Beverley Creek

VOC Ski Guide

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Difficulty Rating Beginner/Intermediate NTS Mapsheet 92 J/3 Route 7km/4hrs Starting Elevation 830m High Point 1609m

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Beverley Creek is deep narrow valley on the west side of Rainbow Mountain. The lower part of the creek is very steep on both sides, but the upper valley opens up with a nice variety of ski terrain. Beginner skiers will appreciate the gentle grade climbing up the valley beside the creek, and the open tree skiing in the east fork of the creek. It's an easy climb all the way up to the pass with 21 Mile creek and over into the Rainbow Lake area.

There's also no shortage of steep. open terrain. Runs NW of Beverley Lake are particularly good, and the slopes above Beverley Lake lead to the summit of Rainbow Mountain.

Access

Access is from Whistler Olympic Park, the cross-country skiing, biathlon and ski jumping facility in the Callaghan Valley. Whistler Olympic Park is at the far end of Callaghan Valley Road, which leaves highway 99 north of Brandywine Falls, about 20km south of Whistler. The backcountry access trails begin from the Biathlon Range Parking Lot, which is about 1km past the main Day Lodge on Callaghan Valley Road. Overnight parking is only permitted at the Alexander Falls Recreation Site parking lot outside the main gate. Parking here adds an extra 1.5km of skiing along groomed trails. Whistler Olympic Park normally closes in mid April, and the road is gated just after Alexander Falls. After the Olympic Park is closed, park at Alexander Falls and use the unmaintained cross-country trails to reach the backcountry access trailheads.

Route

• Park in the Biathlon Spectator Parking lot (P8) located on the left as you drive towards the Biathlon building. This route is closed during all Biathlon competitions, as it crosses the Biathlon race course. Use an alternate route if there is a competition in progress.
• 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.
• Do not go up Beverley creek, but rather pick up the trail markers 50m west of the bridge over the creek.
• The marked route goes along the ridge between Beverley Creek and Madeley Creek to a lake
• On the far side of the lake the route intersects the Rainbow Madeley Trail. The main route up Beverley Creek continues north and traverses back to Beverley Creek. The route to Puma Peak leaves the main trail here heading west.
• The marked route ends at the fork in Beverley Creek at 1150m. From here the best options are all between the two branches of the creek, with easier terrain to the right and steeper terrain to the left.

With enough snow, it's also possible to ski directly up the creek, beginning on the east side of the bridge. This route is more difficult and takes longer than skiing the marked route along the ridge. Watch out for open water and weak snow bridges!

Alternate routes

Alternately, you can access Beverley Creek using the XC trails, but the $6 trail ticket is required.

• From Callaghan Country, follow Madeley Creek Trail
• From the Day Lodge, follow Outrun, Inside Passage then Madeley Creek trail
• When the low elevation snowpack is thin, it's best to climb high on the XC trails and cut over to the big lake on the ridge between beverley creek and madeley creek. Take Norwegian Woods trail to the east side of the final bridge over Madeley Creek, then head uphill to the east to join up with the Rainbow Madeley trail. This gets you up to 950m elevation before entering the forest.

Hazards

1. Avalanche terrain - ATES Challenging