had never seen Whistler Village or the ski runs. We turned off at the Village and drove around. I determined it was the height of “the place to be seen in” kind of place so it didn't appeal. It was interesting, but since we were pulling a camper it was awkward to manage the streets and impossible to photograph it. I would actually like to spend more time in the area as the mountain environment is absolutely stunning. Thankfully, there is a campground right on the edge of the Village so this would be good to do in the autumn before the snow season. I don't do snow anymore. Below is a shot of the ski runs. What you can’t see is what those skiers see, as behind me was a complete circle of snow capped mountains. A very impressive location. Classy. Grade A.

After leaving the Village area we came to a mountain lake, and in the distance are the ski runs of Mount Whistler.

Nameless mountain river. It must have one, but just not on my map.

From Whistler, we continue to climb, and then we open out to the Pemberton Valley.  It is a smallish narrow valley, with a small community and a number of both non-native and native farms. I found the natives more interesting.

Native farm #2

Native farm #3

They obviously have an annual rodeo!

The road continues and slowly we see a change in the terrain and vegetation, as we reach the dryness of the interior.

But first we have the challenge of narrow roads without verges, no turnouts and increasingly twisty sections.

But everywhere gorgeous mountain scenery. Still snow topped, and it’s almost August.

When we make the final descent, it is with ample warnings, and signs showing the rate of descent.

In one day we made it from Nanaimo, Vancouver Island and reached the dry interior at Lillooet on the Fraser River. The change is remarkable and we have crossed from the “west coast” to “the wild wild west”. Tomorrow will show you the latter.

Barbara