Text and Photos by Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla
One of the perks of being a journalist is that sometimes you get to travel. In my case, most of my work trips take me to California, New York City, Chicago and the inevitable Las Vegas. It's rare and very special to be sent to a Canadian location, but thanks to GM Canada's various drive programs, I've seen and experienced the best that the Quebec countryside has to offer and was delighted by Victoria, BC's awe-inspiring ecotourism.
Last month GM took various journalists and influencers to Whistler, B.C. to get acquainted with GMC's new line of Sierra vehicles. Arriving at Vancouver airport, I was paired up with 680 News’ Tim Dimopolous, who took the first leg of our 90-minute drive. Tim used to live in Vancouver and gave me a lot of insight on how the city has changed through the years, he also cued me into when I should get ready for some breathtaking sceneries as we weaved out of downtown traffic into the vast and impressive coastal roads.
"Have you had a Japadog?" Tim asks me as he expertly weaves through sidestreets to get us out of the thick of city traffic on our way to Whistler. Japadogs are, apparently, a must-try treat that is unique to Vancouver (and California). It is basically a hotdog that incorporates various Japanese condiments and ingredients that takes street meat up a few levels. I made a mental note to try this delicacy as soon as possible but doubted that it would happen anytime soon.
As much as I've desired to explore Vancouver and its surrounding areas (here's where they film some of my favourite TV shows after all, like Arrow, Flash, Legends of Tomorrow not to mention X-Files), I've not had much time here. Unfortunately, Vancouver and I have been a missed connection story, and after seeing its downtown core, I'm hoping to go visit soon.
2017 GMC Acadia
The 2017 Acadia we were riding was the ideal vehicle for going up the windy roads passing picturesque vistas. The Acadia offers great visibility, the sunroof also opens up to reveal endless mountain ranges and gives you direct access to that incomparable, crisp and clean mountain air.
Driving along the coast on the way to Whistler is an experience that's not to be missed.
The onboard Apple CarPlay connectivity had us entertained even as the OnStar navigation kept us on track. During our initial drive, we noted how the GMC Acadia's interior was both pleasingly muscular in terms of design and approach yet quite fine in terms of finishes and materials. Space was abundant and not only could you fit seven passengers, they could all connect their smartphones to the Acadia's mobile hotspot.
In terms of ride and performance, our 2017 Acadia zoomed effortlessly through open highways and didn't break a sweat as it climbed some of the steeper, more demanding inclines. Granted, we didn't have a lot of cargo, the Acadia felt a lot nimbler than most SUV's would in these conditions.
I grew up in a city without mountains and I now live in a very flat ultra-urban centre which feels like it is being engulfed by high-rise structures racing to the sky to block out the sun. A few hours on a highway between Vancouver and Whistler reveals just how awesome and majestic wide open spaces and particular charm of this part of Canada.
Driving from Vancouver to Whistler on a warm Summer day is one of the best trips you can take.
The drive up to Whistler is simply breathtaking, as a driver you get such variety in road situations and that it keeps you on your toes (certainly felt like more fun than driving through highways in Ontario). The roads here are exquisite and well-maintained.
As a passenger, you see a range of mountains, small streams and ponds and even a waterfall every now and then plus driving on the coast gives you a panoramic vista that's hard to beat. The variety and scope of terrain and things to see is quite staggering for a 90 minute drive.
Brew Creek Centre
The secluded and meticulously cared-for Brew Creek Centre was to be our base of operations and GM Canada took over this resort for the duration of the drive programme. Hidden one kilometre away from a main highway, the Brew Creek Centre is an environmental haven that also doubles as a restful and invigourating lodge for travellers.
Brew Creek Centre is the sort of nature getaway that's ideal for families or for wedding parties, corporate retreat and for staging and launching a new vehicle. GMC and Brew Creek Centre actually share a lot of core values in common. The main lodge is where most meals take place but walking around the property reveals various natural attractions such as streams, flower beds and grassy spots that are ideal for taking in the sun or just reveling in the nature around you. For those that need to get work done, the resort's Wi-Fi signal is pretty strong.
GMC has a commitment to sustainability, many of the parts used in their vehicles come from recycled materials. Similarly, Brew Creek Centre is a self-sustained resort and even grow many of the fruits and vegetables they use nearby.
Brew Creek Lodge has variou rooms which are comfortable, well-appointed always connected to nature. My room at the Brew North section had two beds (one on the second floor) and a large window that opened up directly to the forest. Temperatures in Whistler vary widely in late August. You get a crisp 10' celcius in the early morning but this can change to a toasty 30' Celcius by noon.
First order of business was to get a briefing on the 2017 GMC Acadia, my first impressions of this innovative, comfortable and beefy SUV are here. I'm planning to write a more comprehensive hands-on review in the comng month after I have one for a week.
After learning more about the 2017 Acadia's features, we were paired into groups and made our way to the Fairmont Chateau Whistler where we would take in the sights and ride the breathtaking Peak 2 Peak Gondola between Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains. This 4.4-kilometre/2.7mile, 11-minute journey is simply immense and gives riders a great view of the expanse and natural beauty of the area.
We dined at Christine's on Blackcomb's, which not only featured some of the best views around, it presented us with some of the most delightful hospitality and a delicious midday meal to provide us the energy for the day's activities. And boy, would we need it.
Taming the Sasquatch
While various teams broke off into groups to try some ATV driving, climbing a part of a mountain, I decided to go for the activity that I feared the most. I'm not a big fan of heights, but have been testing my limits and fighting my fears. I did the EdgeWalk on the CN Tower years ago and I figured I'd go jump off a mountain with a zipline.
Together with technology writers Ted Kritsonis and Steve Makris, I decided to take on the Sasquatch tour, which is Whistler's intense 2 kilometer zipline experience that has you hitting speeds of over 100 km/h as you zip through treetops and valleys until you're caught at the other end.
While the zipline takes around three minutes, the whole experience is around an hour and a half. It starts out with you getting picked up by your guide and then you need to take a ski-lift up to a landing where you're fitted with your zipline gear. The harness and the corresponding hook weigh quite a bit, and you need to carry these on you like a weighed noose. Expectations, tension and nerves come into play pretty quickly. Thankfully our bunch of adventurers kept cracking nervous jokes, which lightened the mood.
From left: Steve Makris, Gadjo Sevilla, GM Canada's Steve Logan and Ted KritsonisWe got on a Sasquatch GMC van and rode up the steep mountain up to the point where we had to walk. By this time, there's no one or nothing around, and if you wanted to make a break for it, it would take a long way to get back.
We were joined by with Bruce Logan, GM's Senior Executive, Corporate Affairs, Marketing & Brand Reputation, we walked up to the plank where were to be hooked up to a line and asked to jump off the side of a mountain.
Once the guides make sure the zipline is nice and snug and that you are good to go. They open the door to the abyss and tell you to descend down a staricase that ends abruptly after a couple of steps. I told myself not too look down and focused my attention on my camera and the awesome video I was going to take (never happened), took a deep breath and stepped into the gaping chasm of trees below. Click, boom! I was gone.
By the time my brain had re-oriented itself to what was happening, I was zipping by at an insane speed. For some reason, I started to spin out of control and was facing backwards, which made me speed up even more. I was sure this was what complete helplessness felt like but tried to enjoy the moment.
The Sasquatch Zipline tour is a must-try experience when in WhistlerEven while speeding at terminal velocity, it is easy to get lost in the beauty and sheer majesty of Whistler. I struggled to move forward as I began to reach the end of the zipline, I realized that my attempt at capturing video was a bust, although Steve Makris used a 360' camera capture what the whole experience was like. Check out his crazy video.
Bearfoot Bistro
After the Sasquatch, we retired to Whistler's famous Longhorn Saloon and Grill for a few cold ones to take the edge of what was undeniably an intense afternoon.
We later regrouped at the Bearfoot Bistro in Whistler for a fine dining wrap up to our intense two day program
With an outstanding selection of white and red wine, some scrumptious plates and dessert, our whirlwind visit to Whistler was coming to a satisfying but frosty end.
We were ushered into the Bearfoot Bistro's Cold Room where Canada Goose jackets were passed around so we could enjoy some unusual vodka varieties in -30' Celsius temperatures.
It was a great way to wind down, trade adventure stories, and collectively marvel at the many natural delights that Whistler Blackcomb had to offer.
While it is certainly a world-class Winter destination, there's no limit to the amount of great drives, stunning vistas and natural discoveries Whistler has to offer year round.