Travel Blog

21 Nov

Everything You Need to Know for Whistler Blackcomb Opening Day 2016

TAG: Amped-Up Adventure

Posted by: Pip Campbell

Whistler SnowfallSnow looks good in Whistler. The Coast Mountains at sunrise, November 17, 2016. PHOTO MIKE CRANE.

Friends, winter is almost here! Both Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains will be open November 24, with Whistler Mountain opening a day earlier than expected on November 23. Here’s your quick and dirty guide to what’s happening on the mountains on opening day and over the following weekend:

November 22 – The Day Before

Get Ready!
Find your gloves and goggles, wax your skis and snowboards, pick up your lift tickets and passes ahead of time and
check your gear. Keep an eye on the weather and webcams so you can decide what to wear.

Whistler Blackcomb and The North Face Basecamp Celebration
7 – 10 PM | Skier’s Plaza, base of Whistler Blackcomb Mountains
Free-to-enter, all ages event. Beer garden, s’mores, live music bonfires, pizza and general good times.

November 23 – Early Opening Day

Whistler Mountain Opens
8:30 AM
Both Whistler Village Gondola and Creekside Gondola will be running. First upload 8:30 AM, last upload 2:00 PM. Lifts will run until 3:00 PM. The Roundhouse Lodge will be open for on-mountain food.

We’re on early season conditions here folks, which means take it easy out there – check out our
early season riding tips. Download is mandatory, there will be limited terrain open and early season hazards to keep you on your toes. Ride smart, go with a buddy, stick to the marked runs and obey all posted signs for maximum safety.

Après
Anytime after skiing and snowboarding is done for the day
Opening day also means the kickoff of Whistler’s fabulous après-ski season. Start the winter off right!

Whistler Blackcomb skiingNot long now.

November 24 – Whistler Blackcomb Official Opening Day

Whistler AND Blackcomb Mountains Open
8:30 AM
Upload Blackcomb via the Excalibur Gondola and Excelerator Express or by the Wizard Express and Solar Coaster Express. Whistler Village Gondola and Creekside Gondola will be running. First upload 8:30 AM, last upload 2:00 PM. Lifts will run until 3:00 PM. In addition to the Roundhouse Lodge on Whistler, The Rendezvous Lodge and Glacier Creek Lodge will be open on Blackcomb for food. Download mandatory on both mountains.

If you need a confidence boost consider getting an early season lesson to work on your moves and create a solid foundation for the rest of winter. And if your feet are sore, now’s the time to check in with a Whistler boot fitting pro to get those ski and snowboard boots dialed. Happy feet are essential for fun skiing.

Après
Anytime after skiing and snowboarding is done for the day
Today for après-ski you can try Karaoke around the bonfire in Skier’s Plaza from 2 to 4 PM. ‘Total Eclipse of the Heart’ has my name all over it, so hands off! You can also enjoy a cold beverage and hearty post-ski snack at any of our fabulous après venues.

November 24 – 27 -The Fun Continues

Winter Kickoff Weekend
Ok, so we made the name up. But there’s a ton of events and other fun things happening over the weekend as well as more skiing and snowboarding – you can read the full weekend wrap up here. Oh, and Happy Thanksgiving to our American friends.

Have a fantastic time on the mountains –warm up, ride safe and have a blast. Follow @GoWhistler for the latest resort news and tag your skiing and riding photos #littlethingswhistler. For early season deals go to Whistler.com.

Article source: https://www.whistler.com/blog/post/2016/11/21/whistler-blackcomb-open-skiing-2016.aspx