Whistler/Blackcomb Holiday Ski Resort was not even in existence some 40 odd years ago. There was virtually nothing on this now world famous ski resort but blizzards caused by the moist Pacific air meeting the craggy mountain tops on what was then known as the London Mountain. Sometimes, one can see an occasional lonely skier using a rudimentary tow or hiking up the slopes of the mountain.
This resort was renamed Whistler Mountain in 1965, named after the hoary marmot or the whistle pig. Today, this holiday vacation resort is one of the most popular and celebrated holiday ski resorts in the world.
Whistler Ski Village
The Whistler Village is an attractive, all purpose built-in resort and is known for its fascinating skiing vacations. This Ski Resort is also known as Whistler Blackcomb because of the two mountain peaks stood side by side and has the highest vertical drop in the country, both a mile high. A breathtaking and heart stopping drop indeed.
Although always complimented upon, Whistler Resort has its cons too. One of which is its low elevation. At only 2214 ft, the resort comes under the influence of the Pacific seaboard and tends to attract more rain than other resorts. Although this also attracts more snow on the mountain's higher slopes, the prospect of going skiing in the wet is a dampener to the skiing vacation holiday mood.
For years, Whistler and Blackcomb were two entities and were fierce competitors until Intrawest, a major player in the ski resort industry and owner of Blackcomb bought over Whistler in 1997.
The two mountains are actually quite similar with each having more than a ski hundred trails many of which are long cruising runs through stunning pine forests. However, Whistler has more bowls such as The West Bowl, Symphony and Harmony while Blackcomb has glaciers like the Horstman. Blackcomb also have more couloirs such as the Couloir Extreme and Pakalolo.
Toward the bottom of the Extreme are two quad chairs, the Glacier Express and the Jersey Cream Express lies a magnificent collection of chutes and gullies which spreads across the mountain.
The Whistler Ski Holiday Resort also have an area for novice heliskiers. Intrepid heli-skiers can try it for a day before venturing into one of the remote heliskiing lodges for a whole week of heliskiing with Bell 210 or AStar helicopters. Then again, with such fantastic vertical drop in Whistler Ski Resort, who needs helicopters right?
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