Catskinner Express Chairlift Area

The Catskinner Express Chairlift is located between the Blackcomb Upper Frontside and the 7th Heaven Express Chairlift areas.  The Catskinner area includes Green, Blue, and some Black runs and glades, including the Catskinner (Black) run that shares its name with the chairlift.  This area is also home to the Blackcomb Magic Castle, a castle-like structure with slides for younger kids.

 

This area is popular with a range of skiers and snowboarders.  It is heavily used by the ski school for youth and beginner lessons given the Green runs in this area.  Freestyle skiers and snowboarders who want to ski the Blackcomb Terrain Park also use the Catskinner Express Chairlift.  Finally, freeride skiers looking for challenging glade runs will often explore the Black glades in this area.

 

The Catskinner run and chairlift get their name from the snow-cat and caterpillar tractor operators who were nicknamed ‘cat skinners’.  Before the Blackcomb Gondola (and previous chairlifts that serviced this area) were installed, the Catskinner Express Chairlift was the highest chairlift on Blackcomb.

​

Skill Level

• This area is heavily used by the ski school for youth and beginner lessons given the Green runs in this area. 

• Freestyle skiers and snowboarders who want to ski the Blackcomb Terrain Park also use the Catskinner Express Chairlift. 

• Finally, freeride skiers looking for challenging glade runs will often explore the Black glades in this area.

 

Maps

• Whistler Blackcomb Winter Trail Map: https://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/-/aemasset/sitecore/whistler-blackcomb/maps/20231004_WB_Winter_TrailMapFull_001.pdf

• OpenSkiMap: https://openskimap.org/#15.01/50.09421/-122.90642/58.4

 

Gondolas/Lifts

• Catskinner Express Chairlift: This is the short, four-person chair that runs from the bottom of the Blackcomb Terrain Park up to the Rendezvous Lodge area.

 

Lodges/Huts

• Rendezvous Lodge: Rendezvous Lodge is the lodge near the top of the Catskinner Express Chairlift.  On the main level, it offers a cafeteria with a range of food and drink options, a coffee shop, and plenty of seating with great views of the surrounding mountains.  There is also a small outdoor patio on the main level as well as Christine’s-on-Blackcomb (a sit-down restaurant—reservations recommended).  The lower level includes a small shop, washrooms, and a lower sitting area normally reserved for ski school Participants.

 

Main Routes

• Expressway – Easy Out: This is the main Green route in this area. Expressway starts near the top of the Catskinner Express Chairlift and runs down to Easy Out, which then goes down to the the bottom of the Catskinner chairlift.

​

For more specific details about this area (and other areas) on Whistler Blackcomb check out my Whistler Blackcomb Guidebook ...