The Mysterious Whistle
Channels through the ice where it is has started to melt with the warm summer temperatures.
Sounds are unnerving, especially when you don’t know what they are. That odd noise from your car when driving down the highway. A weird crack or pop from your body you weren’t expecting when you move in a certain way. Maybe the scariest and most unnerving of them all, an unknown sound in the backcountry. It can really put me on edge and make my hyper-aware of my surroundings.
Jen Godbout and I made a last-minute plan to go check out Cirque Lake, which is accessed via paddling across Callaghan Lake. It’s been on my list for a long time, being one of the first hikes I came across when I moved to Whistler but have never had the opportunity to check it out as I haven’t had a boat.
Both of us are comfortable in the mountains but have limited water experience. I’ve personally never paddle boarded with any gear or done any sort of mission with more than what I was wearing. I packed my camera and lenses in a dry bag inside my backpack, and we gave it a 50/50 chance of going in the water. At least the expensive stuff was protected, everything else would have just been an inconvenience if it got wet.
Luckily it was uneventful, we made it across, back on solid ground and started hiking. Easy. I’m not going to get soaking wet here by slightly losing my balance. I might slip and get a bit muddy, but that’s about it.
Knowing there are bears in the area I always keep bear spray close at hand on my back pack strap. Hopefully I don’t have to use it, but want to be prepared. We quickly gained elevation and were nearing the upper lake. After coming out of a small stand of trees we heard a shrill whistle from below. The sound proceeded to pierce the air a few more times, then silent.
Relaxing with the view while we ate lunch, but constantly looking over the shoulder at every sound.
I wasn’t sure what make this sound, I couldn’t think of any animal that did. My first thought was the party behind us blew the whistle on their backpack to ward off a bigger animal that could potentially do us harm. This really put me in my head, always looking over my shoulder startled by every sound. It’s not as much that I’m paranoid more just becoming hyperaware of sounds and hearing everything.
We moved on, made it to the lake, ate lunch, while constantly looking backwards and we didn’t hear the whistle again. When we first started the hike a man who came out of the bushes, after looking for one of his shoes he lost on a river crossing upstream, mentioned to go for a swim saying “you won’t want to at first, but it’s definitely worth it.”
Standing at the ice covered lakes edge I wrestled with the idea before deciding not to go for a swim. A moment later I knew I would regret it, so changed my mind and flopped into the brain freezing cold. Bone chilling in the moment, but such a refreshing revitalizing quick dip.
Paddling back across Callaghan lake. Although we were concerned, neither of us ended up falling in.
The shoes went back on, and we started the hike back to our paddle boards surviving the onslaught of mosquitos that seemed to get ten times worse throughout the day. We got back on the boards and paddled as quickly as we could to get away from the shore and the swarms. Feeling a bit more confident, but still not great odds on both of us staying dry. The sun was low lighting the surrounding mountains and the smell of campfire wafted across the lake. We made it back, without getting wet, not really to concerned about wildlife as more people were about. The mysterious whistle felt like a distant noise, the uneasiness was gone and my minded shifted to what was going to be for dinner.
The following day as I was drinking my morning coffee I figured I should find out about the sound. Being that it was so distinct I assumed it would be easy to find some info. A quick google search, what animal makes a high pitch whistle, Enter, the answer pops up. Hoary Marmot, a small groundhog sided animal nicknamed “the whistler” and the reason why the mountain was renamed to Whistler from London Mountain.
This was definitely a fact I knew but forgot at the moment. I’ll know for next time and for now, will keep my uneasiness for the sounds the car makes.
