Day 3: Whistler

First, we explore Alice Lake Provincial Park. The state park is a great place to relax, with a lake for swimming and paddling, as well as hiking trails nearby. Most state parks are located near rivers or lakes and offer beautiful nature. After our walk, our journey takes us to Whistler. The place is a winter sports paradise, but it is also used for downhill mountain biking in the summer. Two mountains are accessible, Whistler Mountain (2182 m) and Blackcomb Peak (2440 m). We buy our tickets and take the first gondola to Blackcomb at 2184 m.
The view is beautiful and the children are excited about the patches of snow. Just a few weeks ago, the ski season was still in full swing. Then we board the Peak 2 Peak gondola, which connects Whistler Mountain and Blackcomb Peak. It takes about eleven minutes for the 4.4 km journey. The gondola holds several world records, including the longest unsupported span between two cableway towers. The view is spectacular and it's the first time for all of us to ride a gondola that connects two mountain peaks. Now we are on Whistler Mountain, the sun is shining, and the view is amazing. We have a picnic and watch the activities in the square. After that, we take the chairlift to the top of the mountain. It's exciting and a challenge for someone with a fear of heights. Once we reach the top, we go for a hike. There is still snow and the path has been cleared, creating meter-high snow walls. This scenery, with the snow and the peaks of the surrounding mountains, is beautiful to see. After about 1 hour of hiking, we walk back to the chairlift, but not before crossing a suspension bridge. We join the crowds and cross the bridge. It starts to sway and we enjoy another view of the landscape.
Now we begin our return journey, first with the chairlift and then with the gondola directly to the town of Whistler. We see many mountain bikes. They use the gondolas to get up the mountain with their bikes and then zoom down the slopes.
We then stroll through the town and end up at the parking lot. Luckily, the campsite is only 30 minutes away and we quickly set up. We stay at Nairn Falls Provincial Park, and our site is near the river. A black bear was spotted in the park today, but it doesn't visit us.