Finding Whistler's Soul at Lost Lake
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Stay in Creekside, Whistler’s original heart and soul. By tobias c. van Veen SPECIAL TO THE PROVINCE Nestled amongst towering trees and shaded trails, Whis- tler’s Lost Lake isn’t too hard to find—just follow the snak- ing procession of grinning souls sporting swimsuits and carrying ice-choked coolers, blankets in hand and often with kids in tow. Lost Lake, once a truly hidden hippie hideout, is now the best body of water for swimming in Whistler, with its warm and sandy beaches, shady and grassy groves and accessible trails. Three swimming docks dot the water and a dedi- cated dog beach keeps the four-pawed friends content. Showers, washrooms and a concession are on-site. Once Lost Lake is found, the best place to get direc- tions, rent bikes, grab a coffee and fill up the water bottle is at the Lost Lake PassivHaus, which sits just across the Fitzsimmons River from Day Lot 5 on the gentle Valley Trail. Leave the car and proceed on foot to this eco-friendly build- ing built for the 2010 Olym- pics. To keep en route, pick up a map and check out the many activities in the area. On the lake itself, stand-up pad- dleboarding (SUP) is com- mon; check for rentals and meet-ups at Escape Route in Marketplace. The northern side of Lost Lake Park also fea- tures one of BC’s best disc golf courses, a kind of modified Frisbee with 27 metal baskets that pepper the forest. For those seeking roots and rocks, the mountain-bike- only Zappa trails — named after Frank Zappa’s strange song titles—begin their epic journey from behind the Pas- sivHaus. If full-suspension shenanigans aren’t your thing, a variety of scenic, crushed-gravel trails criss- cross the park for cycling and walking. Nature signage pro- vides handy information on flora and fauna for the bio- curious, while heritage signs tell tales of rusting sawmills. Lost Lake can be a mysti- cal place at sundown, with hibachi grills scenting the air, locals chilling in supine poses, and rays of golden light reflecting off the stun- ning mountain skyline. It is here that Whistler’s soul goes to unwind. Check Whistler.com for activities and directions to Lost Lake. Finding Whistler’s Soul at Lost Lake PHOTO BY MIKE CRANE COURTESY TOURISM WHISTLER WhistlerBeginsHere SPECIAL INFORMATION FEATURE 2131 Lake Placid Road | 604-966-5700 |nitalakelodge.com enjoy nita lake this summer... complimentary canoes, kayaks & SUPs private dock, plunge pool, bicycles innovative lakeside dining rates from $189 based on double occupancy, mid week in a studio suite A new crustacean has been spotted on the slopes of Whistler Blackcomb. It’s by way of the Keg’s Lobster Summer Menu available at the Keg at the Mountain in Whistler Village. Choose from a succulent two pound Atlantic lobster, the steak and half lobster, Lobster Manhattan, the wonderful Lobster Gratinèe appetizer, or move over to the main menu which features more shareable appetizers, ten- der, juicy steaks, slow roast- ed prime rib, and of course, an outstanding wine list. Before or after dinner, drop into Brandy’s Bar on the main floor. Brandy’s is a perfect place to meet friends for drinks and enjoy casual fare year-round. The lounge has been renovated with new HDTVs through- out, just in time for the up- coming football and hockey seasons. So relax, have some lobster, and be yourself at Brandy’s and the Keg at the Mountain. In Search of Mountain Lobster Continued from previous page From Alta, don’t miss the River of Golden Dreams, a winding 5-kilometre jaunt that connects Alta and Green Lake. A perfect after- noon’s canoe or kayak for the entire family. Down in Creekside, there are two wonderful smaller lakes—Nita and Alpha. In addition to a sandy beach, docks and a play- ground, Alpha Lake—also known as Twin Lakes—has courts for a pick-up game of tennis or volleyball. While you can fish in all of Whistler’s lakes, Nita is regularly stocked with rain- bow trout, so fishermen, grab your poles. In addi- tion to a dock and a pebble beach, Nita Lake Lodge, on its shore, allows you to enjoy the view with a meal and a glass of wine. There are boundless ways to connect with Whistler’s lakes, but for those who don’t want to get wet, why not cruise along the Valley Trail— on foot, blades, or wheels— many miles of which run along water’s edge. Feeling adventurous? Hitch a raft ride down one of Whistler’s raging rivers with Wedge Rafting, or hike to one of the many back- country lakes for a dip in their pristine waters. No matter how you con- nect with the lakes and rivers of Whistler, just get outside! The water’s calling. www.whistler.com/activi- ties/lakes-beaches-parks VAN01178335_1_1 TUESDAY,AUGUST 19, 2014 A21 THEPROVINCE.COM
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van Veen, tobias c. 2014. "Finding Whistler's Soul at Lost Lake." August 19, The Province: A21.
Transcript of Finding Whistler's Soul at Lost Lake
Stay in Creekside,Whistler’s original
heart and soul.
By tobias c. vanVeenSPECIAL TO THE PROVINCE
Nestled amongst toweringtrees and shaded trails, Whis-tler’s Lost Lake isn’t too hardto find—just follow the snak-ing procession of grinningsouls sporting swimsuits andcarrying ice-choked coolers,blankets in hand and oftenwith kids in tow. Lost Lake,once a truly hidden hippiehideout, is now the best bodyof water for swimming inWhistler, with its warm and
sandy beaches, shady andgrassy groves and accessibletrails. Three swimming docksdot the water and a dedi-cated dog beach keeps thefour-pawed friends content.Showers, washrooms and aconcession are on-site.
Once Lost Lake is found,the best place to get direc-tions, rent bikes, grab a coffeeand fill up the water bottle isat the Lost Lake PassivHaus,which sits just across theFitzsimmons River from DayLot 5 on the gentleValleyTrail.
Leave the car and proceed onfoot to this eco-friendly build-ing built for the 2010 Olym-pics. To keep en route, pickup a map and check out themany activities in the area. Onthe lake itself, stand-up pad-dleboarding (SUP) is com-mon; check for rentals andmeet-ups at Escape Route inMarketplace. The northernside of Lost Lake Park also fea-tures one of BC’s best disc golfcourses, a kind of modifiedFrisbee with 27 metal basketsthat pepper the forest.
For those seeking roots androcks, the mountain-bike-only Zappa trails — namedafter Frank Zappa’s strangesong titles—begin their epicjourney from behind the Pas-sivHaus. If full-suspensionshenanigans aren’t yourthing, a variety of scenic,crushed-gravel trails criss-cross the park for cycling andwalking. Nature signage pro-vides handy information onflora and fauna for the bio-
curious, while heritage signstell tales of rusting sawmills.
Lost Lake can be a mysti-cal place at sundown, withhibachi grills scenting theair, locals chilling in supineposes, and rays of goldenlight reflecting off the stun-ning mountain skyline. Itis here that Whistler’s soulgoes to unwind.
Check Whistler.com foractivities and directions toLost Lake.
FindingWhistler’s Soul at Lost Lake
PHOTO BY MIKE CRANE COURTESY TOURISM WHISTLER
WhistlerBeginsHereSPECIAL INFORMATION FEATURE
2131 Lake Placid Road | 604-966-5700 |nitalakelodge.com
enjoy nita lake this summer...complimentary canoes, kayaks & SUPs
private dock, plunge pool, bicyclesinnovative lakeside dining
rates from $189based on double occupancy, mid week in a studio suite
A new crustacean hasbeen spotted on the slopesof Whistler Blackcomb. It’sby way of the Keg’s LobsterSummer Menu availableat the Keg at the Mountainin Whistler Village. Choosefrom a succulent two pound
Atlantic lobster, the steakand half lobster, LobsterManhattan, the wonderfulLobster Gratinèe appetizer,or move over to the mainmenu which features moreshareable appetizers, ten-der, juicy steaks, slow roast-
ed prime rib, and of course,an outstanding wine list.
Before or after dinner,drop into Brandy’s Bar onthe main floor. Brandy’sis a perfect place to meetfriends for drinks and enjoycasual fare year-round. The
lounge has been renovatedwith new HDTVs through-out, just in time for the up-coming football and hockeyseasons. So relax, have somelobster, and be yourself atBrandy’s and the Keg at theMountain.
In Search of Mountain Lobster
Continued from previous page
From Alta, don’t miss theRiver of Golden Dreams, awinding 5-kilometre jauntthat connects Alta andGreen Lake. A perfect after-noon’s canoe or kayak forthe entire family.
Down in Creekside, thereare two wonderful smallerlakes—Nita and Alpha.
In addition to a sandybeach, docks and a play-ground, Alpha Lake—alsoknown as Twin Lakes—hascourts for a pick-up game oftennis or volleyball.
While you can fish in allof Whistler’s lakes, Nita isregularly stocked with rain-bow trout, so fishermen,grab your poles. In addi-tion to a dock and a pebblebeach, Nita Lake Lodge, onits shore, allows you to enjoythe view with a meal and aglass of wine.
There are boundless waysto connect with Whistler’slakes, but for those who don’twant to get wet, why notcruise along the Valley Trail—on foot, blades, or wheels—many miles of which runalong water’s edge.
Feeling adventurous?Hitch a raft ride down oneof Whistler’s raging riverswith Wedge Rafting, or hiketo one of the many back-country lakes for a dip intheir pristine waters.
No matter how you con-nect with the lakes andrivers of Whistler, just getoutside! The water’s calling.www.whistler.com/activi-ties/lakes-beaches-parks
VAN01178335_1_1
TUESDAY,AUGUST 19, 2014 A21THEPROVINCE.COM
