Navigating Whistler Blackcomb During The Winter

Ever since the Winter Olympics were held at Whistler Blackcomb, it was on my list of places to visit, in particular to ski there. It was beyond a dream to make it to Whistler twice within three years. Growing up in Pennsylvania and learning to ski on its mountains, one could say that I'm easily impressed with any mountain that takes longer to descend than 2 minutes and isn't coated in a sheet of ice. So while the weather can be a little temperamental at Whistler Blackcomb, I was able to find awesome pockets of powder and incredible skiing, despite an inversion and rain on my visits.

Whistler is a very unassuming mountain. When my friend and I first arrived in the village and caught views of the mountain for the first time, what we could see wasn't super impressive. What you don't realize is that the mountain stretches far beyond your sight-line from the village. One of things I like most about Whistler is the distinct conditions and terrains you can experience on the different elevations, even though Whistler Blackcomb is not very high (with the highest point being at 7.494 feet on Blackcomb).

View of Whistler Mountain from Whistler Village... remember there is more mountain that you just can't see from this vantage point!

During both visits, I stayed in Whistler Village and booked a package deal through the central reservations line. I found this to be the most convenient and still felt like I was getting a good deal. Taking a bus service directly to your hotel from Vancouver makes getting to Whistler so easy, and once in Whistler Village there is no need to go anywhere else. Grocery stores, restaurants, gear shops, and anything else you might need are within walking distance. Hosting the Winter Olympics brought more than just attention to this mountain, improved access, lodging, and amenities were also part of hosting.

Head out early to the slopes, because you can get the best conditions. Generally, it seems that a majority of the skiers wait until mid-morning to make their way to the slopes, so it's nice to be up high before the crowds at the bottom. I recommend at least once getting up early for a Fresh Tracks breakfast. Only the first 650 people have access to the breakfast, so if there is new powder get in line early! The breakfast is amazing and will keep you fueled for hours. Watch for when the lifts open to higher elevations, these don't open when the breakfast bell sounds, just mid-mountain lifts are open.

Our morning view while partaking in the Fresh Tracks breakfast... top 5 ways to start a day!

After Fresh Tracks the one morning we headed to Symphony as soon as the area was open and found awesome powder had been deposited through the night. We spent the morning riding in the bowl, until we had to head to the lodge for a break. Turns out the area was closed soon after we exited because of low visibility and high winds at the top. Sometimes getting an early jump on the day pays off!

Having visited Whistler twice now, I would not hesitate returning. There is still more to explore, and conditions can change the experience from one visit to another. I loved using the Whistler app to track my runs and get up-to-the-minute stats on open runs and lift information. Whistler is big, so concentrating on an area can help to make efficient use of the slopes and avoid spending lots of time in transit. One thing to keep in mind is where you want to end up when the lifts start closing at the end of the day.

My friend ventured out on her own, after I decided to save my legs for evening tubing activities, and she forgot to look at the map before heading down the mountain. Time ticked on, and she passed closed lifts and was directed to the only way down the mountain, only to learn she was in Creekside. It was a good thing she had a few bucks on her, because the only way back to the village was by bus! A good 15-minute ride by bus back to Whistler Village. If you ski on down Blackcomb, getting to the village will also require a walk or free shuttle service. It's a big resort for a reason!

Whistler and Blackcomb will not disappoint!

The beauty of Whistler Blackcomb!