The Best runs at Whistler and Blackcomb

A guide to the best terrain at these legendary ski destinations

By Robert Gagnon

	Whistler Blackcomb Ski Resort, BC

Whistler Blackcomb is the biggest ski resort in North America. With over 8100 skiable acres on two mountains linked by the 4.4km Gondola you are sure to find what you are looking for. From the ski parks, half pipe or nice blue runs everything is there.

In this article you will find the classic runs; those you have to do at least once. They are all Black runs or Double Diamonds. Be prepared, some of them are not only hard to do but to access too. You will find a rush of adrenaline at the top of the hill.

On Blackcomb the first and easiest to access (evil laugh) is the Couloir Extreme. You can see the beast from the bottom. Take the Jersey Cream chair and look for the big bowl to the front and left of you. Yes, this is a run. Now you want to get to the top of it. There are two ways.  The first one is to go to the Seven Heaven chairlift and at the top take the left hand side and follow the cat track. The other way is to take the Glacier Express chair, go  to the Horstman T-Bar and keep to the right.   Pass in front of the chairlift and go to the cat track where you will have a great view of Whistler mountain. If you go straight to the end of it past the Proposition Point you can access to the couloirs by the most difficult way called False Face. It is steeper than the couloirs itself and some rock makes the challenge even harder. My recommendation, don’t fall or you will end up at the bottom quicker than you think. The second access is the real top of the Couloir, Just before the Proposition Point you turn to your right in the few bumps and keep left. You will see the sign and here you are. Another way, you keep going and you will see another entranc

Spanky’s ladder is the famous access to three challenging bowls.e between the rocks but less steep. It is called Big Bang. Have fun on your way down.

You goleft at the top of the Glacier express chair. You look on your right hand side and you will see people hiking up. Take this ladder with or without skis. I suggest you take off your skis and keep them in your t hand and keep going up without looking back. Once at the top after a 10 minute hike go to your left and keep going on the traverse. Slow down when you arrive on the corner you will have a wind lip to drop. You are now on the top of the Ruby bowl. It’s a great place, a wide open area.

The blow hole is another classic. From the top of the glacier chair you go right and take the first t-bar. At the top go to the right and hike up. First entrance you see up there is the blow hole.  It’s a huge wind lip at the end of the glacier. Enter and ski on the right of it the snow is better. You can get out at the first exit on the right or go down to the bottom. Watch out for the big chunk of snow on the left at the bottom.

If the blowhole isn’t challenging enough, go lower and take the entrance on your left. You are in the danger zone now.  Keep going in diagonal down to the left and you will probably see some tracks. If not, it’s a no go.  If so, pass between the rocks and you will be at the top of Winky Pop. This is one of the steepest runs of the mountain. It’s definitely an expert area. Seriously, don’t go there by yourself and be sure to wear a helmet. It’s a short way down but long enough to have the thrill and get a real case of the goosebumps.

Whistler Mountain has a lot of steep terrain accessible without hiking. Take the Peak chair and follow the direction to the peak to creek keep going until you see a big opening area on your right hand side. You will see many cornice posts.  Follow them until the last one. Welcome to Cockalorum, a nice steep run with a nice entrance. If you want it more challenging don’t take the main entrance but just go straight through. No cornice but a really steep slope.

Harmony bowl is one of my favourite parts of the mountain with cornices and steep challenging areas. If you’ve never done a cornice before, here is your chance with the Horseshoes. The Horseshoe 6 is the most classic one. The drop to get in can be easy to a few feet high. All depends of the wind and snowfall in the last days. Once in go to the right hand side under the cliff.  The snow is much better and less tracked. The Horseshoe 6 is not enough for you? Go to the next one, the Horseshoe 5. It has a nice steep entrance in a small corridor between two rocks.