It’s officially been a week since I arrived in Whistler, and 2 weeks since I left NZ. What a whirlwind time it has been – but I couldn’t be happier and more excited for the upcoming winter season!
It all started with an empty flight, I had a whole row to myself which meant I could lay down and nap for 13 hours. Then I had 5 nights in Vancouver. I thought the city was quite vibrant and lively. It was certainly stunning to fly into! The majority of my time was spent battling jet lag, and ticking off admin tasks. My first day consisted of getting my phone plan set up, tax number sorted, and bank account opened. Very boring, mundane tasks, but necessary to get started in Canada. After this I enjoyed a little bit of shopping, watching the sea planes taking off and landing in the harbour, watching the sunset at English Bay, and walking around Stanley Park. I even managed to fit in an ice hockey game! This was a highlight for me, it was actually very exciting and engaging to watch, a super fun atmosphere. Tickets weren’t crazily priced either.
Then it came time to head to Whistler! The drive from Vancouver to Whistler is about 1.5hrs, along the Sea to Sky Highway. A stunning scenic drive, with both coastal and mountain views. However, it was pretty dreary weather which made it a little less impressive.
While Whistler has been the dream destination for awhile now, it has continued to impress me constantly. My first few days here were very grey and rainy – but the village was still cute and friendly. The last couple of days have been stunning! Snow has started to settle right up on the mountain tops, and the temperature is starting to drop quickly. Usually the village doesn’t get snow until mid-late November, but the ski fields plan to open on the 21st of November! Until then I’ve been working and living at a hostel. This has been a great way to meet people and get settled in the town. I’ve already made so many friends, everyone is so friendly and like-minded!
I’ve almost secured all my ski gear for the season – I just need to get ski boots fitted, but once I start work on the mountain I get fantastic discounts for this. The cost of living here is quite high – especially groceries, it makes NZ look dirt cheap. I’m living off a lot of pasta and noodles.
I’ve managed 2 hikes here so far. Unfortunately all the mountain lifts are closed for the shoulder season, so all the mountain hikes are only accessible if you hike both up then down, which is a bit extreme. You’re also not supposed to hike solo here, and you should always carry bear spray. It’s very different compared to home.
The first hike I did was to an old train wreck. There was a train accident in the 1950’s on a key railway between Vancouver and the communities up here. In order to reopen the railway as soon as possible they removed the unsalvageable carriages and dumped them. Since, they have been covered in graffiti and have created quite the artistic destination. This was a short hike, about 1hr return, through the forest. I did it in the rain, but it was still really cool!
Then yesterday I hiked to Cheakamus Lake. I did this with 4 other girls I’ve met (1 kiwi, 1 Aussie, 2 UK) and it was honestly the most fun day. We did some extra add ons to the hike, and completed 22km in 5hrs. The lake itself was truly stunning and it felt like we were in a movie. It was very authentically Canadian. Then to top it off, we were driving back into the village and had to stop for a bear crossing the road. This was my first bear sighting!! We were absolutely thrilled. We finished the day at Dairy Queen, which has become my favourite spot for a sweet treat. They serve “blizzards” which is essentially a blended ice cream sundae style treat.
Now I’ve got work for the next few days. Housekeeping at the hostel is pretty chill. As its shoulder season, the hostel is not very busy so we are doing a lot of deep cleaning and prep for the winter season. The weather is meant to pack up again, turns wet and cold. There’s even a small chance that the village might get a bit of snow next week!
Alright that’s where I’m going to sign off. So far, Whistler is proving to be an amazing time with amazing people. I can’t wait to see what’s next.
~ Nikita
Nikita’s Nomadic Notes 