Lumberjack show, Grouse Mt
View from top of Grouse Mt
Jak on Cliff Walk, Capilano Suspension Bridge
Capilano River below Capilano Suspension Bridge
After a relaxed start to the day we wandered through the local Farmers’ Market and then caught a bus to Grouse Mountain. This is a small ski field during the winter months but in summer it provides a high point and popular tourist centre for viewing the city of Vancouver spreading below.
We boarded the “skyride” aerial tramway and upon reaching the top found the view to be expansive although a little too hazy for clear photos. Despite the altitude, the air temperature was a pleasant 20oC and continued to increase during the day.
The first activity on offer was the “Lumberjacks Show” where two rival lumberjacks competed for top status in events such as axe throwing at a target, chopping, cross-cut sawing, tree felling, tree climbing and log rolling.
The whole show was presented as a play act of rivalry and very cleverly done too. The two lumberjacks were super fit young men and performed extraordinary feats exhibiting strength and skill with a great deal of humour added in. Perhaps the best part was the race to the top of two parallel 20 m high wooden poles using climbing spurs and a waist rope. One of the two, who is the world tree-climbing champion, was up to the top in about seven seconds. It was quite amazing and to add to the spectacle he did an almost free fall back down using his waist rope as a brake just at the last second. This was the same person who earlier had performed a scary comedy act by climbing to the top of this high pole and then clowning around by juggling and then doing a handstand before falling (intentionally) along a supporting wire using a hidden harness.
We continued to the mountain peak (1250 m) on a chairlift and at the top there were opportunities for people to participate in flying-fox runs and tandem paragliding. We then visited the two hectare alpine sanctuary where two orphaned grizzly bears are kept. The two large bears were frolicking in the warm sunshine by friendly fighting and rolling around in the grass. There was also an exhibit of semi-tame raptors (a golden eagle and a peregrine falcon) flying around the mountain top area and returning to the trainer for rewards of fresh meat!
We visited the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park on our way home to our hotel at Lonsdale Pier. This was a delightful cool rainforest area featuring many large trees such as Douglas fir, red cedar, hemlock and maple. A series of seven high and interconnected suspension bridges gave one an opportunity for doing a lengthy tree-top walk amongst these beautiful trees.
The main suspension bridge is 137 m long and 70 m high above the Capilano River gorge and there was also a canyon lookout with a semi-circular walkway supported by wires out from the side of a sheer cliff.
The visit to this eco-tourist centre was well and truly worthwhile although we were all quite weary by the time we returned.
In the evening, after sharing a bottle of nice champagne, we all went to a local Japanese restaurant for a lovely meal and some wine to celebrate our final full day in North America.
Tomorrow we start our long journey home.