46. Return to Canada - Carpe Ski'em

46. Surrey - Vancouver - Back to Ski: Whistler - Kicking Horse (Gondola Accident, Therefore Closed) - Surrey

Our return to Canada was a poignant mix of nostalgia and anticipation. We were on a mission: to find a loving new home for our trusty Pleasure Way motorhome. It had been our steadfast companion, a rolling sanctuary, and we hoped its next owners would cherish it as much as we did. We’d added our own chapter to its story, driving it from 123,000 kilometers, the mark left by its previous owner, to 170,000 kilometers in this past year alone. That's roughly 120 kilometers a day, a testament to the miles of memories we’d created together. Yet, the practicalities of settling down loomed large.

The apartment hunt, a saga in itself, had been a series of closed doors. Six rejections out of eleven applications—the numbers stung. Would we find a roof over our heads in Switzerland? Or would we be back to van life, Moreno (our VW camper van) once again our nomadic home? And then there was the work front, a persistent puzzle I was determined to solve.

Surrey offered a welcome respite. It was a joy to reconnect with our dear old friend Walter, to share stories and laughter, and to luxuriate in the simple pleasure of a real bed for two nights. A brief, grounding pause before the next leg of our journey.
Whistler beckoned. The mountains, those majestic giants, called to us. We were returning to the slopes, eager to rediscover the thrill of the shred. This was more than just a skiing trip; it was a farewell. A final, exhilarating adventure with our Pleasure Way before it embarked on its own new chapter.

Whistler delivered an unforgettable experience; we enjoyed countless tree runs in the incredible powder, which fell for two days straight. "Carpe ski'em!" We were ready to carve our way down those legendary slopes, to feel the crisp mountain air on our faces, and to create memories that would last a lifetime. It was breathtaking, like a scene from a fairy tale. It felt as if Frau Holle was shaking out her heavenly featherbeds, creating endless powder. Or, as one might jokingly say, God was using his popcorn machine. It felt like sliding on velvet. Even challenging runs seemed effortless, pure joy. It is how I imagined floating on clouds when I was a kid, powder snow makes it happen for real, haha. Like a dream come true.

The Peak 2 Peak Gondola was an awe-inspiring experience. This engineering marvel, spanning the distance between Whistler and Blackcomb mountains, holds the record for one of the longest unsupported gondola spans in the world, stretching 4.4 kilometers (2.7 miles). At its highest point, it soars 436 meters (1,430 feet) above the valley floor, offering breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding peaks, glaciers, and forests. The sheer scale and smooth, silent glide across the vast expanse were truly unforgettable, providing a unique perspective on the majestic landscape. To ride in that gondola was a beautiful part of our final days in Whistler.

One day, we met a German guy, Benjamin, and we skinned up a glacier, enticed by the promise of pristine powder on the descent. Descending, we entered a bowl choked with debris from a massive, estimated grade 4 avalanche. The sheer weight of the snowpack must have placed catastrophic pressure on the lake's ice, likely causing it to fracture.

From the summit to the base, we encountered a kaleidoscope of weather conditions, temperatures, and, consequently, snow types. We experienced powder at the peak with near-zero visibility, sun and frost at mid-mountain, icy patches, and mild, slushy conditions at the bottom. We also met numerous international people; most of the staff were from Australia or New Zealand. I jokingly referred to it as Whistralia & Kiwiland, a testament to the vibrant international community that makes the resort so unique.

While skiing in Whistler, we had the serendipitous opportunity to sit next to two local celebrities on the chairlift. One was Stephanie Sloan, a 3x World Cup winner, and the other was the mother of Marcus Goguen, a Freeride World Tour Racer and Junior World Champion. It seemed like everyone in BC was a born ski enthusiast, a testament to the region's deep connection with the mountains.Lue lisää