Whistler mountain to open early

An intense storm system that dropped over 80cms of snow on Whistler Blackcomb earlier this week has prompted mountain managers to open Whistler Mountain almost a week early. Blackcomb Mountain will open as planned on Thursday, November 22.

“We have a great leg up on the season,” says Doug MacFarlane, Whistler Blackcomb Mountain Manager. “Natural snowfall and our snowmaking efforts have allowed for the early opening on Whistler Mountain that skiers and riders have been hoping for.”

Weather forecasters are predicting that this is only the beginning of a period of snowy, stormy weather for the mountain. Bestskiweather.com is reporting low pressure over the Gulf of Alaska meaning plenty of cold and more snow for Whistler into next week.

Whistler Mountain will open on Saturday with access from the Whistler Village and Creekside base areas. The Whistler Village Gondola, Creekside Gondola, the Emerald Express, Franz’s Chair and the Big Red Express are all scheduled to open. The resort’s fleet of grooming machines will be hard at work this week preparing the slopes for skiers and riders. Guests should be aware that early season conditions will exist on and off-piste and caution should be exercised.

A rail park will be set up in the Emerald Express Habitat Park area. Jumps, more rails and other terrain park features will be added as the snow falls and more terrain is opened. Blackcomb Mountain will open on Thursday November 22. Guest Relations locations at Creekside, Village Gondola and the Blackcomb Daylodge will be open and ready to assist passholders and guests. To keep up to date on snowfall and terrain and lift openings, skiers and riders should check out Whistlerblackcomb.com.

Weather and snow information can be found on Whistlerblackcomb.com/weather/snowreport and starting opening day, the Snow Report on the website and the Snowphone will be updated five times daily.

Consistently ranked as North America's top ski and snowboard resort, Whistler Blackcomb continues to raise the level of mountain excitement for its guests. With the landmark Peak to Peak Gondola project underway, the return of the popular Symphony Amphitheatre, and a host of other on-mountain improvements, this winter promises to be one of the most exciting yet.

Located a scenic two-hour drive north of Vancouver up the spectacular 'Sea to Sky' Highway, this resort is home to the continent's two greatest vertical-rise ski mountains – Whistler and Blackcomb.

With over 17 alpine bowls, four glaciers, 200 trails, 8,171 acres of skiable terrain and a one mile vertical rise, the choices of where and what to ski/ride at Whistler Blackcomb from beginner to advanced terrain are staggering. Joined at the base by a vibrant pedestrian village filled with restaurants, patios, cafes, shops, galleries and spas, and surrounded by breathtaking scenery, this four season resort is spectacular.

Check it all out at Whistlerblackcomb.com.