Written By: Deepi Leihl
It has been a year and a half since the pandemic first started and it seems like the end is nowhere in sight.
Who would have thought it would go on for this long! Definitely not me! But despite the circumstances, me, my sister and our staff have been making the most of it by exploring around our beautiful province.
Our first major trip was to the Sea to Sky Gondola in Squamish. I must admit I am scared of heights, but at the same time I really wanted to challenge myself and conquer a lifelong fear. The two-hour drive north along Highway 99 was full of stunning views of mountains, waterfalls, rocky cliffs, historic buildings and the Pacific Ocean.
The gondola itself was fully accessible and easy to get in and out of. The staff there were very helpful and accommodating. The ten-minute ride to the top was smooth and provided ample time to admire the breathtaking scenery. While we were waiting for our lunch reservation at the Sky Pilot Restaurant, we decided it was a good time to tackle the suspension bridge.
The bridge is approximately 100 metres long and fully wheelchair accessible. It was a little steep at both ends, but we took it slowly and had no issues going across. It definitely looked a lot scarier than it was, but once on it, my fears turned into feelings of joy, amazement and pride!
When we were safely back on terra firma, I was thinking we should explore our own background more often. We enjoyed our lunch on the deck overlooking Howe Sound while Douglas squirrels scurried around our feet looking for food scraps. After our meal, we walked around on the gravel trails a bit before heading back on the gondola to the main entrance and the gift shop.
Overall, it was an amazing day trip seeing all the natural wonders from the ocean to the mountaintop and everything in between. This experience showed that anything is possible if you put your mind to it and that being in a wheelchair doesn’t prevent you from being adventurous. I highly recommend everyone to check out the Sea to Sky Gondola in Squamish, BC… it is totally worth it!
