The house is in the Arts and Crafts style, and although old is very charming and comfortable. Around the breakfast table were people from various countries - four Germans, two Austrian, two Chinese, an American and us, which made for some interesting conversation. The gentleman from California had come over for his uncle's 90th birthday party (we'd met his sister from Australia last night and her husband who was French). Coincidentally the uncle who lived in Canada was originally from Porthcawl - actually lived in Danygraig- and ran a toy shop called Hockings until 1960s or 70s.
We were told it was best to leave Grouse Mountain until this morning as it was expensive, but there would be lots to do, and we had quite few hours to burn before our flight to New Zealand. So off we set, leaving case and bags to be picked up later. As it was our last day in Canada we decided to fritter our money on 'The Ultimate Experience Ticket', which included the Skyride Gondola to the plateau area, the ski lift ride to the top of the mountain (4039ft), and entry to the 'Eye of the Wind'- a lift up to the top of a wind turbine to reach a viewing platform at about 60m above the ground. The ticket did not include any Grouse Mountain Zipline Rides (thank goodness).
The Skyride was a large gondola and totally enclosed, and even came with a driver (but with too many people in it for our liking!). It took 7min to reach the plateau.
The journey up in the Skyride gondola.
The car park had been full of people in running kit and we wondered what they were doing, turned out it was a charity'run' up the Grouse Grind (Mother Nature's Stairmaster). It's only 2.9km in length but has a 853m elevation gain. Rather them than me.
There was also an opportunity to partake in some open air yoga!
Joined a ('free') guided Ecowalk. The gentleman arrived, looked at his watch and said he couldn't start for 23 seconds (it was supposed to start at 11am prompt, and that's exactly what he was going to do). It was an easy 45min trail and he came out with some interesting facts, was willing and mostly able to answer questions, but not sure whether he was just cynical or had done it so many times that it'd bored him. Probably the latter as he was far more engaged when people were asking him questions. There were several wood carvings of animals - none of which lived on the mountain - even the wood they were carved out of didn't come from the forest there! He pointed out where the black bears had been (ripped tree roots, half eaten Horsetails); why the Squirrels and Least Chipmunk scurried away so quickly here (Great Horned Owl is top predator, plus peregrines, weasels and pine marten);
...the different types of trees; showed us how high the snow was last year (4m thick at least); and also appeared to be very good on bird songs/calls - we heard a Yellow-rumped Warbler, and both heard and saw 3 of what he called Pine Siskin. No photos though.
The open ski lift to the top of the mountain was another kettle of fish altogether.
For starters you had to get on it while it was moving; it had no feet rests so they were left dangling; it was much higher than the one we went on at Lake Louise; and it stopped a few times -swaying as it did so. White knuckles were the order of the day.
However, the views, both from the plateau and particularly from the top were fantastic -we had a super-hot sunny day.
We could see 'Mount Baker'and 'The Two Sisters' flanking it, all of which are in the USA and some other snow-capped peaks.
Our final challenge was to ascend to the 360 degree panoramic viewing platform of the 'Eye of the Wind', via the rather small lift in the wind turbine pedestal. It said it held up to 8 people, but even with two it was crowded.
For someone who doesn't like confined spaces, going into the lift was difficult, for someone who doesn't like heights, coming out of the lift was a bit scary. Even though the platform is totally enclosed the windows are curved out and it was a really weird sensation. Even had to hold on to railings as walked around it. One bit of the floor was also see-through.
Made sure that no-one else wanted to descend in lift at the same time as us.
Back at plateau level, we saw some grizzly bears.
Have to admit we cheated - these are two orphan bears that live in an enclosure up here. There aren't even any wild grizzlies on Grouse Mountain. But, at least a safe way to see them. They weren't related. They were called Grinder and Coola.
Did spot a 'real' raptor soaring over the chairlift area.
Cue corny music for the lumberjack show. Quite a funny performance. There were two 60ft tree trunks with a platform between them, and the show started with a 'random' person coming along and climbing up one of them.
A lady came out and told him to come down immediately, but he threw the rope and spike shoe guard down, then proceeded to act the goat.
To cut a long story short, eventually he pretended to fall from the top...but of course he was attached to a zip line.
Time to go and pick up the suitcases, drive over the Lions Gate Bridge
and through Stanley Park on our way to the airport. How can there be that much traffic in Vancouver on Sunday.
As you know we made it on time!
There was a large aquarium tank at the airport that kept Eric amused.
