Leaving for Whistler Wed Jan 30th

[dwmantz Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dwmantz]

Am meeting several other Eagle Scouts now scattered across the country for a four day ski trip at Whistler. We've skied together all across the world, but this is our first time for North America's greatest.

We would appreciate any recommendations for things to do, places to eat, etc. We're staying in a 2BR unit at Stoney Creek North Star. We're a fairly tame bunch now, all married with young families, and now take our skiing and traveling a little slower and more carefully!

[T. R. Oglodyte Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close T. R. Oglodyte]

When I'm in Whistler I'm there for the skiing, and we eat in the condo so I can't offer much advice for off-hill activities. I do occasionally stop in at the brewpub in Whistler Village for a beer after skiing.

I presume that you are driving up from Vancouver?? If so, then get your lift tickets at the 7-11 in Squamish. Discount pricing available there.

With luck, you will have clear weather as you drive Hwy 99 to Whistler (the Sea to Sky Highway). The scenery along the road is fantastic. I really like the area along Howe Sound. There is a spectacular waterfall on the right side of the road just before you get to Squamish.

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One of the nice features about Whistler is that almost all portions of the higher chairs at the mountain have an easy way (the most difficult is a groomed intermediate). That makes it possible for a group of skiers of varying abilities to stay reasonably close together while each person can select a run that matches their abilities.

Form the top of the Peak chair on Whistler Mountain you can access the start the Peak to Creek trail. That is a groomed intermediate run that goes all the way to Creekside Village. Whistler promotes that as the longest groomed intermediate run in North America.

There are two base areas - Whistler Village (which accesses both Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains) and Creekside Village (which accesses only Whistler Mountain). If you are skiing on the side of Whistler Mountain served by Big Red Chair (i.e., below Glacier Bowl or Whistler Bowl) if you drop below the Highway 65 run (Highway 65 is actually a cat track that cuts across the face of the mountain to give skiers access to upload on Big Red) you are committed to go to Creekside Village. If you arrive in Creekside late in the day after they've stopped uploading, you could be stuck in Creekside Village and have to take the bus back to Whistler Village.

[bevvy5 Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close bevvy5]

Hopefully the weather will clear - it was snowing and horrible here today - we don't do well with snow, other than on mountains!!

One of my favourite restaurants, a good casual place is Milestones. It's a west coast chain but I really like it.

If you go, try their spicy Thai drummettes - yummy!!

[Bill4728 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Bill4728]

Steve advice is as usual right on.

Stoney Creek North Star is in the village but a walk from the lifts. There are many nice places to eat we love the Spagetii factory. It in the lower level of the Crystal lodge in the heart of the main village. It very much a family place. For a little nicer place try Umberto's in the Mountainside lodge.

They are expecting a ton more snow this week, so I hope you like powder.

Have a great time!

[T. R. Oglodyte Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close T. R. Oglodyte]

There are lots of people who walk to the Village gondolas from the north Village, which is where Stony Creek is located. But if you want, you can hop on a free Village shuttle bus that will drop you off at the Village Transit Center, right next to the Village gondola upload area.

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If you plan to ski on your last day and you need a place to park your car after your check out, here's a tip. Drive to Creekside Village and park in the day lot there. That's covered parking and there's usually space available, at least early in the day. Then spend the day skiing Whistler Mountain, returning to Creekside Village in the evening.

The advantage here is that the Creekside day lot is much closer to the lifts than are the Whistler day lots (unless you do things real early and you can get space in Lot 1 or Lot 2). Also at the end of the day you have a simdgen less drive back to Vancouver from Creekside.