Whistler Blackcomb Opening Day 2016!

You’ve probably seen the reports and photos on social media of the huge amount of snow that has fallen and is still falling in Whistler, and after spending two days last week up there, I’m can safely say that the reports don’t exaggerate: there is a ton of snow in Whistler right now!

For the opening days of both Whistler (Wednesday 23rd November) and Blackcomb (Thursday 24th November), the skies were filled with falling flakes, and the trend has continued over the last week with 2 metres falling in the last seven days, a base of 178cm and cumulative snowfall of 317cm. And it’s not even December yet!

Opening day on Whistler was predictably busy, with the worst crowds in the early morning as many had arrived several hours before the lifts opened. Some locals had even camped out overnight having arrived at Creekside gondola at 5PM the previous day! With only the mid-mountain open and serviced only by Red and Emerald chairs, the lines were long until midday when most people hit the Roundhouse for lunch. However Thursday was Blackcomb’s opening day. A combination of the fact that many people heading back to the city, and that most people were on Blackcomb, the lift lines on Whistler were non-existent.

The resort had 40cm overnight on Wednesday and we were still finding fresh snow well into Thursday afternoon. The amount of snow that had fallen meant easy pickings of lines through the trees and glades, something that is never usually an option in the early season.

High snowfall in November is a great portent for the rest of the season and many of Whistler’s hotels are booked up well into the new year. Check out the photos below and if you still haven’t planned your vacation to Whistler, now is the time!

Snow filled the air on Opening Day.

There was plenty of soft stuff to find off the groomed runs…

…Some of it even waist deep!

Patches of clear skies appeared towards the afternoon.

There are a couple of creeks that still need to be filled in.

But there’s more than enough snow to have a serious amount of fun up there!

Katharine Mills is a trail and ultra runner living in North Vancouver. Originally from the UK, she lived in Whistler for two years before making the move to the city. Compared to the UK, she thinks Canada has an incredible lifestyle, but terrible tea. Her favourite things are exploring the wilds of the BC backcountry, racing mountain bikers down the trails of North Vancouver, and Honey’s Doughnuts from Deep Cove.

• Whistler News

November 30, 2016

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