There is only one conversational topic in Whistler this week: What's happening on the mountains? Exceptional early season conditions have given the entire town a case of Opening Day Fever.
"Cold temperatures, early season snow fall and the relentless work of our mountain operations, grooming, and snowmaking teams is what allows us to open early" says Doug MacFarlane, Mountain Manager at Whistler Blackcomb. "Early season conditions apply, but we are very happy with the current conditions."
Whistler's coming off the snowiest two winters on record. Last season the mountains recorder a whopping cumulative snowfall of more than 51 feet (15+ metres) and 49 feet (15 metres) the year prior. Both seasons shattered the average annual snowfall of 33 feet. Meteorologists are forecasting more of the same this year with a La Nina weather pattern.
The first chairs to open will be the Whistler Village Gondola, Emerald Express and Big Red Express, all on Whistler Mountain. The trails will benefit from $2.5 million of new grooming equipment, which allows up to 1,500 acres to be groomed nightly.
Whistler Blackcomb's Edge Cards are worth checking out if you'll be exploring the mountains for a few days this winter. Cards are available for one, three, five and 10 days on the slopes. If you want to improve your skills, the new "Max 4" program at Whistler Blackcomb's Snow School limits adult lesson size to just four people, and kid's lessons to six.
If you're a regular skier or rider, the Season Pass is the best choice. Get your pass details loaded on your Smartphone with the new Whistler Blackcomb Live app. It tracks your runs with GPS, calculates vertical and distance, and even keeps track of your maximum speed. And the Roundhouse, Rendezvous and Glacier Lodge are now equipped with wifi - if you want to tweet about it!
The snow isn't the only news in town; Whistler's extra-accessible to a range of budgets. Booking your Whistler winter getaway has never been more convenient. By calling 1.800. Whistler or visiting Whistler.com, -Whistler's official source for visitor bookings and information, guests can create their custom vacation package. Whistler-based travel consultants have unbeatable local experience and Whistler.com offers the best price guarantee, the largest selection, and one stop shopping with no booking fee for accommodation, lift tickets or activities.
Other winter activities include cross country skiing, a great way to slide your way around some of summer's nicest hikes. The Lost Lake trails are open into the evening, and are found right next to the village. Whistler Olympic Park has added another 90 kilo-metres to Whistler's cross-country trail system, and also allows you to re-live your favourite Olympic moments.
If you want serenity, try snowshoeing through the scenery. Whistler has plenty of snow shoe trails through old-growth forests. Whistler Snow Shoe offers cultural snowshoe tours in collaboration with the Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre. Guests learn about local First Nations while exploring the landscape.
If you like your scenery with a little more horsepower rev your way through the local mountains on a snowmobile -or "sled" as they're more commonly known.
Tourism Whistler is offering the chance to win a month of Whistler's lifestyle in the Whistler Sabbatical Project. The winner gets all-expenses paid trip -including airfare, ground transfers, lift passes, equipment, accommodation and even a salary. Visit http: //wouldyoudoit.whistler.com/ to enter.
For the inside track on all things Whistler, check out the Whistler Insider blog, www.whistler.com/blog where Whistler is revealed, by locals, one secret at a time.
Celebrate Opening Day at Whistler. It's going to be the beginning of something good. And who knows, perhaps you'll decide to take a sabbatical and stay for the winter.
*Official opening day at Whistler Blackcomb is November 18. Check www.whistler.com for the latest information, access to web cams and snow reports.
