Canada #15 Grouse Mountain
Part Two
Who would have thought we could go even higher once we reached the summit of Grouse Mountain? Not us!
We rode the Peak Chairlift to the top of the mountain, gliding silently above the tree-covered slope for fourteen minutes.
At an altitude of 1,231 metres, the city of Vancouver lay spread out below us and the waters of Burrard Inlet sparkled in the afternoon sun.
We envied the paragliders their uninterrupted views as they soared over the forested mountain.
Then we spotted the Eye of the Wind!
The world’s only wind turbine with a viewing deck may be perched on top of the mountain, but its foundations are embedded 15 metres into the rocky surrounds. We were happy to ride up in the elevator as it rose 65 metres to the glass viewpod. The turbine is fully operational, but on this calm day the massive blades, just metres from the pod, were still.
With uninterrupted 360° views, we could see over the forest to the snow-capped Pacific Ranges and across the Strait of Georgia to Vancouver Island. Mt Baker, in Washington State, was clearly visible on the horizon.
We didn’t need to take to the air like those paragliders to see these unforgettable views – we just needed to go sky high!
Carol I do believe you enjoy posting these articles from incredibly high locations, thinking “this is really going to make Denzil dizzy when he reads this!” 🙂
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Funny you should say that, Denzil! I did wonder what you would all say, as the previous posts have had many comments about the height. Did you like the photo looking down to the ground, with the shadow?
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Super, from what I remember of it. (Don’t make me look at it again!) 🙂
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The next few posts are well grounded so you’ll be fine for a while now. 🙂
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Phew. I can open my eyes when a post from the ET comes in my inbox
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Yes, except I forgot there is one photo you may not enjoy so much in the next post. At least it’s taken from the ground so you should be fine. You’ll know it when you see it.
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How incredible to be in the Eye of the wind, I think I would’ve been too scared to venture that high. What must it be like when the blades are turning too!
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It didn’t seem scary at all. There was a glass floor too. I would love to be up there when the blades were going.
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I wondered if it was possible to go any higher without flying, Carol? Fabulous views! 🙂 🙂
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It was so amazing up there. I don’t know if I would be able to do the paragliding thing so this was the next best choice.
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Same here! 🙂 🙂
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Wow, talk about being on top of the world! My vertigo just returned looking at your amazing pictures.
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You and Denzil both! Don’t look down…
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Wow, what an experience, and what wonderful views!
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It was great. We could see so far – it was a clear day.
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WOW!! I’m a little bit onside with Denzil over this. The 14 minute ride would be a wonderful affair, but this may be a step too far – though I really would want to do it. The rotating blades would either be wonderful to experience or again another step too far……..
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It was all inside so I’m sure you could manage. We would just have to wave to Denzil down below. It really was amazing up there.
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Oh, that is so fabulous! I would love to be up there.
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It was an amazing experience Anabel and the views were just spectacular. Lucky we hadn’t booked for the previous day because the mountain was covered by cloud all day.
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Looks fabulous!
I’m yet see Canada but would definitely do this – what a brilliant idea.
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If you do go, make sure you allow a whole day to spend at Grouse Mountain. There is so much to see and do and it is quite beautiful up there.
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Sounds wonderful…think I even have relatives in Vancouver.
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Perfect! Do it.
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What fun! I didn’t know about this – but will definitely try it next time I manage to get to Vancouver. I wonder what the sound would be like if the blades were moving. The movement might be a bit dizzy making!
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Allow a full day for Grouse Mountain, Susi. There is so much to see and do up there. If the blades were moving it would be even more amazing.
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I’m not afraid of heights so this looks like a great adventure to me. So glad you took us with you. 🙂
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I’m glad you enjoyed it, Judy. It was so much fun to go up there and the employee greeting people at the top was a young Australian girl so we had quite a long chat with her.
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Well I would never have thought of a viewing deck on a wind turbine!
Great views from there Carol. 🙂
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Going up the turbine really added another dimension to this day. The views were incredible.
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What amazing views of an amazing city. We loved Vancouver when we visited but never got up Grouse Mountain. Need to go back I guess ……..
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Hi Jonno. You do need to go back. Grouse Mountain was a real highlight for us! We really enjoyed Vancouver too.
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Oh wow! What absolutely fabulous views of Vancouver and around, and on such a clear day too.
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Yes, we got lucky with the weather because the day before was rainy and the mountain was completely covered with cloud. We couldn’t believe the difference the next morning. It was beautiful all day.
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Thanks for sharing these great views. I for one would never see them (if I ever took a trip to Canada) as I wouldn’t like the height. I’m not good at chairlifts and things at all. You had a perfect clear day for your sight seeing on that day.
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I don’t mind heights as long as I know I am safe. We had a beautiful day. Lucky we didn’t book for the previous day, when it was overcast and rainy and the mountain was completely hidden in the clouds. That would have been disappointing.
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Whenever I see the paragliders on the way to Wollongong they look so happy but I would be so terrified! 😀
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Me too. I have my limits!
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Amazing beautiful landscape. I am glad that I had the possibility to see Your post and its photos. Thank You.
Happy holidays to You and Yours.
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Thank you Matti. Happy Christmas to you and your family!
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Wow. How great to go to the top of the wind turbine. Love the chair lifts and this would be a great addition. Definitely need to visit your mountain.
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Yes, you would enjoy yourselves here. There is so much to see and do.
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