“BOGO.” Isn’t it great when your purchase comes with a bonus? And so it is with the purchase of a single gondola ticket that provides you access to both Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains!
Your 30 minute ride up Blackcomb Mountain rises 4,000 feet above Whistler Village and connects you to the Peak 2 Peak Gondola (some of which feature glass bottoms) that can transport you across to Whistler Mountain in about 11 minutes.
While I was surprised by the number of Marmots freely roaming both mountains, I probably shouldn’t have been. After all it was their shrill “whistling” noises that inspired the early British Columbia trappers and prospectors to name this place “Whistler.”
The silence here is literally deafening. You know how after attending a concert your ears ring for like an hour? Well it’s like that here, only different. You can still hear a ringing in your👂, but that’s due to the unique experience of a complete absence of noise.
We also noticed that sound travels differently on the mountain. Several times I could clearly hear the conversations of other hikers (fact), only to realize that they were actually quite a distance from us. I have to admit that after a while I got tired of hearing about this “amazing new phenomenon Henry’s Take” and I just started to tune it out (not true). 😉
The trails provide beautiful vantage points, are well maintained with clear directional signage, feature a wide assortment of wild mushrooms (one looked just like a hamburger bun complete with poppyseeds), and you may even encounter the lichen covered rock that resembles a globe or the plant that looks like something straight out of Dr. Seuss’ “The Lorax.”
The majority of the trails on Blackcomb Mountain are easy or moderate, while most of the trails on Whistler Mountain are challenging. The gondolas are accessible for those with mobility challenges and there are terrific viewing areas for those unable to navigate the trail system.
In keeping with Canadian tradition (which started today, eh!), we were careful to pack an “Oh Henry!” bar as a part of our emergency rations. 😉
And that’s…Henry’s Take.
Whistler Peak 2 Peak Gondola
www.whistler.com
