Andy James with Ski TravelPOINTS recently visited Whistler for a holiday ski vacation. Over the holiday our family headed north to connect with relatives and to spend an active week in Whistler Skiing in British Columbia Canada. Whistler a major ski resort located just north of Vancouver about 120 miles is the 2010 Winter Olympic site for the downhill events. If you love to ski in all conditions and want the excitement of skiing a variety of terrain from powder chutes, secluded tree skiing, open bowls to miles of groomed slopes for cruising, then consider Whistler one of the best skiing destinations in North America. Skiers from all abilities will feel welcome at this widespread resort with its varied terrain for the beginner to the advance extreme skier and boarder.
Whistler is the largest ski area on the North American Continent, with 7,071 acres of ski-able terrain, more than 200 marked trails, and 12 massive alpine bowls including three glaciers. (Whistler/Blackcomb is around 1 1/2 times the size of Vail). Whistler has 2 separate Ski Mountains, Blackcomb and Whistler, all accessible from Whistler Village. Blackcomb has an elevation of 7,500 feet and Whistler Mountain has an elevation of over 7,100. Feet. Recently Whistler was voted by Ski Magazine (September edition 2000) as the Number One Ski Resort in North America. During January and February Whistler Mountain will host the world championships freestyle and extreme skiing/boarding competitions.
During our stay in Whistler we begin the week with a 60-inch snow base and ended with a 75-inch base. In the morning the village would be covered in fog and cloud cover hiding the mountain. As we made our way up the mountain we would pierce through the clouds to unexpected sunny skies, brisk temperatures and impressive views with the valley below layer in cloud cover. On other days the weather and cloud cover would settle-in over the entire mountain with white-out conditions and powder skiing. Timberline in Whistler is around 6000 feet and a 1/3 of the mountain is exposed to tree-less open glacier skiing. Trail markers are used to guide skiers down the open glacier. At the top of Whistler Mountain panoramic views of the surrounding Mountain ranges are spectacular. Here you see the vast wilderness of the Canadian Rockies with views in all directions for hundreds of miles.
Daily ski conditions consisted of powder in the open bowls and "groomers" groomed condition on the intermediate and beginner slopes. From top to bottom there is over 5,000 feet of vertical drop, which amounts to 4 to 5 miles of ski-able terrain from the top of the mountain to the bottom. Whistler/Blackcomb has 13 express lifts (three gondolas and 10 quad chairs in a total of 32 lifts). Lift lines were minimal across the mountain except during the mornings when all the skiers are trying to get up the mountain. If you start before 9:00am you should not have any lift lines. On average during the year, Whistler/Blackcomb receives 30 feet of snow. Temperatures during the season are moderate between 10 - 30 degrees F.
Whistler Village has a variety of small quaint hotels, condominiums and ski-in, ski-out lodging. The village takes on a European alpine village look and feel as you wander around the pedestrian-only walkways. Convenient shuttle buses run continuously from the hotels and condominiums to the village and ski resort daily. Visitors can hop aboard the buses for free, at any of the marked bus stops. The village has a wide selection of distinctive shops, restaurants, lounges and nightclubs. The Canadian people that work at the resort are very friendly and helpful. The majority of skiers visiting Whistler are from Canada and the U.S. with a few Europeans.
Whistler is the largest ski area on the North American Continent, with 7,071 acres of ski-able terrain, more than 200 marked trails, and 12 massive alpine bowls including three glaciers. (Whistler/Blackcomb is around 1 1/2 times the size of Vail). Whistler has 2 separate Ski Mountains, Blackcomb and Whistler, all accessible from Whistler Village. Blackcomb has an elevation of 7,500 feet and Whistler Mountain has an elevation of over 7,100. Feet. Recently Whistler was voted by Ski Magazine (September edition 2000) as the Number One Ski Resort in North America. During January and February Whistler Mountain will host the world championships freestyle and extreme skiing/boarding competitions.
During our stay in Whistler we begin the week with a 60-inch snow base and ended with a 75-inch base. In the morning the village would be covered in fog and cloud cover hiding the mountain. As we made our way up the mountain we would pierce through the clouds to unexpected sunny skies, brisk temperatures and impressive views with the valley below layer in cloud cover. On other days the weather and cloud cover would settle-in over the entire mountain with white-out conditions and powder skiing. Timberline in Whistler is around 6000 feet and a 1/3 of the mountain is exposed to tree-less open glacier skiing. Trail markers are used to guide skiers down the open glacier. At the top of Whistler Mountain panoramic views of the surrounding Mountain ranges are spectacular. Here you see the vast wilderness of the Canadian Rockies with views in all directions for hundreds of miles.
Daily ski conditions consisted of powder in the open bowls and "groomers" groomed condition on the intermediate and beginner slopes. From top to bottom there is over 5,000 feet of vertical drop, which amounts to 4 to 5 miles of ski-able terrain from the top of the mountain to the bottom. Whistler/Blackcomb has 13 express lifts (three gondolas and 10 quad chairs in a total of 32 lifts). Lift lines were minimal across the mountain except during the mornings when all the skiers are trying to get up the mountain. If you start before 9:00am you should not have any lift lines. On average during the year, Whistler/Blackcomb receives 30 feet of snow. Temperatures during the season are moderate between 10 - 30 degrees F.
Whistler Village has a variety of small quaint hotels, condominiums and ski-in, ski-out lodging. The village takes on a European alpine village look and feel as you wander around the pedestrian-only walkways. Convenient shuttle buses run continuously from the hotels and condominiums to the village and ski resort daily. Visitors can hop aboard the buses for free, at any of the marked bus stops. The village has a wide selection of distinctive shops, restaurants, lounges and nightclubs. The Canadian people that work at the resort are very friendly and helpful. The majority of skiers visiting Whistler are from Canada and the U.S. with a few Europeans.
If you are not a skier, there are a variety of other winter activities from cross-country skiing, ice skating and snowshoeing, to paragliding, snowmobling, flightseeing and sleigh rides. The season begins in November and runs through June, with summer skiing on the glacier. During the summer months Whistler offers extensive summer alpine programs that include mountaintop dining, hiking, mountain biking, championship golf courses, tennis, fishing and relaxing. One of the greatest benefits during our visit to Whistler was the exchange rate. United States citizens receive an exceptional exchange rate on the dollar. If you are considering a ski vacation, call us at TravelPOINTS and let us help you arrange your next vacation or trip. Andy James is one of the co-owners of TravelPOINTS. Visit us on the web at www.skitravelpoints.com. Call our Ski Specialist at 1-888-808-8728
