A number of social activities have been planned throughout the two weeks of TSI for registered participants:
- Get-together pizza & pops on Mon, July 24th
- Excursion 1 (Fri afternoon, July 28th): Shannon Falls and either hike up to the Second Peak of the or take the and enjoy spectacular views into the Howe Sound.
For the excursion we’ll be heading along the breathtaking Sea-to-Sky highway to beautiful Squamish, traditional territory of the First Nations Squamish people, and now home to a burgeoning outdoor sports community. There will then be two choices for the excursion. The first choice will be to take the Sea-to-Sky Gondola to the summit viewing platform. At the top there is a bar/cafe where you can take a cold beer, glass of wine, or a coffee. There are also some short nature walks, an “Indiana Jones” bridge, and several viewing points for photos.
For the adventurous among you, there is also the option to hike the Squamish “Chief”. Traditionally called the “Stawamus Chief”, this 700m high granite monolith is claimed to be the second largest on the planet. From the Wikipedia entry:
"The Squamish, indigenous people from this area, consider the Chief to be a place of spiritual significance. The Squamish language name for the mountain is Siám' Smánit (siám' is usually translated as "chief" though it is really a social ranking), and their traditions say it is a longhouse transformed to stone by Xáays, as the Transformer Brothers are known in this language. The great cleft in the mountain's cliff-face in Squamish legend is a mark of corrosion left by the skin of Sínulhka, a giant two-headed sea serpent.”
The hike is of intermediate difficulty, as although not technical, the climb is steep in some places, meaning you will definitely break into a sweat, and the round trip should take 3 hours for the relatively fit person (though all ages/fitness levels do the hike). The reward is the most breathtaking unbroken views of the Howe Sound below, Squamish town, and the West Coast Mountains. Sporty clothes, sensible footwear, and plenty of water are advised.
- Excursion 2: Bike around Stanley Park (Monday afternoon, July 31st)
- Banquet at the on Granville Island on Wed, August 2nd
In addition the over English Bay will take place on July 29th, August 2nd, and August 5th...join 500000 Vancouverites at the beaches for a breathtaking spectacle...
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