The Peak of Vancouver

Hey everyone... sorry it's taken a few days to get back on to my blog. Today is actually Sept. 10 and we just spent the last two days with my Uncle Rod in Roseberg OR. We had a great time but didn't have access to the web so I'm a few days behind. I'll try to get caught back up.

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner...

We have a winner in our blog photo ID contest. The lucky winner will be forced to spend an evening with Bambi and I as we regale them with stories and pictures of our adventure. The winner was my friend Eric who correctly identified the city and state as Astoria Oregon. Significance: That house is the house used as Mikey's home and the place where his friends "the Gooneys" find their first clue to one-eyed Willy's treasure or "rich stuff" that they will need to save the goondocks from being bought and developed into a golf course. I'll post more pictures and tell more about it when I get to that point in the blog.

Oh, and I know I'll be asked..."did you do the truffle shuffle?" What do you think? "Do you have a picture of you doing it??" "What do yo think??"

Wednesday September 3.

So, I really intended to spend this day in Vancouver boarding a boat to go whale watching. Vancouver and Victoria have several different types of excursions to take you whale watching... mostly to see Orca or Killer Whales and sea lions. However, I checked a bunch of websites and it looked like it would be at the very least, an all day activity. We thought it would be fun, but decided to look into some other options. This is when Bambi came across this "Grouse Mountain" option.

We spent the morning in the RV park, just hanging out and eating some breakfast when we made our decision to scrap the whale watching. Bambi had read about this Grouse Mountain and it sounded fun to us.

Grouse mountain is a tall peak just on the East side of North Vancouver. This mountain peak is about 2000 feet above the greater Vancouver area and it affords some of the best views possible of this entire area and the coast. We arrived late morning and found that there were several different options available for reaching the top. One, you can pay about $35 to ride a huge enclosed gondola to the top. Two, you can do what is called the "Grouse Grind" which is a hiking trail to the top of the mountain and then ride the lift back down.

Now, normally, we'd opt for the grind just for the adventure of it. However, we were unaware of this option when we first arrived and we were unprepared for such a hike. They say it takes about 1.5 hours of steady climbing...mostly straight up, to reach the summit. However, they do have a grouse grind challenge which is a race in mid-september where people race to the top. They say the best time is about 28 minutes...unfathomable. Hey Landsharks...anyone up for a new challenge??? Check it out at http://www.vancouvertrails.com/trails/grouse-grind/

Besides, we knew there was another adventure waiting for us on the top...

We arrived at the top of the mountain and spent some time checking out the gift shop and lodge area and stepped out on the deck to take a look at the view. Unfortunately, at this time of the morning yet, the top of the mountain was totally socked in with fog so you coldn't even see 20 feet, much less all of Vancouver. Luckily that would change.

We opted for a fun adventure called zip-lining. For those of you unfamiliar with a zip line. It is a metal cable that is stretched tight between two points. You wear a climbing harness and they have a little dolley that they throw over the line and you clip into it. Hanging from this dolley, you step off the platform and go "zipping" down the line to the end of the cable.

This particular place gave us three different rides on three separate zip lines. On each line, there were two cables and Bambi and I went at the same time which was fun to zinging down side by side (though, for some reason, gravity seems to have more effect on me as I always hit the bottom well before she did...). Anyway, the first line was relatively tame except for the height. We were about 50 feet off the ground and came sailing through some tree tops on the shortest of the three runs. We think the purpose of the first ride is to just see if you'll freak out as the line is maybe 50 yards long. It was fun and was very much like flying. At the end, as you come zipping to the bottom of the line, the guide yells for you to brace your arms on the dolley bar and lift your feet in front of you. Your dolley then hits a brake system which is essentially a large system of springs and plastic tubing at the bottom that you compress and stop relatively abruptly. We loved it and were hooked instantly. When you step off the platform, you are just hanging in your clip from this line, zinging down to the bottom and it is extremely freeing. We wanted more...and we got more.

The second line is the big one. This time, the line is more like 300-400 yards long and it is much higher and MUCH steeper...i.e. faster. This was awesome. You stepped off the platform and into a clearing area with nothing below you but the ground (and spectators). Then you go zinging down over a bunch of trees and suddenly you pass the trees and you are over a lake with a drop of about 80 feet to the water. The brake on this one hits hard as it has to stop you from just over 35-40 mph. Talk about a blast!! The final zip was fun as you again go over the lake and this time, it was all about screwing around. The drop was less severe so our guides (both about 20 years old) showed us how to bounce the zip line. They taught us to not step off the platform, but to jump as high as possible and then as you drop, pull down on the dolley to stretch the zip line. Then, as you go down, the wire rises and falls about 4-5 feet giving you a really wild ride to the bottom. It was a total blast and I recommend it to anyone.

Just as we were leaving the last zip line, smiles perma-pasted to our faces, we heard a loud siren and our guides were like - "oh no." We ran to the top and could see what was happening. A forest fire had started about half way up Grouse mountain and was directly under the gondola. We crested the side of the hill and we could see that things had gone from bad to worse. Due to the dry weather, the entire side of the mountain was ablaze. Apparently, someone on the Grouse grind had started a fire by throwing out a cigarette. Forest fires in this area are common, and usually they let them just burn. However, this time was different. One of the gondolas had started up the mountain, unaware of the intensity of the fire. It made it up about half way when the pulley system just shut down. They told us later that there is a safety system that shuts down the gondolla when the wires and their support structures hit a certain temperature because the tensile strength of the cable becomes unsafe. Only, this time, the gondola was full of people trying to go down the mountain!!

Even from where we were, we could hear the muffled screams as the gondola would be consumed by smoke and then cleared by the wind and again covered in the white haze.

People were going balistic all over wondering how they'd get down, what would be done about those people. Suddenly a helicopter flew over (it is the Canadian equilivant to the coast guard that normally patrols the coast but heard the alarm and cries for help.) The pilot hovered over the gondola and people were trying to climb out on the roof. The helicopter was swaying and struggling to maintain its position because the winds generated by the fire were increasing as they climbed the side of the mountian engulfing more and more of the dry trees. The rescue swimmer was dangling precariously from his line and you could see that there was no way he was going to get to that gondola in one piece. Reluctantly, they reeled him back in and the chopper was forced to lift away from the gondola and take up a position uphill.

By this time, people were really starting to get hysterical. We all knew it was just a matter of time until those 30-40 people either suffocated, fried, or fell to their death. It was becoming too much to watch. Suddenly, a rescue worker ran up to our group and grabbed Bambi, Myself and our two guides Rick and Tommy. He pulled us aside and said "look someone has to get down to those people and quickly... We don't have time to explain but you guys are the only ones who are already secured into your climbing harnesses and zip line dolleys." Confused, we looked at eachother and reluctantly followed him to the gondolla landing station. He said, "we'd get our rescue crew in there but it will take too long to get geared up" "you guys are our only chance to get to those people before they burn up." Bambi and I looked at eachother... we wanted to say no but we just couldn't bear the guilt of letting those people die without trying.

We ran over to the lines and awaited our instructions as they fastened us to it. he said "two of you will zip down each line... when you get to the gondola, use these hand brakes to slow yourselves down...do not over shoot the gondola or it'll be disaster." We nodded in agreement. "Then, once you're both on top of the gondola on each side, there is 4 large master clips that have to be released, one on each corner, these clips are what tie the gondola to the master line."

Tommy looked at him and said, but once we release it, it will go down the mountain... but how will it stop? "Don't worry, the gondolla will free-fall to a speed of 50mph and then the emergency braking system will clamp down and gently lower it to the bottom" "It's their only chance!" Bambi and I looked at eachother again. She gave me a kiss and said..."good luck." Thanks, I said. I yelled back to her as she walked away..."If I don't make it... I want you to keep racing with my Landsharks!!" Ok, she yelled. "And if I don't make it, it's ok for you to finally return all those phone calls to Pamela Anderson and take her out on a date...she seems nice, plus I think she could wear my clothes!"

Ok, I yelled. :)

With that we were strapped in and took the leap. Down, down we went ever gaining speed until at just the precise moment, Rick yelled "Break now!!" We all clamped down on our hand brakes and came to a screaching halt, just above our target. We unclipped and very carefully grabbed onto the gondola. Rick opened the hatch in the roof and shouted down to the teriffied occupants..."It's ok, we're here to save you...and we have a Chiropractor along!" Smoke was begining to fill the gondola and he yelled "quickly, you must all go to the four corners of the gondolla to distribute your weight evenly and counteract ours as we move on the roof. They agreed and did as they were told quickly. With that, Rick yelled to us "It's now or never." So each us us began to walk to to corner, eyes on the big breaking system and the lever we needed to pull to release it. Each of us knew, now that we were unhooked from the master line, one false move and we were all finished. Just as we neared the corners, a large flame shot up from a nearby tree and engulfed the gondola. The occupants screamed moved from the heat which caused the rig to swing wildly. Like that, Tommy was thrown to the side and he fell onto his stomach sliding to the side, legs cascading over as he caught himself on the drip rail. Bambi yelled "It's Tommy, he's gone over." Can you reach him? Rick yelled. "I think so" she said. Rick and I moved to center to balance the rig as Bambi got down on her stomach and extended her arm over the side. she could see the terror in Tommy's eyes as she reached for his hand. "Grab my hand" she shouted, but he was paralyzed with fear. She looked down at him and calmly said, "look, you can do this...just grab my hand and I'll pull you up." Tommy looked around and looked down seeing the flames nipping at his heels. Suddenly, he lurched up and grabbed Bambi's hand. She pulled with all her might and slowly you could see the man re-apperaring from over the side. The crowd inside the gondolla gave a cheer as Tommy finally got back up on the roof. "Thanks" He said to Bambi, "I owe you my life." "No time for that now" she said, we've got work to do. Rick yelled, "We've got one more chance." Don't forget, when you get to the brake lever, clasp yourself to the line again or the gondolla will be gone from under you." "Thanks" we shouted - "now lets do this thing" I yelled.

Carefully, we crawled to the corners and stood up. We fastened our harnesses to the line and looked over to Rick for the count. "On the count of three" he yelled. Wait a minute, I yelled - is it one, two, three, release? OR do we release ON three??? ON THREE he yelled. He looked each of us in the eyes and then yelled "regardless of what happens here, I want you to know, it's has been the greatest pleasure of my life serving with you, Eh! We nodded agreement and he began "One", "Two" and just as he said "Three" we all pulled down hard on the lever and heard this huge cracking sound - it was the sound of the pneumatic over-ride system blowing the breaks apart and releasing the gondola from the cable. In an instant, the huge steel object below us was gone and we were hanging in the air with nothing but 150 feet and a blazing fire below us. You could feel the heat below us and as we looked down, we could see the gondola picking up speed as it went zooming down the hill. Then, like clockwork, it hit it's maximum speed and the emergency brakes engaged, slowing the ride and carefully lowering the gondola to the bottom. We released our hand brakes and went careening down the hill behind it. It felt great to get moving and leave the heat of the fire behind us. We reached the bottom to the sound of thunderous applause and felt the immediate embrace of the people waiting for us at the bottom.

We unhooked and immediately the four of us ran together to high five and hug.

Later that evening, we were brought to the base of the mountain where the Mayor of Vancouver presented us each with a Canadian medal of courage (which looked surprisingly like a hockey puck on a velvet necklace) but we graciously accepted the award. Then, the mayor added, in recognition of your valor and bravery, we'd like to present you each with this identification card. On it you'll find your picture and the story of what transpired here today. You may use this card like a passport to enter Canada anytime you wish...Oh, and the best part is, you can present it at any bar for a free can of Lebatt's or Molson Ice !!! The crowd roared it's approval. Following the presentation, we were greeted by the three most famous canadians of all time... Mike Meyers (of SNL and Shreck fame), the lumberjack from the bounty paper towel ads, and last but not least...Pamela Anderson. I looked over at Bambi who just winked at me and said... not yet buddy, not yet!!

Ok so maybe that part didn't happen but we did go zip lining and it really was awesome.

While we were at the top, we did take in a bird show where they took out some really cool birds such as an Owl, Paragrin Falcon, and an American Bald Eagle and the trainer let them fly around and land on different perches. They also had an area which housed two grizzley bears and seveal timberwolves. Then we ate some lunch back at the lodge on the edge of the mountain. By now, the fog had completely cleared and as you'll see in the pictures, the view was just astounding. You could see all of Vancouver and well out into the Sound to see the ships coming and going. We ate out on the deck and just soaked in the sunshine and the view from the edge. We completed our afternoon by watching a lumberjack demonstration where they did log-rolling, speed climbing, and a cutting competition. These guys were really good and they kind of did a bit of a comedy act along the way which was fun.

Finally, we took the gondola ride back to the bottom and left Grouse mountain.

We drove back into downtown Vancouver and parked where we took a walk along the waters edge and found a cool little bar and grill with an outdoor patio on the second floor, overlooking the water. Bambi was in heaven as it was just slightly cool outside but they had an outdoor fireplace up there which was running full blast. She picked the table right next to it and was also pleasantly surprised that they had radiant heaters over head. She was loving it, I was ordering more beer to keep my temperature down... at least that's what I told her. Anyway, after the adventure we'd had that day, I figured I'd earned it!