July 31, 2021 -- Stats: 6.88 km / 1140m gain / 1860m high point / 3:15 hours MT (Case-pace)
Truth be told, I was not looking forward to doing this hike. My logical brain was telling me, "Why climb all the way up there when there's a gondola to do it?" Plus: "It can't be that nice of a trail, if it follows alongside a gondola". But I was pleasantly surprised. Sticking to our relaxed but steady Case-pace, we got to meet many people as they passed us. There were many young people, flitting by dressed in the latest fittness fashions, usually without backpacks (water?!) Then there were the middle-aged ones who were huffing and puffing and pushing themselves for a good workout challenge. I noticed the blond women were red-faced and shiney from the sweat (so I'm not the only one). It was quite interesting indeed. Add to that the alpine flowers, anciant trees and poetic signs. It all made for a wonderful workout.
There are 3 sections to the Blackcomb Burn. The first section starts at a base of 685m between the Wizard Express and Magic Chair lifts. It climbs 88m to Base 2 on a mellow gravel path through forest with a creek winding through it.
The Big Burn second section is 3 km long and gains almost 500m.
All together there were 4 flights of wooden stairs on the Burn. Not that many, considering you're climbing over 1100m.
Bird's-foot Trefoil
Western Red Cedar & Hemlock + Amabilis Fir grow in the Bib Burn section.
Wall Lettuce
Just past this creek is the Wizard Solar Coaster Express mid-station. After that the third Heart Burn section begins in which you gain 607m in 3.5 km.
Entering the 800 year old snow forest. Mountain hemlock, yellow cedar + subalpine fir grow very slowly here.
Many of the wild flowers were dried up from the heat.
Not far past this sign, another sign stated that it was 3.5 km to the trail's end.
southwest
1) Hawksweed 2) Smooth Hawksbeard
Overlooking the town of Whistler -- west.
The abandoned-for-the-summer Magic Castle kids' play area.
As we were nearing the Rendezvous Lodge, we felt something foreign: rain! Well it was more like a light drizzle in a mist. What started as a sunny day cooled off and closed in at the top. It was a nice way to finish our climb.
We took the $15.00 gondola ride down, of course.
Left is where we started, crossing under the gondola at the mid-station.
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