Hiking at Whistler & Blackcomb Mountain part 1: on top of Blackcomb mountain

So if you spend a week in a skiresort mountain town, you want to explore the mountain peaks and alpine landscapes of course.   We waited until the weather prediction gave us a very clear day, unlike 2 days before when there were showers and mountain temperatures dropping to zero (they closed most of the lifts that day to prevent unprepared hikers). 

So at almost the end of our glorious vacation we were ready for the gondola's to take us up fare above Whistler village.  The lift system in Whistler is well organised in summer with the Wistler gondola's ready for bikers going up the mountain and the Blackcomb gondola's taking pedestrians like us up.    High up there is a contineous peak2peak gondola going in between the 2 mountain peaks across the valley.  You can descend either way.

Upon our arrival at the Blackcomb peak gondola station we enjoyed the view at the Whistler valley, the town and Green Lake and Alta Lake where we had been walking and biking the previous days. 

We also spotted several non-shy suntanning marmots that have given Whistler its town's name. (the sound these marmots make).   I was also happy to spot a pika.  We guessed that these animals had become so used to tourists all the time that they didn't shy away anymore, given the fact there were several of them out in proximity with many people around. Nevertheless, we didn't spot any anymore at noon when we returned from our walk. So after all, yeaaaay, for seeing them so well :). 

View on Alta Lake and Green lake

a pika

We left the busy tourist area to start an alpine hike on the mountain.   Right away we enjoyed the incredible vista's on Whistler mountain and all its ski slopes, and the snow covered holy mountains for the Squamish nation in Garibaldi Provincial park behind. 

Whistler Mountain

Clear view of the vulcanic Black Tusk , or the "Thunderbird mountain" for the Squamish nation behind Whistler mountain

The view on the high coastal mountain range was stunning. 

After a good descent we climbed over a stoney hill while hoping to spot more marmots in this more deserted area, but alas.

View on Whistler Mountain (and Black Tusk in the distance)

With a bit of a slippery descent we returned to the gondola station where we enjoyed lunch, before transferring to Whistler Mountain.

One more marmot! Do you see it?