{"id":3714,"date":"2024-05-03T10:01:49","date_gmt":"2024-05-03T00:01:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gypsyskitravels.com\/?page_id=3714"},"modified":"2024-05-10T18:12:38","modified_gmt":"2024-05-10T08:12:38","slug":"solo-to-whistler-blackcomb-2024","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/gypsyskitravels.com\/index.php\/solo-to-whistler-blackcomb-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"solo to Whistler Blackcomb. 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

After missing the last bus, a \u201cWhistler Connection\u201d hostess offered me a seat on their 7 pm shuttle to Creek Side. It\u2019s a comfortable two-and-a-half-hour trip and with my large ski bag and backpack, I connected with the #20 village bus to the former Olympic Games Athletes Village.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHi WHISTLER\u201d is a great place for solo travellers, with gender-specific floors, solid and cosy bunks, large lockers and each adjoining room sharing immaculate bathrooms. On the ground floor there are friendly receptionists, a large and warm ski-board-bike storage room and a Breakfast Cafe serving good value paninis, coffees and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Hi Whistler!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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the village bus stop<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The regular Village Bus stops out front and at Creek Side, before arriving in the heart of Whistler Village. All booted up it’s easy, or lux lockers are available in the Customer Service Centre if socialising \u201cApres\u201d in the \u2018faux\u2019 Folie Douce bars on the plaza.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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ready for apres.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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a plaza scrum?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Being a Super Senior and a PSIA. Instructor-trainer-coach of 29 years, my substantially discounted season pass was waiting with the Vail Resorts Customer Service Supervisor and a welcoming chat. As it was my first visit to Whistler Blackcomb…ever. It is just one of those things, having had 2 previous ski trips to Canada and all those Powder Highway \u201cMust Do\u2019s\u201d under my belt. But never Whistler?
I was not disappointed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prior to my arrival Whistler Backcomb had received 3 feet of snow and although now, in early March today\u2019s fresh snow was crisp, un-tracked and waiting under clear blue skies. Hallelujah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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a world-class mountain.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Round House Lodge.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Chris my ski buddy from Wanaka had arrived earlier and after the usual salutations, we jumped in the Village Gondola to the Round House Lodge and over to the very clever Ski Demo Lab. With a $20 daily charge and as many choices as one can evaluate in a day, it works well and the ski and board mechanics were very accommodating and thoroughly professional.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two runs down the Emerald Express slopes satisfied our early morning demo enthusiasm but did not prepare us for a hilarious and free Whistler Host Tour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The upper-level group starting with 5 skiers and 3 snowboarders and a partially injured host on a board and with a broken binding?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And his first choice was up the steepish T Bar-Run, eliminating the 3 snowboarders!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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guide de-jour.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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boomer bowl exit.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Regrouped but still unbalanced (one skier was not comfortable in the fresh \u2018Canadian Powder\u2019) our leader then bumbled his traverse choices and speeds, annoying the German couple who were continually passing him.
Eventually, we made it over to the Symphony Express Chair and stole the freshies down The Glades and Boomer Bowl before riding up to Little Whistler Peak.
Finally, braking away from the fiasco (politely) for lunch in the busy Round House with delicious soups and toasty buns satisfying our needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whistler-Blackcomb Mountain(s) are HUGE and have endless and interesting terrain to satisfy everyone, and on this Bluebird day, the lift waits were manageable. Staying low (between the Round House and Olympic Station) worked, giving us untracked fresh snow. On the sides of the trails and challenging bump lines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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whose tracks?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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looking towards Blackcomb.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Day done, we visited EVO Village Sports the \u201cGo Too\u201d boot fitters in Whistler.
Barry Allison is the Guru and recently fitted Chris with new boots and custom liners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On day two our cabin on the Peak to Peak Gondola provided a magnificent view and the glass floor giving a unique \u2018down-gaze\u2019 as we glided over to the Rendezvous centre on Blackcomb Mountain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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peak to peak.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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the calm befor the…steeps!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Initially, the Crystal Ridge Express provided fast n\u2019 grippy groomers, wild cut moguls and slinky glade skiing, before moving down to the more relaxing options off the Excelerator chair.
CRYSTAL HUT is world-famous for Gourmet Waffles with dollops of fresh cream!
It\u2019s a \u201cMust Do\u201d when skiing Blackcomb Mountain and indulging on the balcony was very social, and yummo. Thanks Chris.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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waffle heaven.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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it’s a long way home.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The higher Glacier Express Chair providing the more testing open bowls and steep groomed trails down to Jersey Cream or the rhythmic slopes under the Blackcomb Gondola.
NOTE: It’s a long descent from Christine\u2019s Rendezvous to Whistler Village Plaza and best done before your focus blurs and you miss the well-placed Rest stops and Slow zones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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the high glacier.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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it’s a long way down to the plaza.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Up early and with another round of \u2018winter weather\u2019 forecasted our focus was to ski the Peak to Creek run. (11 ks). After a warm-up and with enthusiasm bubbling I then said NO… as clouds had gathered above Whistler Bowl and the Upper Creek slopes were looking merky-as?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The best compromise being from the top of the T Bar, under the Big Red Chair and finishing on the Dave Murray Downhill slope at Creek Side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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luxe creek side.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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dos amigos.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

After a snacky bite and cappuccino at the cute Chic Pea Lodge, we braved the Olympic Downhill Course at tourist speeds and finished the day under the Fitzsimmons 8 pack… then went Shopping and checked out the hip \u201cPangea\u201d POD HOTEL.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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chic pea lodge.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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pod hotel.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

My last two days were in fierce winds, fridged snow showers and rain on the base plaza. With hoods up and goggle lenses often freezing, we skied yesterday’s choices on the protected \u2018pow\u2019 runs down to Raven\u2019s Nest and Creek Side.
With all the upper slopes closed the Round House was choca-block all day (and the schnaps in our soups before the Poutini) kept us going.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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day done!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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creek side base.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

On Saturday half of Vancouver arrived to tussle with the storm and limited lifts, and I teamed up with my roommate Davin, a semi-pro Boarder from Seattle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After walking past the tail of the Gondola queue (about 4 blocks long) we joined the chairlifts plaza scrum and waited in the rain for an hour. It was chilly and uncomfortable… even with hood, neck-gater, and goggles covering everything.
I got soaked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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queue on the plaza.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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the weekend crowd.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Running the Emerald Express all day was tolerable and \u2018fun-ish\u2019, as the vizz was OK and the wind-blown powder had filled in the moguls near the trees. Davin was a great partner, being very strong and rode his board fast and aggressively. As the day unfolded and the temperatures dropped so did the lift lines shrink. My jacket froze stiff on the chair, with my puffer keeping me toastie, and with only a few \u2018hardcore\u2019 in the Round House Lodge, our hearty late lunch grills were comforting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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still having fun.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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last run at Whistler.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

With a \u201cheads Up\u201d about exiting Whistler in a storm I left early on Sunday (planes don\u2019t wait) giving me time to ponder the HYPE of Whistler Blackcomb Mountains. It\u2019s a Great Duo. Blackcomb is steeper and has more Out of Bounds exits but they both offer endless challenging and learner zones with Whistler being more intermediate-friendly?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bug is the Maritime Weather, damp pow and a low elevation (7160 ft.) max.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Would I go Back? YES. I will return to ski the Blackcomb glacier and other signature slopes on both mountains (a minimum of 2 weeks). It is expensive but considering all the facilities and the friendly attitude of staff, guests and the location… it\u2019s a global \u201cMust Do\u201d for every snow sports lover.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

See you there…<\/p>\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Murray Sandman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gypsyskitravels.com<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

After missing the last bus, a \u201cWhistler Connection\u201d hostess offered me a seat on their 7 pm shuttle to Creek Side. It\u2019s a comfortable two-and-a-half-hour trip and with my large ski bag and backpack, I connected with the #20 village bus to the former Olympic Games Athletes Village. \u201cHi WHISTLER\u201d is a great place for […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-3714","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gypsyskitravels.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3714","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gypsyskitravels.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gypsyskitravels.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gypsyskitravels.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gypsyskitravels.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3714"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"https:\/\/gypsyskitravels.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3714\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3778,"href":"https:\/\/gypsyskitravels.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3714\/revisions\/3778"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gypsyskitravels.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3714"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}