Squamish & Whistler, BC (Part 2 of 2)
Bears and beer drinking scofflaws
Today’s campground observations:
The most popular place this morning was the bathroom — even the caretakers had trouble finding a break to clean it on Victoria Day weekend.
We had no idea what these mosquitoes in this park were eating, but we could see clearly that they were double the size of mosquitoes we were used to back home.
The pattern had been established: bears were regularly out and about in the mornings. Perhaps breakfast was also their most important meal of the day. This campground had a separate drain for disposal of dishwashing water, and a sign admonished campers to collect and dispose of food scraps to avoid attracting bears. The former didn’t, so the latter did: one morning a bear was seen licking the dishwashing bowl clean (on the last pix below, bear in front of blue trash can). Park rangers tried to keep people from approaching too closely.
***
On our quest to rest from hikes and bears, we headed first to Rainbow Park in Whistler. Given the holiday weekend and the minuscule number of parking spots there, our quest was unsuccessful, but venturing into the neighborhood provided yet another bear encounter.
Wayside Park, on the other side of Alta Lake, was quiet and unassuming, seemingly full of locals; it had good views of the mountains and lots of people-watching opportunities.
While soaking up the relaxing atmosphere, writing about our travels, and enjoying a cold beer, I was approached and told sternly by an officer of the park police that alcoholic consumption in the park was prohibited. The universe was funny: I rarely drank beer but was caught on this rare occasion; N. was the habitual beer drinker, so he could hardly contain his glee at my predicament. My almost-citation elicited sympathy from a local woman who had overheard the admonition and who told me that it was the first time in all the years she had been coming to this park — her favorite, she said — that she had seen the police monitor drinking. Just my luck.
While hanging out at the park, a couple were arguing, without knowing that the wind was carrying their conversation.
“You were not listening…”
“No, I was listening, I was just adding to what you were saying…”
“Never mind… But that’s all I wanted to say — I felt that you were not listening to me. If we can just move forward…”
They hugged, walked to the water’s edge, and got on a canoe. If I later heard news of someone having a canoe accident, I would have my suspicions.
Another amusing sight at the park: from time to time, ridiculously outfitted party boats/floats made their appearance:
a huge sectional sofa and a bbq grill
a hammock and a yellow wood stove
a double swing and massage tables
***
In the evening, N. overheard two guys talking in the shower:
“Man, is your water cold?”
“No, my water is OK…”
“Mine is freezing, and it turns off constantly! I miss the shower in my house!”
The water turned on for 10 seconds for each push as a form of conservation; turning the knob adjusted the temperature. N. was tempted to tell the cold guy how to adjust the temp, but he didn’t want to pipe up from the throne.
***
The hike at the Alice Lake Loop and DeBeck’s Hill (out-and-back, 4.4 miles) was straight uphill, rocky, and ridiculously hard. On the way, we saw some people climbing a rock face, and some crazies mountain biking uphill and trail running downhill.
The only motivation that kept both N. and me going was probably the fact that we had had an argument earlier, so each likely did not want to seem weaker in the other’s eyes. After all that heart-pumping work, the views from the top were not bad at all, despite the ugly satellite dish and tall antennae posts. There were life lessons somewhere there, perhaps about having to work hard for good views, or sacrificing nature for the advantages of technology.
On the way down, N. discovered a trail maker that stated, “Debeck’s Hill: Most Difficult, Use at Own Risk” His discovery led to theatrical protests on his part and a melting of the frosty feeling between us.
***
Today was Victoria Day in Canada, originally celebrated in honor of Queen Victoria’s birthday. A chat with that lady from Wayside Park had revealed that it was also called “May Long Weekend,” a title without the royal overtones. Most seemed just grateful for a long weekend and our campground was packed accordingly. Canadians treated the holiday as the beginning of summer, so it was their equivalent of our Memorial Day.
We escaped to Squamish to get some work done under the shadow of the Stawamus Chief.
***
We used the excuse of a gray and intermittently rainy day to avoiding hiking and get the usual life-things done in town.
First stop was at the auto parts store to get a liquid enzyme that would clear out the gunk in our gray tank (water from the kitchen sink) that kept messing up our electronic gauge: even when we emptied the tank, the gauge showed “25% full”. Not exciting stuff but a good example of concerns of life in a van.
Next was the a cozy local laundromat: it had only six washing machines and four dryers. For some reason, N. and I found it hilarious that it also had a pay shower. Clean your body while you also clean your clothes.
The place was busy. A friendly and efficient receptionist was working on washing-folding-packing laundry (for $2 per pound). A couple of people were hogging seats by the window with their eyes glued to their phones. One person was feeding bills to the change machine. A second worker joined the first and brought along her very large dog (which seemed a bit unsanitary, TBH). The store door opened and closed constantly.
It seemed strangely intimate: in a tight space, we random strangers were brought together by the need for clean clothes. We dodged one another while staring at our clothes — shirts, pants, sweaters, socks, underwear, blankets — go round and round and round in the machines.
***
Before leaving the Squamish & Whistler area, we stopped by Shannon Falls.
We were not too excited by it. I think both of us were a bit waterfall-ed out.
