Whistler has taken the plunge and joined the bungy jumping business – a sport that’s neither for the faint of heart nor the weak of stomach. A private company operates jumps from a 20-storey pedestrian bridge across the Cheakamus River, 1.25 miles (2 km) east of Brandywine Falls Provincial Park, just off the Sea to Sky Highway 99, approximately 12 miles (20 km) south of Whistler.
Thrill seekers will follow in the footsteps of the vine jumpers of Pentecost Island, a South Pacific group who initiated the ritual of securing their ankles before leaping from wooden towers into thin air.
The Whistler site overlooks a steep canyon and the rushing Cheakamus River. The bridge will be open to the public, and public hiking trails are to be built in the immediate area.
The bridge is about 60 metres (197 feet) about the river, and a full bungy jump will be 54 metres (177 feet). If jumpers wish, the bungy cord can be adjusted so that jumpers can hit the waters of the Cheakamus River below.
The parking area for the bungy jumping operation is just a few hundred metres north of the proposed bridge, which is to be incorporated into the trail system, and available for public use at all times.
Other recreational activities that will benefit from the construction of the bridge, trails and associated parking areas include sightseeing, hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing and kayaking.
