As anyone who had a TV during the last Winter Olympics knows, Whistler can hold its own amongst the world's best ski areas. But there are more ways to see the mountains than just zooming down them in a snow suit. Here are four ways to get a whole new perspective.
Golf Cart
The valley floor slumbers under dramatic snowy mountain peaks, emerging fresh and ready for play in the summer. Whistler's four signature golf courses welcome players of all levels, offering a more relaxed—though no less challenging—test of athletic skills. "Stay + Play" are golf packages offered through many local accommodations.
Continue reading "Four New Ways to See Whistler" »
With over 200 runs spread across two mountains, a virtually unanimous ranking as the best all-around skiing destination in North America, and praise from skiers of every level—from beginners to double-black-diamond experts—it's hard to trump British Columbia's Whistler/Blackcomb resort. The ambitious, however, should focus on an airborne assault of this alpine region. Canada is the North American forerunner in heli-ski facilities, and the Whistler/Blackcomb region is certainly at the top of its game. Helicopters whisk strong intermediate and expert skiers up into the surrounding Rocky Mountains for the endless untracked powder. The average run is 2,000 vertical feet, but can vary from 1,400 to 5,000 vertical feet.
Whistler Heli-skiing Ltd. has operated in the area for 20 years. The company operates two helicopters, one mainly for veteran heli-skiers or private parties, another for intermediate to advanced skiers and novice heli-skiers. Coast Range Heli-skiing also operates in the Whistler-Pemberton region, 25 minutes north of Whistler Ski Resort on Highway 99. If you can handle a blue (intermediate) run on the resort (you can cut parallel turns as a skier and handle deep powder as a snowboarder), you’re golden—your skills are strong enough for a heli-ski expedition.
Continue reading "Rising to the Top: Heli-Ski Whistler/Blackcomb" »
