Whistler British Columbia

Whistler’s secret is its steep, high mountain, coastal location amidst rain forest.

The constant heavy snowfalls often slightly thaw, then refreeze, each new layer of snow gripping tightly.

Expert skiers and snowboarders careen down fabulously steep, deep snow slopes not possible at most ski mountains on earth.

The Whistler area was chosen and created because of its exceptional and reliable heavy snowfall down the longest and steepest ski runs in North America, its superb natural beauty and its nearness to a major city- Vancouver.

If you haven’t been to Whistler in recent years, or if you have never been to Whistler, you will be amazed to find a sophisticated European-style Alpine Village of Grand Hotels, quaint shops, Pubs and elegant Chateau’s in the valley floor between two now-renowned ski mountains, Whistler and Blackcomb.

Created only since the 1960’s, Whistler was named for both the whistling sounds through the trees of the Pacific winds passing over Fitzsimmons Pass between Blackcomb and Whistler Mountains, and the whistling sounds made by the chattering local hoary marmots, a small high-forest mammal.

All levels of ski and winter activities are available around Whistler-Blackcomb: from expert to novice. Many family events and places are about, and Whistler resonates with voices from around the world.

You may find yourself in a local Pub between tourists with accents German and Japanese, American or Australian.

Things to do, places to be seen.

Whistler is a vibrant, young, energetic growing community. High season for skiing is Nov-April, although you can usually ski year round at Blackcomb.  In late spring and summer there is a great variety of alpine trails, mountain biking, fishing, canoeing or kayaking, river rafting, horseback riding, windsurfing or golf.

How to get there

• By Car

Whistler is only 87 km north of Vancouver, but to reach it you enter a wondrous world. Leaving Vancouver you drive through Stanley Park over the Lions Gate Bridge and along the Upper Levels Highway- pull over at view-points- with magnificent views over Vancouver and the nearby Gulf Islands.

Continue past Horseshoe Bay and drive north along the spectacular Sea to Ski Highway #99 up the majestic fjord called Howe Sound. Here towering mountains plunge almost vertically into the sea; the highway hangs precariously. You are in rain forest here- winter rains may cause wash-outs on the road, the area is patrolled and monitored constantly.

Past the ocean village of Squamish the road climbs steadily up into the Coast Mountains. On sunny days the views are breathtaking: the air shines blue, the forest is multi-shades of dark green, the lakes emerald green. Rainy or overcast days all is shades of gray and blue.

Public transport is available to Whistler from Vancouver.

• By coach call Maverick Coach Lines at tel. (604) 255-1171 in Vancouver, (604) 898-3914 in Squamish, or (604) 932-3638 in Whistler Village.

• By train call BC Rail at (604) 987-5211 in Vancouver, 984-5246 in North Vancouver. Between mid-May and the end of Sept., a wonderful adventure is the Royal Hudson Steam Train Society in Vancouver at 689-9222; or take the grand vessel MV Brittania to Squamish and return. Call Harbour Ferries in Vancouver at 687-9558.

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