Welcome to Whistler-Blackcomb Ski Review!
In
the chilly reaches of alpine country, just two hours north of Vancouver, British
Columbia, sits one of the hottest ski destinations in the world.
Whistler-Blackcomb in beautiful Canada has two mountains to be reckoned with. And it's easy to get to. Just book a flight to Vancouver. Then drive two hours north on Sea to Sky Highway where you'll arrive in beautiful Whistler Valley. Heading up from Seattle it's about a 4 and-a-half to 5-hour drive.
Once in Whistler, getting around is easy. Whistler and Valley Express (WAVE) provides free shuttle services in the main and upper villages. After you arrive, visit the big new Whistler Visitor Information Centre loaded with friendly and helpful service reps, maps of the town, activities, and much more.
Though Whistler has become the fastest-growing municipality in BC, the surrounding valley in all its beauty remains unchanged. A group of tiny lakes mirror the mountains rising high above, including Alta Lake that divides the Sea to Sky corridor.
Whether you're in Whistler-Blackcomb during winter or summer you'll never be at a loss for things to do. Take a break from a hardy day on the ski slopes or the golf course and watch a world class series from the sidelines, take in a rally, show or tour, or jump in on a demo. Hungry? Choose from among a variety of eateries and walk away content. From Asian cuisine to bistro to barbeque pub, and with dozens of unusual gift stores, you can shop and dine out virtually every day of your stay and still find more to explore at Whistler Village in Blackcomb, British Columbia.
History
It's only in the last 30 years that Whistler-Blackcomb has gone from a sparsely populated town containing only a few homesteads to mimicking a Swiss alpine village visited the world over. It's history dates to early European settlers from the mid 1800s. Originally called London Mountain by British naval officers, Whistler was so-named after a shrill whistling sound made by the western hoary marmots that lived among the rocks.
For thousands of years the nomadic Coast Salish First Nations people lived in and around Whistler, once an isolated wilderness visited only by the Lil'wat Nation from Mount Currie and the Squamish Nation from area near North Vancouver.
Some fast facts
With a base elevation of 2,140 feet, the town of Whistler is populated by about 6,000 year-round residents. The average winter temperature is about 25 degrees F., around 70 degrees F. in the summer. On average, a whopping 30 feet of natural snow is dumped on Whistler-Blackcomb's 8000 or so acres of mountain ski terrain a year! The area is most visited in August, having topped 25,000 travelers in 2004. The least traveled time of the year is January, with a modest 9,690 visitors. The town is most frequently visited by Europeans, Asians, Australians and Canadians.
For more information about Whistler-Blackcomb contact the Whistler Chamber of Commerce at: 1-604-932-5922 ext. 17 or log on to: www.whislterchamberofcommerce.com.
Go to www.ski.com to book your ski vacation at Whistler, Blackcomb today!
Snowmass is the next review in a series by Bob the ski bum.
