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Flute Bowls Area

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The Flute Bowls Area on the Eastern edge of Whistler.  Source: Openskimap.org.

The Flute Bowl area is a large, off-piste area to the Southeast of the Symphony Express Chairlift Area. This area provides amazing side-country skiing opportunities that are still within the  boundaries of the Whistler Blackcomb Resort.  

 

Access to the Flute Bowl area is via the Symphony Express Chairlift.  From the top of the chairlift, you can ski over to the side of the Flute Bowl area and then hike or ‘skin up’ to Flute Summit and Encore Ridge. To get to the path up to the summit, ski to the right from Jeff’s Ode to Joy (Blue) in the direction of Rhapsody Bowl (Black). Instead of turning left down to Rhapsody Bowl, continue to the base of the uphill path, which is clearly visible on the right slope (looking uphill) of Flute Summit. The boot hike up this path takes about 15-20 minutes.  The Flute Bowls Area contains 3 distinct alpine bowls:

 

Notes: If visibility is poor and you cannot clearly see the uphill path from Jeff’s Ode to Joy, save the Flute Bowl for another day.  The entire area is open alpine with little to no defining features, making it extremely challenging when visibility is poor. The cornices around the edge of Flute Bowl are large and potentially dangerous. Approach with caution and look for routes already skied by others.  The area below the cornice is often littered with avalanche debris from Whistler Blackcomb Ski Patrol blasting, so ski with caution.

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Skill Level
  • Although the Flute Bowl is still within the resort boundaries and is patrolled by the Whistler Blackcomb Ski Patrol, this is an expert level, near-backcountry skiing zone.

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Maps

 

Gondolas/Lifts
  • Symphony Express Chairlift: This is the high-speed, four-person chairlift that you need to take to access the Flute Bowl area. If you have touring skis and skins, you can also ‘skin’ from Burnt Stew Trail (Green) up and over towards the Flute Bowl area.

 

Lodges/Huts
  • There are no lodges or huts in the Flute Bowl, but there are washrooms at the bottom of the Symphony Express Chairlift.

 

Main Routes
  • Flute Main Bowl: The Flute Main Bowl is the first of the three Flute Bowls. It is a Double-Black area with steep entrances over a cornice and exits down into Rhapsody Bowl (Black).  All of the Flute Bowl runs/routes are equally challenging and present viable routes down into Rhapsody Bowl.

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

Flute Bowls seen from the Harmony area of Whistler

Looking East from the Harmony area over to the Flute Bowls on Whistler. 

Source: Nick Jones

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© 2024/25 Nicholas William Jones. All Rights Reserved.

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