July 2 – Alexander Falls, Olympic Park, Bungee Bridge

Another cool, mostly cloudy day. This morning we drove up to the nearby Olympic Park, where in 2010 they held the cross country and ski jump events. On the way, we stopped at a viewpoint for Alexander Falls. After lunch, we went to WATCH people jump off the Whistler Bungee Bridge.

First up was the Alexander Falls Viewpoint. You can drive right to it.

The falls are 49 m high.

We only stayed a short while because this is as close as you could get.

On the way into the Olympic Park we passed a young bear on the hillside.

You have to get a picture next to the giant Inuksuk, which was the symbol of the 2010 games.

Our next stop was to watch some people at the biathlon shooting range.

For $20 for 10 shots or $2 a bullet anyone could try the 22 calibre target rifles. I thought about it but with my eyesight I would be a terrible shot.

This guy was very slow but he made most of his shots.

Next I climbed to the top of the ski jump.

At first Jennie though we were taking a trail but when she found out that you climbed the stairs she waited by the car. Going up I found that if I looked forward or up there was no problem. Turning around to look out I had to use the railing to steady myself.

Onward and upward. You can only take the stairs up. You have to take a side trail back down.

The view from part way up.

The photosphere.

Almost to the top of the landing area.

There was small raised viewing platform. Looking down.

Looking farther up.

A photosphere from under the ramps.

To get to the top of the ramps you had to take a trail through the woods.

The trail wasn’t very long but it was steep.

On one slippery section a rope was useful.

Then up some stairs.

And across a ramp.

For the view from the top. You really have to be a bit crazy to ski jump.

And the photosphere.

Jennie looking up at me.

And back down.

Then I made my way down the trails to the bottom.

The whole time I was up there I had the place to myself. I saw lots of people stop, walk to the stairs and then turn around. While I had lunch at the car we saw some people heading up.

Weird place for a phone call.

Next we drove to the also nearby Whistler Bungee Bridge, not to try it but the locations for bungee jumping are usually quite dramatic.

You must drive a few kilometers off the highway on a rather potholed road. Then you park under the bridge.

Looking up we knew that this was just not Jennie’s day. She found a spot by the car where she could at least see the jumpers start their leaps.

And the looks on their faces.

Up I went.

I tried some shots of the jumpers from the bridge but you don’t get the big picture. The swan dive.

Across the bridge there was a booth on the cliff edge that had a wider view. Going down feet first.

And on the bounce.

I walked passed the bridge on the fenced cliff edge to see the bridge from the other side.

And a bit farther for the widest view. It is 160 feet from the bridge to the river.

I guess it depends on your weight as to how close you get.

From the bridge you can see the sheer cliffs where I took the last shots.

Back at the car, we noticed this platform on the far wall of the canyon. There seemed to be a crack in the wall extending out each side.

We are not sure what it was for but there were cables bolted to the wall all along the crack. It couldn’t be a trail?

And then home.

There was a nice sky with the mountains opposite us partially illuminated.