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Fall Foliage Through Domes
Thursday, September 29, 2011 Part 1
Fraser Discovery Route Day 1 Before a 10:00am Breakfast
An Early Start in Misty Whistler, Along Dead Salmon Infused Rivers and Green, Anderson, and Seaton Lakes |
The first day of the Rainforest to Gold Rush Route trip we had an early 6:00am wake-up call for the 6:20 check in at the hotel. From there it was a short bus ride to the Whistler Station and I was able to photograph our Rainforest to Goldrush train arriving from the yard in Squamish from an enclosed bridge above the line. As we got on we were greeted by our two lovely attendants, Leah and Sally.
At 7:35 we start leaving Whistler going around town passing the lakes, streams and rivers going out of town. Some of them are quite misty on this morning. The attendants make their introductions: we have two that will be upstairs with us, two down below serving, plus two chiefs that are the lead of the culinary team, there are also a few others cooking and doing dishes for us that we are never introduced too. They also come around with Mimosas (I decline, I can't stand orange juice) for another Rocky Mountaineer tradition, toasting our journey once the train manager comes to our car.
- 7:44 — Pass the golf course and more of the town of Whistler and Green Lake and then rise north out of, as we got warm towel service.
- 8:00 — We have left Whistler and start to follow the Green River. This is as the first seating of breakfast is called downstairs (we're assigned by where we're sitting in the car so we get the second seating today) and I wander downstairs too and discover the amazing-ness of the rear platform on this crisp cool morning. I am able to enjoy the mountain air and get actual, decent pictures, not forced to shoot through glass.
- 8:17 — Go through Parkhurst, a ghost town and we pass our first freight train of the trip. I didn't notice any yesterday, pulling mostly lumber on a siding as the attendants came through with scone and coffee service to tide us over until our second seating for breakfast.
- 8:29 — It gets misty as we dip down into the Valley and go through Pemberton and cross the Lillooet River. This town we leave quickly and start to follow the Birkenhead River and enter the Mount Currie First Nations Reserve, which we stay in for a long time, home to the Lillooets.
- 8:55 — We keep following the Birkenhead River as tree branches run up against the train and I notice the last of the salmon on their runs. Finishing my coffee and scone I run down to the viewing platform, getting photos of salmon in the river, some alive, some dead and some trout.
- 9:05 — The stream leaves, we slow to go through the woods, pass a sign for Hostel 1 and get our first views of Mount Currie.
- 9:14 — Gates Lake, with reflective blue water
- 9:16 — Leave this small Lake behind, passing a dock and start going up through a rock cut, passing more trees. The snow capped peak of Mount Currie in the Coast Mountains keeps staying in view.
- 9:36 — Go through the small town of D'Arcy and then come out along large Anderson Lake, a lake we follow for 15 miles and then the attendant starts going through the gift catalogue.
- 9:41 — Go through a short tunnel, these are the effects from the rear platform
- 9:42 — Get back out onto Anderson Lake snow capped peaks in the background reflecting a bit, as we run right along a rock cut along the tracks.
- 9:54 — Go through Marine with a tiny shack and a sign saying Population 2 and I go into the dining room for my seating for breakfast.
Me and my grandmother sit down at breakfast with a couple from Prince Edward Island and have good conversation as I order the Eggs Benedict which are delicious. There is a first course of fruit salad and croissants. During breakfast we go through Seton Portage and follow Seaton Lake and go through a Tunnel passing the BC Hydro Bridge River Project and leave going through spectacular cliffs, I'm sitting at breakfast so no photos.
Continue following my journey through Lillooet and Rising Up onto the Cariboo Plateau Enjoying a Wine and Cheese Party
Last Updated: 28 November, 2011
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