Whistler: Size Does Matter
Written: Feb 03 '00 (Updated Feb 03 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Terrain, Fast Lifts, Exchange Rate
Cons: Climate, Crowding
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| __Chris__'s Full Review: Whistler-Blackcomb |
Whistler is one of the best ski destinations on the planet - huge mountains, lots of high-speed lifts, ample snow, a real base village, glacier skiing. The possibilities are endless. It simply dwarfs all US mountains except for maybe Vail or Mammoth.
Advantages
Terrain
Terrain junkies take note: you can find it all here – moguls, groomers, open bowls, glaciers, glades, chutes, cornices and cliffs. Intermediates will find plenty of tree-lined runs, groomed swaths through bowls, sunny south-facing slopes and some easy runs to learn powder techniques. Experts – nirvana says it all. Beginners come up short at Whistler. Most teaching slopes are located in the rain belt on Whistler and too many are simply glorified catwalks on the upper mountain.
Lifts
The best lift system in North America. Three gondolas and twelve high-speed quads combined with a few slow chairs and surface lifts get you everywhere you need to go and FAST. Whistler could not really be developed before high-speed lifts because the mountain is so vast.
Village
The village is pedestrian friendly: no cars allowed on the main malls, good restaurants, bars and nice shops. Also, there are a lot of convenient accommodations within walking distance of the lifts. However, the village is not as interesting or fun as Western mining towns like Breckenridge, Park City or Telluride.
Exchange Rate
Right now the exchange rate works in the favor of Americans traveling to Whistler – everything is about 30% less than the published Canadian prices. However, Canada has much higher taxes than the United States which you must pay and then go through paper work to get back. They almost eliminate the discount.
Problems
Climate
Whistler’s location in the Coast Mountains of British Columbia works for and against it. With a base elevation of 2000 feet and the coast only 30 miles away, Whistler is prone to rain on its lower slopes. This means that 2000 of the that 5000 vertical feet can be a little soggy during some storms. There is a good reason why every lift out Whistler’s villages is either an enclosed high-speed quad or a gondola. Sometimes first-time visitors assume the entire mountain is getting rain and do not bother to ski that day when it can be dumping higher up. Also, Whistler does not get many of the crystal clear sunny days between storms. Often fog layers form and roll up the valley to Whistler. This is not Colorado skiing.
Crowds
Whistler does have some crowding issues. The worst liftlines occur in the mid-morning when everyone id making their way up the mountain for the day. After that the crowds can often spread out. However, certain lifts always attract healthy numbers like the Harmony Express on Whistler or Seventh Heaven on Blackcomb. The real problem with crowds at Whistler is not the liftlines but the sheer volume of skiers delivered to certain trails by the high-speed lifts. The result is that the grooming gets destroyed VERY early at Whistler. If there has not been fresh snow in a few days the intermediate runs can get scraped down to ice by noon. Also, making your way down the mountain at the end of the day can be an uncomfortable experience with too many skiers on the exit trails.
Overall, Whistler is an amazing place. Its greatest asset is its size. However, if you are fair weather skier, one that enjoys sunshine, Whistler is not for you.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
__Chris__
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Reviews written: 13
Trusted by: 19 members
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