Grouse Mountain

The zipline tour of Grouse Mountain was something we wanted to do from when we tentatively looked up 'Vancouver attractions' all those months ago before we had fully decided to come here. When we got to Vancouver I was all for doing it and herself was unsure and wary. By the time we got up there the roles were reversed somewhat!

Our day started by making the trip to the mountain itself, which involved the SeaBus that is still just about a novelty to us. I had checked the weather forecast during the week and thankfully the predictions of a scorcher of a day proved accurate. It's pretty easy to get to the mountain, a bus picks you up at the SeaBus quay and drops you at the base. From there you can either decide to hike up for free (not today, thanks all the same) or take the SkyRide, essential a tram that goes up the face of the mountain. This is a pleasant, gradual ascent, that would only trouble the most nervous of types and if you get in at the front of the contraption there is an amazing view of Vancouver and beyond as you crawl upwards.

Emerging from the tram is like entering a different world. It had the feel of an Austrian village, set amidst forested mountains, all wooden cabins and buildings, without a McDonalds in sight. Our initial cover charge granted us access to our transport up, as well as the birds of prey show, lumberjack show (haaa) and the GRIZZLY BEAR HABITAT. Initially we hadn't really planned to go ziplining, but more on that later..

Our first stop was the birds of prey show, where a number of the aerodynamic killing machines were brought out and set loose on us. I'm only exagerating slightly as their flight paths often held no regard for humans and people in the front rows of the outdoor seating often went scrambling for cover. It did allow me to take one particularly good photo of a bald eagle as it whipped past my face. Also note the paraglider in the background, that has to be metaphoric or something:

Once our aerial bombardment was through, we found ourselves watching the car crash entertainment that was the Lumberjack Show, complete with bad jokes, over enthusiastic players and audience participation. We left fairly sharpish. Those grizzly bears weren't going to be goggled at by themselves.

Once I had exhausted all of the excuses other attractions it seemed like there was no choice but to put our names down for a zipline tour. I had planned to do my research into it before hand and I have no shame in admitting I felt out of my comfort zone signing a waiver that would leave the tour guides in the clear in case of injury/death. DEATH!! My nervousness was matched only by my stubbornness that 'I'm here now I might as well do it.' While the sight of a frankly batshit crazy surprisingly adventurous but elderly lady should have eased my fears, the knowledge that she was only doing the first 3 lines set my mind racing again!

Up we trekked to the first platform, climbing the wooden stairs and getting locked into a harness that stood between us and injury/death. The first line was actually fine and good fun once I relaxed my grip of steel on the handles. They also have some guy up a tree or something taking a photo of you, to keep you even more occupied during this first run. I didn't see him, hence why I'm not looking at him.

*Churning stomach not shown

 While it's meant to ease you into the experience I think of it as more lulling you into a false sense of security as line 2 sees you going from 0 to 60kmph in a matter of seconds. When I realised I hadn't actually left my stomach several hundred metres behind or below me I enjoyed line 2 for approx .5 seconds before I slammed into the landing zone. Line 3 was a joy by comparison, taking us over a lake at a brisk pace.

Here is a video of zipline 2 as seen through the helmetcam of  'tanissaurus' just a few weeks before us, so the weather etc is the same. Note it takes about 20 seconds in total and that shes actually travelling about 60kmph there.

We then parted ways with the wacky granny and her son and began to belly clenching walk to zipline 4, which besides being much higher than anything we had done, also would see us reach speeds of 80kmph. I was a little apprehensive to say the least! Apparantly some people back out upon climbing the platform and from the sheer drop and general fear of the unknown I could see why. Thankfully though we stiffened our resolve(s) and were soon propelled across the valley. Again once the initial shock passed I started to enjoy the experience and had an incredible view as i whizzed from one mountain top to another. I even relaxed enough to look around, unlike tanissaurus in this next video...

Poor camerawork aside, her assessment of 'holy damn' is quite correct - the feeling of adrenaline pumping and overall relief at having survived travelling 80kmph 1,400 feet in the air attached to a wire in the sky is hard to beat and at this stage I was disappointed I only had one zipline left to do!

After that we took some chair lifts down the slope, had some food and drinks on a mountain top patio and went home tired out after our adventures.

I still can't believe how sunny it is here..waiting for winter to bring its wrath. And in other news I got paid commission last week, so I'm pretty happy with that. OK, til next time...