Garbanzo Express Chairlift Area

The Garbanzo Express Chairlift is located above the Olympic Mid Station area and to the side of the Emerald Express Chairlift Area on the front side of Whistler. This chairlift runs from the Olympic Mid Station area and the top of Fitzsimmons Chairlift up to just above the Chic Pea Hut area.

 

From the top of the Garbanzo Express Chairlift you can:

• Ski down to Chic Pea Hut

• Access runs that go down to the bottom of the Emerald Express Chairlift and/or continue down to the Garbanzo Express Chairlift base or the Whistler Village base

• Access runs down to the Big Red Express Chairlift base and/or continues down to the Creekside base

 

Skill Level

• The Garbanzo area offers a good combination of Green, Blue, and Black runs for all levels of skiers and snowboarders. 

 

Maps

• Whistler Blackcomb Trail Map: https://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/the-mountain/about-the-mountain/trail-maps.aspx

• OpenSkiMap: https://openskimap.org/#14.09/50.08815/-122.95148/-178.4

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Gondolas/Lifts

• Garbanzo Express Chairlift: Often referred to as just ‘Garbo’, this is the four-person chairlift that runs from the top of the Fitzsimmons Chairlift / Olympic Mid Station area up to just above the Chic Pea Hut area. If there is ski-racing event on Whistler, this is the lift that the ski racers take to get back up to the top of the race courses located in this area.

 

Lodges/Huts

• Chic Pea Hut: Chic Pea Hut is a nice, small hut that offers food, seating, and washrooms. It is reminiscent of how ski lodges used to be with long tables and bench seating. Food wise, it is known for its Big Hot Beef Dog with all the trimmings and for its tasty cinnamon sticky buns. In the spring, it has a nice small outside seating area where you can enjoy the sun and warm weather.  Chic Pea is often where the kids ski-racing teams hang out and it can be quite busy at those times.

 

Main Routes 

• Lower Whiskey Jack – Upper Olympic – It Happens - Expressway:  This is the main Green route in this area. When you get off the top of the Garbanzo Express Chairlift, ski straight ahead and down to Lower Whiskey Jack (Green). Ski down Lower Whiskey Jack to Upper Olympic (Green) and follow that down towards the Olympic Mid Station area. Above the Olympic Mid Station is a confusing mix of runs, so stay to the left and follow “It Happens” (Green) down towards the Garbanzo Express Chairlift.    As you get closer to the chairlift base, you will see the left turn on to Expressway which then takes you down to the bottom of the chairlift.

• Upper Dave Murray – Bear Paw: This is the main Black route in this area. When you get off the top of the Garbanzo Express Chairlift, go down to your right (looking downhill) to the start of Upper Dave Murray.  You can still see the starting gate building from the 2010 Olympics at the top of this run. Take Upper Dave Murray down to the top of Bear Paw (Black) and then Bear Paw down to the Garbanzo Express Chairlift base area.

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