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Whistler Blackcomb advanced and expert skiers
© copyright Whistler Blackcomb
It is in the high alpine areas that Whistler-Blackcomb stands above most other resorts, with wide-open alpine bowls, steep chutes, and almost limitless choices.
Each mountain has its own advantages; Whistler has more bowls and Blackcomb more couloirs. But on a blue bird powder day you can’t get better than Whistler’s Peak chair. Once you've lapped it once and gorged on the fresh, bypass the long lift queue and continue down to Big Red chair through Frog Hollow, West Bowl or Doom and Gloom.
From Whistler peak there are some relatively easy descents like The Saddle—a steep and exhilarating trail when freshly groomed. West Bowl offers some of the toughest skiing on the mountain with double black diamond trails like Monday’s and Cockalorum. Beware of avalanche debris in this bowl, frequent blasting by ski patrol can leave sizable hazards lurking underneath the powder. For fast groomer days take on Peak to Creek, the longest groomer in North America at 5.5km and descending over 5000 vertical feet (1530m) or try the World Cup tested Dave Murray Downhill.
In the Harmony bowl check out the double black 'Horseshoe' couloirs to the left of Harmony Ridge. There are plenty of single black diamond descents including Little Whistler, Low Roll, McConkeys, and Boomer Bowl. The Sun Bowl off the other side of the ridge has many more adventurous lines which are less frequented.
Hiking Flute Bowl from near the top of the Symphony Express could keep any advanced skier entertained all day. Further afield and just outside the ski area boundary is the Musical Bumps trail and Cowboy Ridge, peaceful and intermediate glades and bowls. All backcountry skiing in this area requires a ski out along the hazardous Singing Pass hiking trail. Hiring a certified guide is recommended if you wish to explore this area. Whistler Blackcomb recommends Whistler Alpine Guides Bureau www.whistlerguides.com
Blackcomb
For a classic ski outing on Blackcomb Mountain get up early and be first in line; skip the gondola line up and go up the Wizard Express and Solar Coaster instead. Warm up with a few laps on Jersey Cream chair and then line up for the Glacier express. From here you have many options; take the Horstman T-Bar up to 7th Heaven, Traverse over to the Couloir Extreme (home to the former Saudan Couloir Race) or follow the experts up the short boot pack to Spanky’s Ladder. From the top of Couloir Extreme you can traverse along the treacherous Chainsaw Ridge. An error here could send you tumbling down Jersey Cream Bowl, so proceed with caution. If you want to try glacier skiing take the Showcase T-Bar up and drop into the Blackcomb Glacier. The main bowl of the glacier is more moderate terrain, experts will no doubt find the double black Blowhole exhilarating.
7th Heaven’s Everglades trees are a favourite on powder days, as are the chutes and gullies around Jersey Cream. The Bite, Blowdown and Staircase all allow you to zip in and out of the tress at your leisure. During the frequent white-out powder days head for the trees on Crystal chair. Arthur's choice and Outer Limits offer steep and technical tree skiing. If you are riding the chair with locals see if you can convince them to show you the entrance to the famed Fraggle Rock.
Fancy yourself a mogul skier? Hit the zipper lines on Davies Dervish and Trapline above the Glacier Creek Lodge. These runs are the stomping ground for local and provincial freestyle teams and are sometimes closed for team training.
The four massive bowls in Spanky’s ladder- Sapphire, Garnet, Diamond and Ruby, all have their own playground of chutes, cliffs and risky entrances. There is no other terrain like this on either mountain; Spanky’s Ladder is truly the realm of extreme skiers. Be advised that this area has plenty of 60+ foot cliffs around so make sure you have good visibility and someone showing you if you are exploring it for the first time.
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