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Whistler Blackcomb

Whistler Blackcomb Winter Trail Map

Image Source: Whistler Blackcomb Trail Map

Whistler Blackcomb is a world-class ski resort located in the Coast Mountains of British Columbia, Canada about a two-hour drive north of Vancouver.  Whistler Blackcomb is the largest ski resorts in North America and attracts local visitors as well as guests from North America and around the world. 

 

The Whistler area has a rich history that dates back thousands of years. The area was originally inhabited by the Squamish and Lil’wat First Nations, who hunted and fished in the region’s mountains, forests, and rivers. In the 1800s, European settlers arrived and established the town of Alta Lake. Logging and mining were the main industries in the area for many years.  In the early 1960’s a group of Vancouver businessmen discovered and started to develop the incredible skiing terrain in the surrounding mountains. They built the Whistler Mountain ski resort and it quickly became a popular destination for winter sports enthusiasts.

 

As the name suggests, Whistler Blackcomb includes two mountains—Whistler Mountain and Blackcomb Mountain. These mountains are joined by the Peak 2 Peak Gondola, one of the longest and highest gondolas in the world.

 

Whistler Blackcomb encompasses a total of 8,171 acres or 33.07 square kilometers of skiable terrain, the largest in North America. The resort has over 200 marked runs, 37 lifts, and an impressive vertical drop of 5,280 feet or 1,609 meters (Blackcomb). The longest run is 11 kilometers long (Peak to Creek, Whistler) and the highest lift goes up to 7,424 feet or 2,263 meters (Showcase T-Bar, Blackcomb). The resort offers a wide range of terrain for skiers and snowboarders.  Beginners can enjoy gentle slopes and dedicated learning areas, while more advanced skiers can tackle challenging steeps, couloirs, and glades. There are also two terrain and jump Parks.

 

Whistler Mountain

Whistler Peak at Whistler Blackcomb

Whistler Peak in the morning sun.  Image Source: Nick Jones

Whistler Mountain is where skiing at Whistler Blackcomb originally started. In the early 1900s, the area was primarily used for logging and mining. In 1914, the railway was completed, providing access to the area and opening it up for tourism. In the 1920s, the first cabins were built in the Creekside area, and skiing and snowshoeing became popular winter activities. In the 1960s, the area was chosen as the site for a new ski resort, which was named Whistler Mountain. The ski resort officially opened on January 15, 1966, with a gondola and two double chairs, and quickly became popular with skiers and outdoor enthusiasts.

 

Today Whistler Mountain has 4,757 acres or 19.25 square kilometers of skiable terrain. It features a network of 100+ designated trails catering to all skill levels, ranging from gentle beginner slopes to challenging expert Triple Black runs. Whistler Mountain is equipped with a comprehensive system of high-speed gondolas, chairlifts, and T-bars, ensuring quick and convenient access to the different areas on the mountain.

 

The Whistler side of Whistler Blackcomb can be divided into 10 general areas:

Blackcomb Mountain

The "comb" of Blackcomb Mountain at Whistler Blackcomb

Blackcomb Mountain on a beautiful Spring day.  Image Source: Nick Jones

Blackcomb Mountain is the other half of the Whistler Blackcomb Resort. Blackcomb opened as its own resort in 1980, it competed with Whistler for 17 years and then merged with Whistler in 1997 to create what we know today as Whistler Blackcomb.   Blackcomb Mountain gets its name from the distinctive black ridge at its summit. Early mountaineers and skiers thought that it looked like the comb of a rooster, hence the name.

 

Blackcomb has its own character and features, including a mix of challenging, steep terrain, open alpine bowls, wide groomers, mogul runs, and tree-lined runs. Blackcomb Mountain includes a total of 3,414 acres/13.8 square kilometers of skiable terrain, 16 lifts, and 100+ marked runs. The vertical drop is 5,280 feet/1,609 meters from the top of the 7th Heaven area down to the Blackcomb base (the greatest vertical drop in the combined resort area).  

 

Similar to Whistler, Blackcomb can be divided into 10 general areas:

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