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==Background==
==Background==


There are two seperate nordic skiing operations in the Callaghan Valley - Whistler Olympic Park (WOP) and Callaghan Country (CC).  Callaghan Country operates the western trails in the Callaghan Creek drainage, and Whistler Olympic Park operates the eastern trails in the Madeley Creek drainage.
For the 2012-2013 season, [http://www.whistlerolympicpark.com Whistler Olympic Park] (east) and [http://www.callaghancountry.com Callaghan Country] (west) have combined their operations under the [http://www.skicallaghan.ca Ski Callaghan] banner.  However the rules for backcountry access are different.  Whistler Olympic Park offers a discounted backcountry parking and access ticket and Callaghan Country requires that all backcountry users purchase a regular cross country or snowshoe ticket.


==Rules==
==Fees==


[[Image:WOP_backcountry_access.jpg|thumb|right|500px|Free access routes shown in red.<br>Access routes on XC ski trails shown in blue.]]
Backcountry users fees are in effect for 2014-2015:
*$15 per vehicle for access to Gin, Sproatt, Hanging Lake, Rainbow, Beverley and Puma via Whistler Olympic Park.  Use of the Whistler Olympic Park groomed trails to reach the backcountry trailheads is permitted. Discounted to $10 on weekdays.
*$25 per person for a nordic trail pass to reach Callaghan Lake and Telemagique Ridge via Callaghan Country base area. Discounted to $19 on weekdays.
*$56.50 per person for a snowcat shuttle to Callaghan Lake (Nordic trail pass included).  The shuttle leaves at 8:30am weekends and holidays only and reservations are required.


# All backcountry skiing or snowshoeing parties must register at the Whistler Olympic Park Day Lodge or the Callaghan Country base warming hut in the morning to arrange parking.  This will ensure that no rescues are launched to search for overdue backcountry parties.
==Parking==
# There is a $6 per person fee to use the groomed XC trails for backcountry access.  This fee allows use of all Whistler Olympic Park trails, and the Callaghan Country mainline trail.  Only skiers on alpine touring or telemark equipment qualify for the reduced fee (no skinny XC skis). For safety, the normal [[skier responsibility code#Nordic|cross country responsibility code]] applies.  Only ski in the indicated direction on one way trails.
#There is no fee to access the backcountry without using the groomed XC trails.  However, a free ticket is still required to served as a liability waiver.  Please be careful when crossing XC ski trails and always yield to XC skiers.  At callaghan country, wilderness skiers who are not using the groomed XC trails should park outside the posted customer parking lot.  There are a few parking spots on the right just after the bridge over Madeley Creek.
#Parties that arrive before the WOP day lodge or CC warming hut open, should look for a sign in book near the door.  Sign yourself in with your destination, and leave a note on the dash of your car.
#The XC ski trails and the 21 mile creek watershed (Rainbow Lake) are closed to dogs. This closure includes the ski touring loop from Hanging Lake over to Beverley Creek and ascents of Rainbow Mountain from the south and west.
#All snowcat / snowmobile access roads are closed to backcountry skiers for safety purposes.  This includes the ski jump service road.  Please do not use this route.  Instead, access Hanging Lake from the Biathlon Spectator Parking Lot.


Please follow the above rules or we may lose access privileges. In particular, don't get caught skiing on a groomed XC trail without the $6 ticket. If you really want to use the groomed trail, $6 isn't much to ask.
There are 4 possible parking areas. Overnight parking is only permitted at the Alexander Falls parking lot.


Anyone who is interested in helping out with developing the trails should contact me.  [[User:ScottN|Scott Nelson]]
*Whistler Olympic Park Day Lodge
*Whistler Olympic Park Biathlon Range
*Callaghan Country parking lot
*Alexander Falls Recreation Site parking lot


===Biathlon Range To Hanging Lake===
===Day Lodge===


*Park in the Biathlon Spectator Parking lot (P8) located on the left as you drive towards the Biathlon building.
There are several parking lots around the day lodge (P1-P6). Some of these lots may be closed during XC races and Ski Jumping events (see the [http://whistlerolympicpark.com/events/allevents/tabid/147/Default.aspx Whistler Olympic Park Event Schedule] for dates), but there will always be something available.  P3, P4 and P5 are all just a short walk from the day lodge.  Washrooms, showers and food are all available at the day lodge.  Overnight parking is not permitted and you must leave before the main gate closes (5pm in winter, 6pm in spring)
*Head into the forest east of the Biathlon Range, and climb gradually east parallel to the outermost XC trails. There is a narrow road here which is reserved for snowmobile/snowcat use by the XC area staff. Do not use this road, and do not use the outermost XC trail as it is for downhill traffic only and XC skiers may be going very fast around some blind corners.
*After a pair of switchback, the snowcat/snowmobile service road forks.  The right branch is reserved for snowmobiles/snowcats but the left branch is available to BC skiers.  Follow this narrow road a short distance until it forks.  Go right at the fork, and then when the road switchbacks to the left continue straight through a stand of trees to reach a logging road.
*Go along the logging road for perhaps 50m to where the snowmobile/snowcat service road emerges from the forest.  A flagged route starts here on the uphill side of the road.  Follow the orange flags up the valley towards Hanging Lake.  Initially, the route ascends gentle slopes on the north side of the creek, trending right.  At 1086m, the route crosses the creek and continues up the south side.  At 1160m, the route heads sharply uphill to climbers right, reaching a bench at 1239m.  Above the bench, meadows lead up and left to another bench on the bottom edge of a talus slope at 1320m.
*The orange flagging ends at the bottom of an open talus slope.  To reach Hanging Lake, make an ascending traverse across the slope.  Then cut across a wide bench below a cliff to reach the outlet of Hanging Lake


{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0"
===Biathlon Range===
|- align="center" style="background-color: #cccccc;"
!Distance !! Location !! Elevation !! Position (NAD27)
|-
|0.0km||Biathlon Parking||875m||10U 0491858E 5554703N
|-
|TBD||Start of Flagging||945m (?)||10U 0492592E 5554652N (?)
|-
|TBD||Cross main creek||1086m||10U 0493173E 5554707N
|-
|TBD||Bench||1239m||10U 0493513E 5554712N
|-
|TBD||Talus Slope - end of flagging||1320m (?)||10U 0493739E 5554674N (?)
|-
|TBD||Hanging Lake||1410m (?)||10U 0494017E 5555002N (?)
|}


===Biathlon Range To Beverley Creek===
The Biathlon range is about 1km past the Day Lodge area.  There are three parking lots (P7-P9), but only P9 will be plowed.  Parking may be limited at the Biathlon Range during Biathlon events (see the [http://whistlerolympicpark.com/events/allevents/tabid/147/Default.aspx Whistler Olympic Park Event Schedule] for dates).  There is a public washroom just inside the lower entrance to the Biathlon building.    Overnight parking is not permitted and you must leave before the main gate closes (5pm in winter, 6pm in spring)


This access route is closed during all Biathlon competitions, as it crosses the Biathlon race course.
===Callaghan Country===


*Park in the Biathlon Spectator Parking lot (P8) located on the left as you drive towards the Biathlon building.
This parking lot is for day use only.  You must purchase a regular price nordic trail pass or a Callaghan Lake shuttle to park here.
*On the far NW side of lot P8 is a tall light pole.  From the pole head NW, crossing the Biathlon connector trail and the Olympic Biathlon loop trail. 
*Turn north down a hill then parallel the Madeley Creek loop trail to a bridge over Beverley Creek. 
*Cross the bridge and head into the forest on the right.  Do not go up Beverley creek, but rather head NW into the next drainage to the west where a flagged route begins.  The flagged route rejoins the creek higher up, above a canyon section.


===Day Lodge to Hanging Lake===
===Alexander Falls Recreation Site===


This route uses XC trails, so you must purchase a $6 backcountry access pass at the day lodge.  If a race is being held on either of the Olympic XC race courses, this access route will be closed.  The area this route goes though has only one way trails, so the outgoing and incoming routes are different.
The Alexander Falls parking lot is outside the main gate at the Alexander Falls Recreation Site.  Overnight parking is permitted.  It's a 200m walk or ski along the main road to reach the Madeley Loop XC trail from this parking lot.  This parking lot is outside the WOP and Callaghan Country boundaries, but you still have to buy the appropriate ticket to access the backcountry through either ski area.


*Pick up Olympic XC Blue going up from the Daylodge / Stadium area.  Follow it to the top of the first hill.
==Routes==
*Cross over to Olympic XC Red and turn right.
*Take a shortcut on Olympic XC Red (on the left) to avoid going up and back down a hill
*Take another shortcut on Olympic XC Red (on the right) to stay on the perimeter of the WOP trails.  Follow this trail up then head up the valley on the right.  Please Do not use any of the snowmobile access roads.
*Pick up the flagged route from the logging road as described above.  From here to Hanging Lake, the route is the same as coming from the Biathlon Range.


To return:
Kml file with all the trails and access routes here: [http://www.ubc-voc.com/mediawiki/images/0/0f/WOP_access.kml WOP_access.kml]
*ski down the creek from Hanging Lake until you hit Olympic XC Red. Keep right on this one way trail
*An optional shortcut is available to cut off some of the flatter part of the trail
*keep on Olympic XC red going downhill until it reaches the XC stadium area
*Turn left (south) to return to the day lodge.


===Biathlon Range to Madeley Lake===
===Hanging Lake===


This route uses XC trails, so you must purchase a $6 backcountry access pass at the day lodge.  This access route is closed during all Biathlon competitions, as it crosses the Biathlon race course.  There is lots of interesting terrain to explore north of Madeley Lake.
{{Main|Gin Peak}}


*Park in Lot P8 and head NW past the overpass on the Olympic Biathlon Trail.   
A marked wilderness ski trail climbs steeply up to Hanging Lake from the Whistler Olympic Park Biathlon Range.  The trail can also be reached easily from the Day Lodge by skiing along the Olympic XC trail.  There is good skiing around Hanging Lake, or continue up to [[Gin Peak]] or [[Rainbow Mountain]]
*Drop down a hill heading north to reach the Madelely Creek Loop trail. 
*Follow the XC trails north to Madeley Lake.  The recommended route is:
**Madeley Creek Trail
**Norweigan Woods
**Lunch Lake
**Madeley Road
*Return via the same trails.  Norwegian Woods and Madeley Creek Trail are one way trails, but you can take the higher branch of Norwegian Woods then ski against the grain, but off the trails back to the Biathlon Range.


===Callaghan Lake===
===Beverley Creek===
 
{{Main|Beverley Creek}}
 
A marked wilderness ski trail goes up Beverley Creek,.  The trail starts from the Biathlon Range and heads west.  It drops down and parallels Madeley Loop XC trail north to the bridge over Beverely Creek.  On the far side of the bridge the trail enters the forest again and goes up Beverley Creek.  The Beverley Creek trail can also be reached from the Callaghan Country or the Overnight parking lot by following the Madeley Loop cross-country ski trail for 2km.
 
===Puma Peak===
 
{{Main|Puma Peak}}
 
Puma Peak lies between Beverley Creek and Madeley Creek.  The south summit (only a few meters lower than the main summit) offers a good ski trip.  Follow the trail up Beverley Creek to reach the W side of the long ridge running south from Puma Peak.  A system of open ramps heads up the west side of the ridge.  At 1350m, switch to ramps on the east side of the ridge crest to reach gentle terrain in the alpine.
 
===Madeley Lake===
 
There is an alpine area above Madeley Lake with skiing in open meadows.
 
*From the Whistler Olympic Park overnight lot via Madeley Road trail.
*From the Biathlon Range Parking via a shortcut through the woods, Madeley Creek Trail, Norwegian Woods, Lunch Lake and Madeley Road.  This access route is closed during all Biathlon competitions, as it crosses the Biathlon race course.  There is some uphill skiing on the return to climb back up to the Biathlon Parking Lot.
*From the Day Lodge Parking lot via Inside Passage, Madeley Creek Trail, Norwegian Woods, Lunch Lake and Madeley Road.  There is some uphill skiing on the return to climb back up to the day lodge.


*It's 8.5km up Callaghan FSR (mainline trail) to Callaghan Lake, which takes about 2 hours to ski at a reasonable pace. 
*The west side of the lake has some nice yoyo skiing terrain.
*The north side of the lake looks good as well, but the aspect isn't as favourable.
*You must buy a $6 ticket to use the grooming on mainline trail, or break you own parallel trail along Callaghan FSR.
===Telemagique Ridge===
===Telemagique Ridge===


*3km up Callaghan FSR (mainline trail) an ungroomed road heads off on the right. This turnoff is signed as the "Into the Woods" trail. 
{{Main|Telemagique Ridge}}
 
*3km up Callaghan FSR (mainline trail) an ungroomed road heads off on the right.  
*Follow the road, keeping left at two junctions.
*Follow the road, keeping left at two junctions.
*The road ends at a landing at 1220m.
*The road ends at a landing at 1220m.
*Follow the ridge crest uphill, heading north.  On maps, the ridge looks very gentle, but there is a lot of micro terrain that makes travel and route finding a little more tricky.  The upper part of the route follows a strange valley the runs along the top of the ridge.
*Follow the ridge crest uphill, heading north.  On maps, the ridge looks very gentle, but there is a lot of micro terrain that makes travel and route finding a little more tricky.  The upper part of the route follows a strange valley the runs along the top of the ridge.
*The final summit is most easily ascended from the NW side.  There is a nice ski run from the top down to Telemagique Lake.
*The final summit is most easily ascended from the NW side.  There is a nice ski run from the top down to Telemagique Lake.
*You must buy a $6 ticket to use the grooming on mainline trail, or break you own parallel trail for the first 3km along Callaghan FSR.
 
===Callaghan Lake===
 
{{Main|Callaghan Lake}}
 
*It's 8.5km up Callaghan FSR (mainline trail) to Callaghan Lake, which takes about 2 hours to ski at a reasonable pace.
*On weekends and Holidays Callaghan Country offers a snowcat shuttle to Callaghan Lake.  The shuttle departs at 8:30am and reservations are required.
*The west side of the lake has some nice yoyo skiing terrain on east facing slopes.  This area is known as Morning Glory.
*The north side of the lake has excellent open meadows for skiing on generally S facing slopes.  The 1800m summit overlooking Cirque Lake is a good objective for a day trip.
 
==Additional Notes==
 
#The XC ski trails and the 21 mile creek watershed (Rainbow Lake) are closed to dogs. This closure includes the ski touring loop from Hanging Lake over to Beverley Creek and ascents of Rainbow Mountain from the south and west.  Dog owners can access the Hanging Lake trail from the Biathlon Range.
#All snowcat / snowmobile access roads are closed to backcountry skiers for safety purposes.  This includes the ski jump service road.  Please do not use this route.  Instead, access Hanging Lake from the Biathlon Parking Lot, or from the day lodge using the XC trails.
#Don't ever ski behind the biathlon range.
#Observe the nordic [[skier responsibility code]] on all XC trails.


==Links==
==Links==


*[http://www.whistlerolympicpark.com Whistler Olympic Park main website]
*[http://www.whistlerolympicpark.com Whistler Olympic Park main website]
*[http://www.whistlerolympicpark.com/venue/snow/tabid/173/language/en-CA/default.aspx Whistler Olympic Park snow report]
*[http://www.whistlerolympicpark.com/weather/forecast Whistler Olympic Park weather forecast]
*[http://www.whistlerolympicpark.com/venue/webcam/tabid/138/Default.aspx Whistler Olympic Park webcams]
*[http://www.whistlerolympicpark.com/weather/webcams Whistler Olympic Park webcams]
*[http://www.whistlerolympicpark.com/Portals/0/WOP%20all%20trails%20map%202008.pdf Whistler Olympic Park trail map]
*[http://www.callaghancountry.com Callaghan Country website]
*[http://www.callaghancountry.com Callaghan Country website]
*[http://www.callaghancountry.com/trailhead/conditions.php Callaghan Country current conditions and snow report]
*[http://www.callaghancountry.com/current-conditions Callaghan Country current conditions and snow report]
*[http://www.callaghancountry.com/trailhead/documents/CCWAMap09web.pdf Callaghan Country trail map]
*[http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=embed&hl=en&geocode=&q=http:%2F%2Fmaps.google.com%2Fmaps%2Fms%3Fie%3DUTF8%26hl%3Den%26vps%3D1%26jsv%3D308a%26msa%3D0%26output%3Dnl%26msid%3D211028473906192888015.000499fd3fa16ead9a334&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=65.900117,67.675781&ie=UTF8&ll=50.172501,-123.189697&spn=0.104888,0.219727&t=p&z=12 Callaghan Country trail map]


==EAO links and documents==
==EAO links and documents==
Line 112: Line 106:


[http://www.eao.gov.bc.ca/new-website/homepages/whistler-nordic/whister.htm Whistler Nordic Centre Homepage]
[http://www.eao.gov.bc.ca/new-website/homepages/whistler-nordic/whister.htm Whistler Nordic Centre Homepage]
[[category: Skiing Trips]]
==Trail Building==
*[[Hanging Lake Trail Building]]
*[[Beverley Creek Trail Building]]

Latest revision as of 07:21, 12 April 2016

Avalanche Hazard
The route and terrain described here is capable of producing avalanches. Safe travel requires the skills and equipment to assess and mitigate avalanche hazards. A professionally taught training course is highly recommended.

Background

For the 2012-2013 season, Whistler Olympic Park (east) and Callaghan Country (west) have combined their operations under the Ski Callaghan banner. However the rules for backcountry access are different. Whistler Olympic Park offers a discounted backcountry parking and access ticket and Callaghan Country requires that all backcountry users purchase a regular cross country or snowshoe ticket.

Fees

Backcountry users fees are in effect for 2014-2015:

  • $15 per vehicle for access to Gin, Sproatt, Hanging Lake, Rainbow, Beverley and Puma via Whistler Olympic Park. Use of the Whistler Olympic Park groomed trails to reach the backcountry trailheads is permitted. Discounted to $10 on weekdays.
  • $25 per person for a nordic trail pass to reach Callaghan Lake and Telemagique Ridge via Callaghan Country base area. Discounted to $19 on weekdays.
  • $56.50 per person for a snowcat shuttle to Callaghan Lake (Nordic trail pass included). The shuttle leaves at 8:30am weekends and holidays only and reservations are required.

Parking

There are 4 possible parking areas. Overnight parking is only permitted at the Alexander Falls parking lot.

  • Whistler Olympic Park Day Lodge
  • Whistler Olympic Park Biathlon Range
  • Callaghan Country parking lot
  • Alexander Falls Recreation Site parking lot

Day Lodge

There are several parking lots around the day lodge (P1-P6). Some of these lots may be closed during XC races and Ski Jumping events (see the Whistler Olympic Park Event Schedule for dates), but there will always be something available. P3, P4 and P5 are all just a short walk from the day lodge. Washrooms, showers and food are all available at the day lodge. Overnight parking is not permitted and you must leave before the main gate closes (5pm in winter, 6pm in spring)

Biathlon Range

The Biathlon range is about 1km past the Day Lodge area. There are three parking lots (P7-P9), but only P9 will be plowed. Parking may be limited at the Biathlon Range during Biathlon events (see the Whistler Olympic Park Event Schedule for dates). There is a public washroom just inside the lower entrance to the Biathlon building. Overnight parking is not permitted and you must leave before the main gate closes (5pm in winter, 6pm in spring)

Callaghan Country

This parking lot is for day use only. You must purchase a regular price nordic trail pass or a Callaghan Lake shuttle to park here.

Alexander Falls Recreation Site

The Alexander Falls parking lot is outside the main gate at the Alexander Falls Recreation Site. Overnight parking is permitted. It's a 200m walk or ski along the main road to reach the Madeley Loop XC trail from this parking lot. This parking lot is outside the WOP and Callaghan Country boundaries, but you still have to buy the appropriate ticket to access the backcountry through either ski area.

Routes

Kml file with all the trails and access routes here: WOP_access.kml

Hanging Lake

Main article: Gin Peak

A marked wilderness ski trail climbs steeply up to Hanging Lake from the Whistler Olympic Park Biathlon Range. The trail can also be reached easily from the Day Lodge by skiing along the Olympic XC trail. There is good skiing around Hanging Lake, or continue up to Gin Peak or Rainbow Mountain

Beverley Creek

Main article: Beverley Creek

A marked wilderness ski trail goes up Beverley Creek,. The trail starts from the Biathlon Range and heads west. It drops down and parallels Madeley Loop XC trail north to the bridge over Beverely Creek. On the far side of the bridge the trail enters the forest again and goes up Beverley Creek. The Beverley Creek trail can also be reached from the Callaghan Country or the Overnight parking lot by following the Madeley Loop cross-country ski trail for 2km.

Puma Peak

Main article: Puma Peak

Puma Peak lies between Beverley Creek and Madeley Creek. The south summit (only a few meters lower than the main summit) offers a good ski trip. Follow the trail up Beverley Creek to reach the W side of the long ridge running south from Puma Peak. A system of open ramps heads up the west side of the ridge. At 1350m, switch to ramps on the east side of the ridge crest to reach gentle terrain in the alpine.

Madeley Lake

There is an alpine area above Madeley Lake with skiing in open meadows.

  • From the Whistler Olympic Park overnight lot via Madeley Road trail.
  • From the Biathlon Range Parking via a shortcut through the woods, Madeley Creek Trail, Norwegian Woods, Lunch Lake and Madeley Road. This access route is closed during all Biathlon competitions, as it crosses the Biathlon race course. There is some uphill skiing on the return to climb back up to the Biathlon Parking Lot.
  • From the Day Lodge Parking lot via Inside Passage, Madeley Creek Trail, Norwegian Woods, Lunch Lake and Madeley Road. There is some uphill skiing on the return to climb back up to the day lodge.

Telemagique Ridge

Main article: Telemagique Ridge
  • 3km up Callaghan FSR (mainline trail) an ungroomed road heads off on the right.
  • Follow the road, keeping left at two junctions.
  • The road ends at a landing at 1220m.
  • Follow the ridge crest uphill, heading north. On maps, the ridge looks very gentle, but there is a lot of micro terrain that makes travel and route finding a little more tricky. The upper part of the route follows a strange valley the runs along the top of the ridge.
  • The final summit is most easily ascended from the NW side. There is a nice ski run from the top down to Telemagique Lake.

Callaghan Lake

Main article: Callaghan Lake
  • It's 8.5km up Callaghan FSR (mainline trail) to Callaghan Lake, which takes about 2 hours to ski at a reasonable pace.
  • On weekends and Holidays Callaghan Country offers a snowcat shuttle to Callaghan Lake. The shuttle departs at 8:30am and reservations are required.
  • The west side of the lake has some nice yoyo skiing terrain on east facing slopes. This area is known as Morning Glory.
  • The north side of the lake has excellent open meadows for skiing on generally S facing slopes. The 1800m summit overlooking Cirque Lake is a good objective for a day trip.

Additional Notes

  1. The XC ski trails and the 21 mile creek watershed (Rainbow Lake) are closed to dogs. This closure includes the ski touring loop from Hanging Lake over to Beverley Creek and ascents of Rainbow Mountain from the south and west. Dog owners can access the Hanging Lake trail from the Biathlon Range.
  2. All snowcat / snowmobile access roads are closed to backcountry skiers for safety purposes. This includes the ski jump service road. Please do not use this route. Instead, access Hanging Lake from the Biathlon Parking Lot, or from the day lodge using the XC trails.
  3. Don't ever ski behind the biathlon range.
  4. Observe the nordic skier responsibility code on all XC trails.

Whistler Nordic Centre & Callahagn Valley Master Plan

Whistler Nordic Centre Homepage

Trail Building

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