Whistlers Mountain Skytram

We drove up Whistlers Mountain this morning to take the Skytram which celebrated its fiftieth year just last week.  Not to be confused with the world famous Whistler which is in British Columbia, this is not a ski mountain.  It only has two cable cars that take tourists to the top of the mountain for spectacular views and hikes above the tree line.  Each car holds twenty-five people standing up and takes seven and a half minutes to reach the top.  We can watch them from our motor home.

Our Kayaks in the Parking Lot

After buying our tickets we had about a half hour wait until it was our turn.  Not really liking heights, I wasn't sure I would like the ride up but it was amazing.  We could see all kinds of beautiful blue-green lakes nestled in the mountains as well as the high peaks all around us. Mt. Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies, with its tall pointed white peak arising behind other peaks came into view and was stunning in the bright sunlight.  The operator on board gave us information on the way up.  One bit of trivia was that one beer at the top of this mountain was like drinking twelve at sea level.  We didn't substantiate that fact.

Lakes Pyramid and Patricia on Left, Beauvert, Edith and Annette on Right

Jasper, Beauvert, Annette, Edith and Two Other Lakes

Lakes Edith, Annette and Beauvert

Jasper Town

Mt. Robson Just Left of Center - Tallest Canadian Rocky

Tram Station

Dare Devil

Main Trail 

I Made it Almost to Where Ted Is

Just as we reached the top of the lift, I saw a cute little Pika under us.  These gerbil like creatures are one of the few animals to survive above the tree line.  From the distance, the top of the mountain looks barren but there are actually several kinds of wildflowers growing in the dusty shale and dirt.  The flowers and leaves are petite but colorful additions to the otherwise bleak terrain.

There is one main path leading from the tram station to the summit with several side trails that zigzag up off to the left.  These trails are less steep and also brought us closer to the side of the mountain where we could look down and pick out our motorhome in its spot far below.  We sat and let the crowds pass us by and before long we saw a marmot peaking up from the side of the mountain.  We watched for awhile before continuing our climb.

Just Off the SkyTram

We Are Parked Second From the Left in Front

Side Trails

Marmot

View From Side Trail

Ted's View Looking Toward Tram Station

To protect what little vegetation there is, the trails were lined with rocks to define where you should and should not step.  Once we reach the steeper center trail, the rock-lined pathways stopped and there was no definition to the terrain.  I started up the trail and got almost to where it flattened again before deciding I couldn't go on.  I felt like I was falling off the side so returned to a big rock beside the trail and sat and watched people and the spectacular view.    It is amazing what footwear some people will try to climb a mountain in.  Ted continued up the mountain but didn't quite reach the summit.  He did get far enough so he should see some of what was on the backside of the mountain.

When he came down we walked down one of the side trails, found a place to sit and ate our lunch.  We sat and watched rafters on the Athabasca River far below.  I hadn't realized the river was so close to the campground.  The trip down was uneventful and we sat in the shade of the motorhome and read until dinner.

After dinner we had a fire in the pit across the road and sat and talked with Hal and Christine until almost 11:30.  While we sat there, a deer walked out of the woods behind us and slowly worked his way across the field.  A few stars were just beginning to pop out as it wasn't dark yet and a full moon was rising over the campground when we finally called it a day.