Sky High

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!