Western Canadian Rockies (WCR) – Day 5 – To Sun Peaks

Western Canadian Rockies (WCR) – Day 5 – To Sun Peaks

 

Leaving Whistler behind, we continued our drive along BC 99 on our way to Sun Peaks.  During the day, we will pick up BC 5 and head north towards Jasper, but take the road to Sun Peaks where we will spend the night. 

This morning there were low clouds on the mountains around Whistler giving us striking views from our hotel balcony.  Carmen and I both commented on how Whistler looks and feels like Vail, Colorado in the US

We will have our breakfast at the Skwxwu7mesh Lilwat7ul (pronounced Squamish Lil) Cultural Center.  We reviewed a short film earlier and after breakfast, we went through the museum.  First though we went through the welcoming dance.  We were broken up into three different “tribes” and each had their own dance: the wolf (elbow pointing out from the face), the eagle (arms flapping like a bird), and the killer whale (hands going up and down as if we’re swimming).  Here we are all dancing.

We viewed dugout canoes; clothes made using mountain goat wool, animal skins, and cedar inner bark.  We learned a little about the culture and art of the first ones.  I really like the masks used during ceremonies and dances.  Carmen likes this wolf head piece, but there are many pieces that are very nice.

After leaving the Squamish Cultural Center, it didn’t seem as though we had gone very far or very long, a black bear crosses the road right in front of the bus.  Fortunately, for Carmen and me, today we happen to have the front seat and are able to view the bear very easily.  It did not stay around long and shot right into the woods and brush shortly after this picture and by the time the bus got to the location you could not see the bear.

 

It is a good thing we now have digital camera with sufficient disk capacity because when we are passing vies like this, it is difficult NOT to take pictures.  Well at least for Carmen and myself.  But look at these peaks with the snow and sun and clouds.  Unbelievable!

Or this, with the snow pack that seems as if it could last forever.

Another dramatic snow covered mountain peak.  If Carmen and I were driving ourselves through this section of Canada, we would have been stopping every kilometer, getting out of the car just to take pictures and we would never have made it to our destination at a decent time.

I could go on and one with one dramatic mountain peak after another, but there are other vistas, such as the rivers which we pass by. 

 

We also pass by cascading waterfalls, such as this one.  (Driving and taking pictures at the same time, we get a lot of reflection and vehicle bounce, so the pictures are not as sharp or clear, as we would hope.)

 

After some time we stopped at the Hat Creek Ranch for a break.  While resting I strolled around the grounds and took several pictures, including this one of the rail fence and teepee.

Or the blacksmith explaining, to some of the others in our tour, about the horseshoe, how it fits the horses hoof, and how the nails used go up and out of the hoof. 

We reach the BC 5 route which will take us North towards Jasper and before too long we take our turnoff to head up to Sun Peaks Resort.  Here we will spend the night.  But, we have selected to go on a canoe trip and dinner on a lake and no sooner do we check into our room we are off to the lake, by school bus.  I won’t bore you with the facts, but here is a view from our canoe.  Hey, those slackers behind us are supposed to be rowing.  Turn your back for a minute…  LOL!

 

On our way back to the dock, we pass this loon on her nest.  She appears to be hiding from us.

Okay we are done for the night, one last look at the canoes and lake.  We didn’t get wet, and we are good to go tomorrow, where we head to Jasper and stay for two nights.  Farewell until tomorrow.

Bob and Carmen.