Whistler BC one week review.

[MI-skier]

Whistler ski trip review-My husband and I went to Whistler as a ski trip destination vacation for a week. We usu do CO and UT each ski season for a week each. Husband wanted to ck Whistler off the list. Biggest takeaway is that weather will always have a priority on the outcome of course. I did not love Whistler like I was hoping to. We ended up having rain (which was expected) but unfortunately it rained at the top too. It then resulted in ICY conditions on both Blackcomb and Whistler side which made our typical blue runs scary (I felt like I regressed). Only one morning of sun/clear which was then spectacular. Mid week gondolas started going at 8:15, weekend it was 8:30.

We stayed at the Westin which is nice (had a ski valet hut right off the lift in addition within the hotel). I believe all rooms have a kitchen. Outdoor heated pool/hot tub were nice. Last day they gave us pool passes to access hot tub and locker rooms after ck out. Fun to have cinnamon rolls on mountain at Chick Pea Hut.

As a foodie, we had reservations at all the "must eat" spots and the only one I'd recommend was Rim Rock!!! Westin had a complimentary shuttle to take you anywhere within 5m. Apres was hopping in the Village which I thought was fun but after 4 days, you knew it by heart. Easy to walk one end of the village to the market/other end each day. Fresh Market had some delicious/inexpensive Butter chicken in their deli.

We did do Skylink shuttle express to/from. Overall I'm glad we went to ck it off the list but I feel the chances of better snow--most years--

/weather/ease of access/village goes to CO and UT. (We're only EPIC pass holders-Thank you military discount.)

 

[mediocremango]

Sorry your experience wasn't great. PNW can be really unpredictable with the rain. I usually ski on my local mountains close to Vancouver and weekends on whistler. I only started skiing 3 years back but quickly learnt to accept rain as part of the package though I understand why it can be huge let down for visitors.

My personal favourite breakfast spot in Whistler will always be 'Provisions'. It can be bit busy but avocado toast is to die for and pastries are amazing as well. And the aussie baristas there make some of the best coffee I have ever drank.

For your next, you can also consider visiting Sun Peaks/Big White/Revelstoke/Kicking Horse or the wonderful resorts part of what is know as Powder Highway. You are less likely to find rain ruin you trip in interior BC. Hopefully you can give BC and Canada another chance for an epic ski trip.

 

[Jilly]

I absolutely hate WB. And I've been there 6 times. So I've been through a lot of the changes. The last trip out was in 2017 with the Epicski/Pugski gathering. I vowed then never to return. Over 6 trips, I don't think I've really seen the place. Fog or snow!

But food - OMG, some really good places. But waffles at the Crystal Hut is the best.

There are so many places in BC to ski. I need to go back to Sun Peaks (it was Tod Mtn when I went) and Panorama.

 

[Christy]

It's funny, going on the Epic Pass was the nail in the coffin for me with Whistler, and I already had so many complaints about lift lines and crowds, but when I hear people diss (actually you didn't even really do this @MI-skier, you are being very polite) I want to defend it.

When it's good, and it's also a weekday in a non holiday time, it's AMAZING. And so beautiful. One of the prettiest resorts out there. The drive up is gorgeous. And it genuinely has so much else to do, from walking shelter dogs to Scandinave to museums to the trail system to the Olympic Nordic area. And it's so pedestrian friendly. And once you find your fave spots (oyster happy hour at Araxi and Creekside Diner and the food counters at the Japanese grocery stores) that part is great.

This is a tough, warm year nearly everywhere in the West. But yeah, at Whistler, when the weather's poor, which it can be...it's not great. And as @Pequenita (or her friend?) once said to me, you have to remember that a 21 year old Australian kid is probably cooking your food.

Probably some of my wanting to defend it is that I've always had poor conditions in UT and CO and many other spots, and I'm pretty happy at Whistler if I decide not to ski. It's not like Sun Peaks for instance where there is nothing else to do and the nearest town is an industrial city 45 minutes away.

Anyway for me the days of preplanning a trip to a certain place are over. I'm no longer willing to spend $$$ to ski western hardpack or scary ice or whatnot, anywhere. I wish everyone could experience Whistler when it's good but I know it's hard for most others that aren't just driving up from Seattle like I am.

@Jilly I have to point out you didn't always hate Whistler. You organized us for a Roxy Camp get together at least twice. I don't remember having bad or no viz conditions either of those times.

 

[Jilly]

We did get lucky on those 2 trips. But the others, everything from blizzard, R word, fog...really foggy. After skiing Banff just before Covid, I so want to go back. Would love to have with the SkiTalk gang, but I'm not ready physically after the last year to really give it a go.

 

[santacruz skier]

I have skied Whistler 6 different trips over the years and only one day it rained. Hard.