GayWhistler.com for more details. WinterPRIDE 2012 Whistler Gay Lesbian Ski Week Feb. 5-12, 2012

Ski Fitness Training Program

Whistler BC Canada

Your Skiing Vacation in Whistler
By: Hubert Bruce

Whistler village has more than 200 shops and 90 restaurants as well as spas and shops to experience. The village is a real shopper's paradise with a pedestrian friendly environment and plazas filled with boutiques, galleries and theatres. Made even more impressive by its West Coast architecture features set amongst spectacular mountain views.

Just footsteps from the hills you can enjoy mountain views accompanied by live music and there is a unique après ski spot for every taste. The resort lies 75 miles north of Vancouver in the midst of the West Coast Mountains of British Columbia. It's within easy reach of Vancouver International Airport by 2 hour drive along the 'Sea to Sky' Highway.

Record snowfall of 14.16 meters, more than 200 ski runs, the longest ski season in Canada and the largest ski area in North America with the 2 mountains of Whistler and Blackcomb to choose from make this resort like no other. There are numerous ski and snowboard schools with specially developed kids programs and courses for all abilities, designed to improve your ski or snowboarding holiday. Whistler boasts 3 parks and 1 super pipe whilst the award winning Nintendo Park has terrain suited to novices and experts. You may prefer to watch all the snowboard action from a distance and the Catskinner chair offers a great vantage point.

Whistler is a natural all year round playground. Spring and summer activities include championship golf on courses designed by Jack Nicklaus, amongst other experts, mountain biking, rock climbing, helicopter rides, sailing and nature tours.

A stay in Whistler Village or Blackcomb offers fantastic skiing for all abilities, an efficient lift system and spectacular scenery all on your doorstep-a real luxury ski holiday.

Return to Index

Whistler Ski Area

Whistler Ski Area is Almost Impossible to Imagine!
By: Joe Mac Millan

Whistler ski area is easy to say. But it is so very beautiful and vast you really must see it to put it into the right perspective.

Whistler/Blackcomb are the two mountains that make up the Whistler ski area. Beautiful, exciting, stupendous and spectacular are some of the comments you will hear from those who visit. The area is so huge that probably the best view would be from a helicopter, and tours can be arranged.

Another way to see the mountains is to ride the gondolas up to the mountains and walk or ski around. To experience every trail run in a week you would need to ski 30 trails each day.

Let’s look at it this way. Whistler ski area, if it were a country would be larger than Vatican City, Monaco and Nauru (south sea island country) combined with plenty of acres left over.

Imagine if you will, a neat little house with a nice green lawn, flower beds and a beautiful rose bush with American Beauty roses framing the home, on a city lot in Washington DC.

Now imagine a solid row of identical houses stretching from that little home in Washington, all the way to Peoria Illinois, a distance of 714 miles. That is the size of the Whistler ski terrain available.

The more than 200 runs on the two mountains take skiers all over the ski area. Beautiful little valleys, wide open areas way up there well above the tree line. Each run is unique.

At this junction, a skier may plunge down a diamond run or opt for the easier 11 km (6.5 mile) long intermediate run to the right.

An extensive inventory of top quality skis and boots await skiers at Whistler ski rental shops. The whole family can be outfitted.

More than 9.14 meters (30 feet) of snow falls on Whistler each year, beautifully plastering the trees and creating an amazing winter wonderland. No less than 34 lifts take skiers up and away quickly, this avoiding long line-ups. You ski down a nice run, spot a lift with a bit of a line-up. No problem. Simply continue to the nest one. They appear to be everywhere.

The restaurants are very popular on the mountains. You should have some way to identify your skis or snowboard, because with hundreds of skiers descending upon the ski racks at once, it may be tough to find yours The Whistler/Blackcomb Canadian Ski Patrol do an amazing job at ensuring the skiers and snowboarders go home safely. However, accidents will happen and they are there to look to your every needs. Of course, if your family is similar to ours, we love to meet and socialize and what better place to do so than the Whistler ski area trails.

Words alone cannot describe the mountain layout. There are two wonderful whistler ski maps available. One for the adults and a fantastic one for the children. They are both interactive and the best maps I have ever seen.

Whistler operates from late November to late June. Glacier skiing runs until Late July.

Blackcomb mountain has a vertical drop of 5,280 feet, the highest in North America.

Whistler mountain has a vertical drop of 5,020 feet.

If you are feeling a little timid about your skiing abilities, and possibly thinking a whistler ski vacation may be a little too daring for you, never fear. My wife Irma and I had very little ski experience at first. Especially Irma. An hour on the bunny hill and I talked her into trying one of the easy beginner slopes. In no time she loved it. We were both 56 years young at the time.

Whistler ski area. You will love it and it will love you.

Joe and Irma Mac Millan have enjoyed the Whistler Mountain and valley area of British Columbia for many years. They have camped, hiked and skied the mountains and fished and kayaked the rivers and lakes. Their website One couples guide to the exciting Whistler-outdoors is a must for anyone considering a trip to Whistler as well as the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. They invite one and all to take a look.

Return to Index

Whistler BC Activities

Whistler, BC - It's Not Just For Skiing
By: Robert Bell

What if you aren't into skiing, though? Isn't that what you do at a ski resort? Is there anything for anyone else to do? Most definitely:

Winter Festivals

During the winter months, Whistler holds several winter festivals with a little something for everyone. Take, for instance, the Cornucopia Festival, held every year in November. Listen in fascination to seminars with wine professionals, wineries and critics while you swirl, sniff and sip the lovely bouquet of wines. Enjoy delicious multi-course gourmet dinners, after-parties and brunches.

During the Whistler Cornucopia, enjoy ARTrageous, the original Whistler arts party. Artists and art lovers alike enjoy this sold out event, where people dance all night and enjoy photo studio experiments, visual art, creation stations, live music and beer. It's a true celebration of wine, food, music and art! The Whistler Cornucopia is a delightful festival for those that enjoy the finer things in life.

Shortly after the Cornucopia, Whistler again brings out it's best at the Bizarre Bazaar, the town's Original Artisan Market. Over 100 artisans come from around the area show off their unique, hand-made crafts, clothing, candles, Christmas decorations and more. Shop for quality, one-of-a-kind treasures while enjoying live music and delicious food!

Cornucopia, ARTrageous and the Bizarre Bazaar are just a few of the winter festivals you can enjoy. There's also the Whistler Film Festival, and don't forget the New Year's Eve bash!

Activities - Other Than Skiing

If you don't like to ski but love to play in the snow, there are other ways to get around and enjoy it. Hop on a snowmobile for a ride to the top of Blackcomb Mountain, 6,000 feet into the air. At the top of the mountain is the charming Crystal Hut, where you can enjoy delicious fondue, fine wine and fruit pies in a candle-lit atmosphere. Panoramic views, the twinkling lights of Whistler and the best table anywhere make the snowmobile ride more than worth it.

If you'd rather have a different kind of ride, take advantage of a sleigh ride drawn by horses. Ride through a winter wonderland in the back of a sleight, and then stop by a local restaurant for cheese fondue, Chinese fondue, appetizers, salad and more. Or - instead of horses you can enjoy a ride on a sled drawn by Alaskan Huskies and you tour the cougar mountain wilderness. Whether horses or dogs pull the ride is up to you, but either way is a fascinating way to get around.

What if you don't want to go anywhere? There's always the Core, hidden beneath Whistler's streets and walkways. A premier fitness facility, the Core has a huge indoor rock climbing area, weights, fitness sessions, cardio workouts and yoga. Although a lot of the activities are indoors, the Core offers outdoor activities as well, such a rock climbing training and wilderness tours.

Although the above list is short, it gives a good hint of what kinds of things you can do in Whistler besides ski. Keep in mind that it leaves out other activities, such as taking a hummer tour, going horseback riding, enjoying skyline eco-tours, indoor swimming and - let's not forget - shopping.

Even if you don't like to ski, Whistler is a great place to be. It's not just a ski resort; Whistler is a year-round adventure!For your next vacation, book your whistler ski resort vacation at Whistler Retreats. We have whistler condo properties and rentals starting at just $99/night CDN in the Village North. Visit online today.

Return to Index

Whistler BC Wildlife

Whistler, BC Animals in The Wild. They're Out There. Are You Prepared to Meet Them?
By: Joe Mac Millan

Life in the cities bring us into contact with dogs, cats and birds. They live with us and are our friends. We cultivate that living relationship by giving them a nice comfortable place to live and we feed them with every type of food. All they need to do in life is love us.

Life for animals in the wild is a whole other story. These animals must forage for food or starve. It’s that simple. To survive they learn very early in life that they are going to need to find their own. Their parents feed them for a little while then they are taught how to hunt. Once they learn they are on their own. They do not need us to provide food for them. They are wild and independent.

You the visitor should understand this before you leave for your trip to the mountains and valleys surrounding the Whistler corridor.

Wild animals are beautiful and resourceful. They survive in the great outdoors where we would be dead in no time if put in their position.

As you enjoy the outdoor life to be found along the Whistler corridor be aware of the many different species you will see if you will try.

How Whistler got it’s name.

The name Whistler itself comes from the Marmot. These cute little animals live in the mountains surrounding the valley. They emit a sharp little whistle as they communicate with each other. It is their unique language. They are not too afraid of man and will allow you to get quite close to them. Here is a page where you may read all about these pleasant little creatures.

One of the larger Whistler animals you may see is the Black Bear. These clever animals live all over the area. They travel quite far and may be spotted crossing the highway now and then. We have devoted a page on the bears including some pointers should you happen to encounter one and what to do to if you should meet one face to face.

A great many deer live here. These animals generally stick to the forest but occasionally they like to cross the highway. Deer are browsers. That means they will eat a little bit here and a little bit there. They actually feed on over 200 different kinds of bushes and shrubs. By browsing they never do any permanent damage to their menu of greenery.

A very elusive animal is the cougar or mountain lion. These are very seldom seen. They travel long distances in search of their food. They chiefly feed on deer. These animals can be dangerous. Take a look at our page on the cougar here.

The Moose is the largest animal living along the corridor. A full grown male may weigh 1,000 pounds and stand 7 feet at the shoulder. If you have the good luck to see one you will be amazed at how tall and powerful they really are. Click here to read about them.

Natures smaller animals.

The rabbit is the most plentiful of the Whistler animals. They are prolific breeders as they must be as they are hunted by foxes, Coyote’s, Canadian Lynx and Bobcats.

The Canadian beaver makes it’s home where it has a small creek at it’s disposal. They will dam the creek to create their home.

Mink are wonderful little creatures. They live along creeks where food is plentiful for them.

A much larger animal than the mink is the otter. They are amazing fishers and the most playful of all the animals.

Squirrels, chipmunks, voles and mice make up the smaller field of animals abundant in the Whistler corridor. Our Wonderful Feathered Friends

Whistler animals such as Eagles, both Bald and Golden varieties search the valleys and mountains for their food. You will be seeing many of these beautiful birds soaring the thermals effortlessly.

Osprey may be seen hovering over the water like gigantic hummingbirds on steroids as they search for a nice juicy fish supper.

Canada Geese, ducks and loons love the cold waters of the rivers and lakes along the Whistler corridor. These beautiful animals honor us with their presence each year as they come to visit, raise their families and feed in the beautiful quiet surroundings.

Without a doubt, Whistler animals will treat you to amazing displays of action. All you need to do is watch for them wherever you are in the beautiful hills, mountains, valleys and waterways of the spectacular Whistler corridor of British Columbia.

Joe and Irma Mac Millan are owners of http://www.whistler-outdoors.com . Together they have spent many years enjoying every nook and cranny of this British Columbia paradise. Now married for 50 years they bring to you their unique perspective on visiting, knowing and taking part in the many opportunities awaiting those who come. Joe's new book "Your marriage. Keeping it Going Till Death Do You Part" is based upon the premise that a husband must truly love and respect his wife in a great many ways. Only then will the marriage last. Joe says "It's worked for Irma and I. It should work for everyone." The book is FREE when you subscribe to the monthly Whistler-Outdoors Newsletter. Get yours now.

Return to Index

Whistler Mountain or Blackcomb Mountain?

Which has the Better Slopes: Whistler or Blackcomb?
By: Chadwick Lane

Powder days (for experts)

If the weather gods have blessed the day with fresh powder, there is little question that Whistler is the mountain of choice for expert skiers. Two words explain why: Peak Chair. The Peak Chair on Whistler gives access to an immense variety of off-piste runs to cater for all levels of powder skier. (If you are at the very high end, you can head for Air Jordan, a terrifying leap off a cliff which involves a 50 foot descent to a intermediate landing point only 60 foot square, after which you have to take off again and descend another 40 feet to the soft snow below. Fluff your first landing and you are looking at several months in hospital...if you are lucky.) There is no lift on Blackcomb to compare to the powder terrain opened up by the Peak Chair.

Powder days (for the rest of us)

Less accomplished skiers in the powder head for the Blackcomb Glacier on powder days. This is an enormous bowl where you can still find fresh tracks two or three hours after the lift has opened. Whilst the over-ambitious can easily do themselves a lot of damage in the many couloirs and cliffs off the Peak Chair, they can't come to too much harm on the Blackcomb Glacier.

Stormy days

When the weather is stormy and winds of 70km/hour are battering the high alpine, it is likely that the uppermost lifts are closed. Almost certainly the Glacier Chair and Seventh Heaven on Blackcomb will be shut, as well as the T-bars on the Horstmann Glacier. You'll probably find that Crystal Chair is also closed. This leaves most of the interesting terrain in Blackcomb inaccessible. However on Whistler, even if the Peak Chair and the Harmony Chair are closed, you still have the Village gondola (which has the added bonus in a storm of offering a sheltered ride all the way to the top), the Garbanzo Chair, Big Red and the Emerald Express. These lifts will remain open in any conditions that you want to be up on the mountain at all in. Garbanzo in particular gives access to many tree-sheltered runs which can be great in a storm.

Sunny days

Most of both Whistler and Blackcomb is faces north or west, and receives the sun only obliquely. This is one reason why the snow lasts a long time. However, on a cold but sunny day (and most sunny days are cold in the Whistler winter), you want the sun full on to soften up the piste and to keep you warmer as well. At these times you want to be on Seventh Heaven, the only major south-facing slope in Whistler.

Tree skiing

Both Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains are well-covered with trees in the bottom two-thirds of the skiable terrain. However Whistler has the edge in terms of the sheer area of skiable treed terrain. Runs like Club 21 and Sidecut on Whistler are similar to Bark Sandwich on Blackcomb, but the tree runs off the Peak Chair are incomparable.

Lunch days

If you are one of the people for whom ski runs are short intervals between lengthy doses of café cognac, and for whom lunch is the central part of the day, Whistler has little to offer, and you will probably spend more time on Blackcomb. None of the restaurants in Whistler has much atmosphere, whereas Blackcomb has a couple that are passable: Christine's in the Rendezvous and the Crystal Hut.

So each mountain has its supporters, and each mountain is better for certain conditions and certain types of skier. Just make sure you try them both when you come.

Learn about dwarf banana tree and growing orange trees at the Types Of Trees site.

Return to Index

Best Location In Whistler

What Is The Best Location In Whistler?
By: Henry Schlee

Village

Upper Village

Blueberry Hill

Taluswood

Whistler Creekside

The bottom line, if you don’t know the resort well, is to take advice from an expert. Try Holiday Whistler where you will get not only a great choice of Whistler accommodation, but also an unvarnished and knowledgeable perspective on the advantages and disadvantages of each location.

Henry Schlee is a regular skier in Whistler and always consults the experts at Holiday Whistler for advice on great Whistler rental accommodation.

Return to Index

Wedgemount Lake near Whistler, BC

Wedgemount Lake near Whistler, BC. You had better be in good condition.
By: Joe Mac Millan

Trail access

Turn right off Hwy 99, 13 km north of Whistler. You must cross the BC Rail train track to access the road. Use must use extreme caution as this is an uncontrolled railway crossing. The parking lot is located 2 km from Hwy 99 along a deactivated Forest Service road. This road is recommended for 4x4 vehicles only. If you are in an auto you should park near the highway and walk in.

There are no garbage facilities on this trail, so always pack out what you pack in!

There is a small, basic hut which can sleep 6 people. Camping is permitted at designated campsites on the ridge near the hut and at Wedgemount Lake near the inlet from the Armchair Glacier. There are 10 camping platforms at each location with overflow camping available on the delta near the lake sites. A year-round pit toilet is located near the hut and another is set up near the lake sites for the summer season. No other amenities are provided.

Irma and I were camping at Duffy Lake one week in July. The forecast was perfect for the next day so, rising early we enjoyed a hearty breakfast and were under way. In less than an hour we were parked (yes the road in from highway 99 was rough) and on the trail.

The trail is heavily forested and in good shape. Plenty of birds greeted us as we made our way along a not too steep trail. Before long we could hear the sound of running water and soon arrived at a very narrow wood foot bridge to cross Wedgemount Creek. After that harrowing experience we soon were into some serious elevation gain. The creek was far down into the canyon so we were happy we had carried water with us.

We came to a beautiful meadow with colorful wild flowers strutting their full colors to the rest of the world. Irma loved the aroma. Not far ahead we came across boulder fields. Off in the distance we could occasionally catch a glimpse of the falls but we would leave that for serious climbers. Shortly we emerged into another nice meadow and after crossing a creek the trail gods decided to get this climb into serious climbing. So steep we needed to switchback a couple of times before emerging into the open with an amazing vista of mountains, glaciers and down below, the emerald green waters of Wedgemount Lake.

The hut was off in the distance and we met up with two couples who had stayed the night. We could see three other tents down at the lake. We quickly made some tea and had a great lunch. As is the norm in these remote sites, the Canada Jays (Whisky Jacks) soon came up for their part of the lunch, trustingly eating crumbs from our open hands. We enjoyed the company of the other couples but decided against hiking down to the lake and around to the other end to view the glacier up close. We were satisfied to just take it all in from up high.

After about an hour and a half we parted company and headed home. The trail can be wet at times and of course that means slippery so you must be careful on the rocky areas. Reaching the crossing we had our last tea and lunch and arrived back at our van just eight hours after setting out. Wedgemount Lake is a good hike, not as tough as you may think, but a good workout never the less. The views are the greatest rewards for getting off the couch.

Joe and Irma Mac Millan have enjoyed the Whistler Mountain and valley area of British Columbia for many years. They have camped, hiked and skied the mountains and fished and kayaked the rivers and lakes. Their website One couples guide to the exciting Whistler-outdoors is a must for anyone considering a trip to Whistler as well as the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. They invite one and all to take a look.

Return to Index