Whistler (part 2)

There has only ever been one day since hubby and I have been parents that we have awakened without an alarm clock and before our kids do. Today was that day. We were up at 6:30 making coffee and breakfast, and getting everything ready to go for the day because we wanted to be the first on the slopes. We dropped Chips off at the Whistler Kids daycare, got Noodles fitted for her skis, waved as she got in line for the gondola with her ski school, and we were off. Like two kids let loose from their parents, we hobbled with glee in our ski boots over to the quad chair and hopped on for the first run of the day. Here are two pictures I took on the quad showing the sun coming up over the mountain:

I took another at the top of the first run, we are on Whistler, looking over to Blackcomb:

After a few runs on Whistler mountain, we took a gondola ride up to Blackcomb. It took three lifts to get us to the top of Blackcomb, and then a t-bar. The top of both mountains was rocky and barren, and was quite intimidating. We went down a run called "panorama" that took us to the peak to peak gondola. I gathered up all of my courage, and got on. It wasn't as bad as I expected. It was definitely high, but the gondola car felt enclosed and safe. (At least, it gave me that feeling). Here are some pictures off the top of Blackcomb and on the peak to peak gondola (notice my nervous smile):

When we got back over to Whistler mountain, we had to hop on another gondola that would take us up to the top of the mountain. As we were waiting in line, we saw Chips and his daycare group passing by in a gondola car. Hubby and I hid our faces so he wouldn't see us and freak out, and we ended up riding up a few cars behind them. When we got to the landing, I snapped a quick picture of him as he and the teachers were checking out some wood carved bears at the lodge.

We then continued up to the top of Whistler, and decided to take a trail called "peak to creek." It is the longest ski run in America. I got a great picture of hubby at the top of the mountain and on the trail.

The spire behind hubby is known as "black tusk"

"go that way, really fast. if something gets in your way.....turn."

As we made our way down the mountain, I began to wipe out regularly. I must have fallen at least 5 times in the span of 10 minutes. One time, I was just gliding along a flat side trail, and literally just fell over. Hubby decided it was best to stop for lunch. We enjoyed some buffalo wings, beer and a hearty burger. We got a few more runs in after lunch, but it was starting to get warm and the conditions weren't as good as they were in the morning. All in all, it was a great day of skiing. We picked the kids up and took them back to the condo. I took some pictures of them playing in a little park in the village where we stayed and a silly one of Chips playing with our chapstick.

We ended the day with a soak in the hot tub and some homemade lasagna. Then, we all curled up in the pull out couch next to the fire and fell asleep while watching "Horton hears a Who."

Part 3 of our last two days is coming up soon!