Trip Report: May 3 - 18, 2001
by Ted & Sylvia Blishak
Through the Pacific Northwest and Canada
by Amtrak, BC Rail and VIA Rail Canada
FROM 100-MILE HOUSE TO PRINCE GEORGE ON THE WHISTLER NORTHWIND DAY THREE
by Sylvia Blishak
100-Mile House, May 8, 2001: Before we had come to the Cariboo Country ourselves, we assumed that 100-Mile House was a rustic old house and resort. It turns out to be the name of a small town. The Hills Guest Ranch and Spa is about a 10-minute drive north of town. While it is as remote and rustic as we expected it to be, we can hear the sounds of traffic on nearby Highway 97, out of sight behind the pine trees.
Our schedule allows us the luxury of a free morning, which many of the passengers use to schedule massages or other spa treatments, aerobic lessons, or guidance in "horse whispering", which has become popular pastime of "bonding" with a horse, a concept which Ted cannot even imagine. We utilize this time to pick up phone messages, do our e-mail, check our reservation records, and do our airline ticket report.
"Have a nice Cariboo day!" suggests a sign in the village as we are motorcoached back to the train.
Back on board, we begin to feel the camaraderie of shipmates on a cruise, and realize that we've become attached to the train and don't want to end the trip later today. Ted is ready to continue on for another day or two. We find the service to be actually more personalized than on the average cruise ship.
We roll past a long lake that reminds us of the Okanagan country to the east of us. A couple of cowboys herding cattle at a ranch close to the tracks (looking as authentic as in any Western movie) brings "Oohs and Ahs" and lots of camera clicks.
Wild mountain sheep are grazing nearby.
Lunch and dinner are served onboard, with a cookie snack in between, and the food is improving as we go. Since this is a shakedown cruise, it promises to get even better as time goes on!
Our train's first scheduled arrival in Prince George turns out to be a local event, with over a dozen local citizens, including the mayor, at the station to shake our hands and welcome us to the town. And, since this is the end of the line, our entire onboard staff is also lined up to shake hands and say goodbye.
Since this train will undoubtedly be compared with the Rocky Mountaineer, I'll conclude by pointing out differences and similarities.
Rocky Mountaineer is a privately-owned company which contracts to run on the rails of freight railroads. The Whistler Northwind is owned by BC Rail, a tax-supported Provincial entity, and it runs on the tracks of its owner.
Both trains use glass-topped dome cars built by Colorado Railcar. Rocky Mountaineer uses theirs only for first-class Gold Leaf Dome passengers, and they are double-level with an open vestibule at the rear. (Rocky's coach, or Red Leaf service, doesn't provide dome cars.) The Whistler features single-level dome seating for both Panorama and Summit class passengers. Summit passengers have their own dining car and lounge, while Panorama passengers will have a lounge, but no dining car, with meal served on trays at their seats. It is possible for four passengers to stand between cars and look out the vestibule doors on the Whistler, but Rocky's open vestibule at the back of the cars provide more room and a wider view.
Food service is excellent in first class on both trains. Rocky utilizes two meal sittings (about one hour each) in the dining area on the lower level of their domes. Whistler uses single-seating in a vintage dining car, with meals lasting about two hours.
Destinations for the two are quite different, with Rocky providing transportation to the well-known Jasper and Banff resorts in Alberta, where passengers usually spend a few days to enjoy the Canadian Rockies and the vintage railroad hotels such as Banff Springs, Chateau Lake Louise, and the Jasper Park Lodge. Whistler Northwind takes passengers to the popular resort of Whistler, then continues to the little-known and sparsely-populated 100-Mile House and Prince George. The latter offers two interesting museums. But with its multiple pulp mills, a chemical factory, and an oil refinery, it is an industrial town that will tempt few visitors to linger.
It is possible to create a customized triangle-trip itinerary using both Whistler Northwind and Rocky Mountaineer, with transportation on Via Rail's Skeena between Prince George and Jasper. Due to the scheduling of these trains it will be necessary to stay at least two nights in Prince George. There are two excellent hotels downtown, the Coast and the Ramada, where our group stay. We find the Ramada to be a full service hotel and surprisingly comfortable. Our room is a mini-suite with a spacious living room area and work station. I catch up on our office work while Sylvia attends a travel agents' reception sponsored by local tourism people. Then it is to bed for we have a very early departure tomorrow morning, with a drive to Jasper to catch the Via Rail's Canadian to Toronto.
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