To Will from UK and everyone
I arrived in Whistler yesterday to 50+cm of fresh powder and it hasn't stopped snowing since. This morning was far and away the best skiing I have experienced anywhere (Chamonix, St Anton included). Whistler is amazing.
Mick
I am amazed every time I come to Whistler. The mountain is immensely explorable and it the views usually spectacular. I love skiing above the clouds and Whistler is a place where that happens a lot.
We find accommodations expensive, but not more than any other base area villages we have been to. We stay in Pemberton or Squamish 30 -50 minutes away and enjoy the drive up after a coffee.
This morning they had 55cm fresh Pow! And who can not like that!
WILL from UK - Oh you've never been how nice of you to give a great judgement!!
The snowpack is Bomber stable due to the moisture. We are having dumps now and the snow is perfect, so much terrain even when busy and with weekend warriors you can find fresh lines every time when you know where to go.
Cliffs , chutes, drops, trees and bowls were so good today. But hey you know best right.... so please stay on icy the east coast !!
I have never been to Whistler but I hear it is generally not very good as it is too close to the sea. The precipitation is mixed with moisture so often it falls as rain! and in my opinion there is much better skiing in North America like Aspen, Big White and maybe even in the east like Whiteface in New York state.
Whistler:
Ski trips are expensive periods. Whistler is only slightly more than other BC destinations (which don't really touch Whistler's terrain, nightlife or lift accessed ski touring), and prices are comparable to some US and top resorts in Europe.
The wet weather at times can be a drag, but the rewards are well worth it. Rarely are there rocks to hit, green forests, new snow all the time and a stable snowpack for skiing steep lines.
More than 75% of the Whistler working population lives in the community, only 25% commute. Whistler has the best quality resident housing program in North America hands down. 10,550 folks live in Whistler year 'round and 1,000 of them are kids in primary and secondary school.
Additionally, the ski resort Whistler/Blackcomb only owns the ski area, the village was planned by the local government to create a safe pedestrian oriented space. Yup, I can walk a km in the village without having to worry about my kid being run down by a car. More than 90% of the commercial spaces are not owned by the ski resort.
Went there in '87 when I was 13. Lived there since 1994.
My wife is Canadian so she's going to kill me for this...but Whistler is not really worth it. The two things for me that kill the place are the village and the low village base. At village level there's always a high chance of rain. I've never been boarding at a resort where there are rain storms at base - ruins the vibe. The village itself has no soul and I'm not an alternative kind of guy that likes to live in the woods with no running water...but when your village resembles an outlet mall (with outlet mall brands) there's something wrong. There's no character whatsoever at Whistler.
The mountain itself, in terms of terrain, is awesome. But the snow is heavy and slushy lower down. Up towards the top it can be a bit icy in places.
A couple more minor gripes, and not really a shock for North Americans, is tipping and crazy tax levels at restaurants. I work in Shanghai and ride in Niseko, Hokkaido every year where the food is fantastic and affordable. Sure the terrain is not as breathtaking as Whistler but throw in the atmosphere of a real village, real hot springs and real good seafood for reasonable prices and there's no comparison. Oh and the snow is dry...powder on tap.
I really wanted to like Whistler but the rain, the prices, and lack of any character ensures I won't be back.
Whistler is great but expensive. If you want a true ski (and I mean ski resort) you need to go to Kicking Horse in Golden BC. Best snow and terrain bar none.
Ski bummed a lot of the world. Whistler is the best resort in N America, hands down. You want the best, you pay for the best. Yes weekends, American long weekends, and Christmas times are busy. Might rain and get a few heavy dumps to cake to the rocks and make a great base. Better than cold powder that blows away and leaves you, rocks everywhere year round. The other 145 pow days are great! My favorite place year round. Too bad we have to go to the Island for surfing. I guess you can't have it all. Sounds like it sux to be a tourist here though from the responses. Spread the word please, Whistler is awful don't go there. Grouse, Park City, Big White are awesome!
Whistler is absolutely the complete resort. It's pricey, yes, and not intended for the limited-budget visitor. Of course, the drop in the value of the dollar against the loonie has affected the cost of a vacation for Americans, but that's a problem anywhere we go nowadays. What you get for your money is phenomenal: two huge mountains and a great village. World-class dining and plenty of shops. The Olympics probably drove the prices up and most likely will increase the crowds too, but my family is going again for Christmas this year anyway. It's our hands-down family choice. This is our fourth trip in five years, and we only stayed away last year because of the Olympics.
Cement for snow, quite often rain, some of the highest priced lift tickets in the world, the ambience and charm of a used car lot? There is much better value to be found somewhere else.