Is this an okay time to be going skiing at whistler/blackcomb?
will there be enough snow?
lots of crowds?
thanks
oh and.. iheard that there is like an 11km run…is this for intermindate skiers?
Hi, early January will be fine for snow cover however you will be sharing the mountain with the rest of the world as the olympics are on in February. The 11 km run is the home trail which is a green trail (easy)
it is for intermediate skiers, it’s kind of scary getting there though for an intermediate, you have to ski by some cliffs. But it’s just a Blue glacier.
there will definitely be enough snow, but Whistler weather swings wildly. Some years there isn’t even snow at the base of the mountain. But it’s so tall you won’t even spend time down there.
References :
was at Whistler last January
I have never been to whistler, but just about everyone I know has, and most my friends have timeshares up there. January should be fine, but you never know. I have no doubt they will be open, but in late december ’08 I was at baker and a bunch of people I knew were at whistler and told me they barely had a base up there. But then again, few places actually did. Your biggest concern should be the number of people up there, the pre & post christmas season are extremely busy up there. Also know that a month after you leave, the 2010 winter olympics are gonna throw down, so there will be TONS of people there preparing anyhow. Serously, hotels are springing up in WA, if you haven’t already made reservations, make them now..
References :
13 years of skiing
It depends on the weather, it can be cold that time of year, but good powder, it can also be thin cover at times. I was there about 10 years ago and mid January was so cold the hot tub had ice on the deck. Great powder but very slow snow because it was cold. Next February is the winter Olympics so there should be lots of people there early on. School is in session about then so the college crowd is smaller than other times.
Yes there is one very long run, from the top of Whistler peak to the bottom of one chair. It starts with a wonderful view of the Tusk, goes along a cat track to an open slope with a well groomed medium pitch to it that invites some speed just for the thrills, it continues along another cat track through some glades and near some more challenging chutes, as you near the end, keep your speed up or you end up skating across the flats. Burnt Stew Basin is about a 15-20 minute run if you are pushing the time. If you slow down, the dinner is ruined. Over at Blackcomb there is a run from the top across a tarn that is more challenging at the approach and there you do need all of the speed you can get to not have to skate across it.
Take the guided tour at Whistler and never ski alone on that mountain, carry a plastic whistle near your mouth just in case. This is a great resort come enjoy it.
References :
50+ years skiing.
Hi, early January will be fine for snow cover however you will be sharing the mountain with the rest of the world as the olympics are on in February. The 11 km run is the home trail which is a green trail (easy)
References :
Regular @ whistler