Beverley Creek
| ||||||||
| ||||||||
| <bcmap>lat=50.170 | ||||||||
| ||||||||
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
A marked wilderness ski trail goes up Beverley Creek, starting from the bridge over Beverely Creek on Madeley Creek Trail. Cross the bridge to the west side and head into the forest on the right. 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, across the lake then traverses back to Beverley Creek. The marked route ends at the fork in Beverley Creek at 1150m.
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!
There are several possible destinations in upper Beverley Creek:
- The normal route on Rainbow Mountain can be reached by following the right fork of Beverley creek up to the pass with 21 Mile creek. Stay to the climbers left side of the valley the whole way up to avoid the worst of the avalanche terrain.
- Beverley Lake can be reached by climbing up through steep forest. Slopes above Beverley Lake lead to Rainbow Mountain, or there is some nice northwest facing ski terrain west of the lake, dropping down towards the Soo River.
- Puma South Peak, which lies between Beverley Creek and Madeley Creek, can be climbed on skis via it's long south ridge. To start, head NW from the biggest lake on the ridge between Madeley and Beverley Creeks. The best route begins on the west side of the ridge, then moves over to the east side higher up. Open talus slopes can be connected all the way up to the alpine.
There are several options to get to the start of the route up Beverley Creek. The most direct is from the Biathlon Range:
- Park in the Biathlon Spectator Parking lot (P8) located on the left as you drive towards the Biathlon building. This access route is closed during all Biathlon competitions, as it crosses the Biathlon race course.
- 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.
Alternately, you can access the start of the route 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
- Avalanche terrain - ATES Challenging