Ziptrek Ecotours: Guiding the Message
Nature is an intrinsic part of Whistler. People come here from all over the world to discover and appreciate the unique and vibrant beauty of the Coast Mountains and rainforest. At Ziptrek Ecotours, they believe the best connections to our landscape require a personal touch, and the high-flying adventure is only part of the ride. “When people get out for a fun, exciting activity like ziplining, it puts them in a perfect headspace to learn more about the natural world around them,” says Ziptrek’s Warrick Hubbard. “Many of our guests come for the thrills but then the eco and nature elements is often what really sticks with them afterwards.” To best integrate a strong environmental and educational ethos alongside the adrenaline rush of flying above and through one of Whistler’s last old-growth forests, Ziptrek relies on their boots on the ground (and in the sky)—their guides. “We are running with about eighty guides right now,” Hubbard says, “and each one has graduated from a comprehensive three-week training course. Some of that is the essential safety training and ropes skills, but a big component is about the ecology of the area. The flora and fauna, the history, and the actions we can take to minimize our impact and still have a great experience.” Ziptrek tours whisk through a stand of old-growth forest in the Fitzsimmons Creek valley, in between Whistler and Blackcomb mountains. Guides lead tours through a combination of suspension bridges and incredibly engineered treetop observation and launch platforms made from local cedar because it is naturally resilient to the West Coast environment. It’s an intimate, and educational way to experience the Whistler landscape. “Our guides will spend up to three hours with our guests,” Hubbard says. “The conversation often goes beyond ziplining and people love to learn about Whistler and the area from a local’s perspective.” Of course, once you leave the platform the high-flying thrill of ziplining takes over. And Ziptrek’s free-range harnesses mean hanging upside down is not only possible, it’s encouraged. Knowledgeable guides teaching you cool stuff about nature is fun, but inverted gravitational momentum charts, too. Visit ziptrek.com for more about the Ziptrek experience.