Whistler Olympic Park

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Revision as of 19:27, 1 December 2009 by imported>ScottN (→Beverley Creek)
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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

There are two separate 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. Both facilities provide access to excellent backcountry skiing areas.

2010 Winter Olympics

The Biathlon and Day Lodge parking lots will be closed to the public for the duration of the 2009-2010 winter season. The nordic core area will also be closed for grand stand constuction, and other preparations for the olympics. The route to Hanging Lake will be inaccessible for the whole season. Routes up Beverley Creek may be accessed from the Callaghan Country base via the Madeley Loop trail ($6 BC access trail ticket required).

Official Policy

Free access routes shown in red.
Access routes on XC ski trails shown in blue.

Whistler Olympic Park is situated in an ideal spot for many backcountry trips. The management at Whistler Olympic Park encourages people to come and use the parking lots and facilities as a start to their trip; however we ask that backcountry users follow a few simple steps in order to help us ensure the safety of all user’s of the Whistler Olympic Park. You as the Back Country Person venturing into the Back Country by way of crossing the property / tenure of Whistler Olympic Park must follow the following criteria;

  1. You will need to have and display a valid pass which includes as part of it our liability waiver
  2. This pass can be obtained thru the Ski Shop in the lower level of the day lodge during normal operating hours (9am thru 5pm) seven days per week. (2008 /09 season closes April 19th 2009). Passes for Callaghan Country may be obtained at the Callaghan Country base area.
  3. There is no charge for this pass / it will have the date with B/C (Back Country) written on the front of it.
  4. The user must also sign a disclaimer waiver at the ski shop and verbally acknowledge to the staff member that “He” or “She” acknowledges the inherent risk of entering the Back Country and that they relieve Whistler Olympic Park of any responsibility towards them.
  5. The user must also leave a visible parking ticket on the dash of their vehicle (obtain at ski shop) with their name and contact phone number with the date of arrival into the parking lot the expected time of the trip / their destination and the time they expect to be back in the parking lot this is to help our on site patrol account for people and cars during sweep at the end of the operational day.
  6. If this information is not clearly displayed it could result in and emergency call out by the Search & Rescue; the RCMP and / or having your vehicle towed
  7. In the interest of keeping your party out of hazardous areas (designated machinery routes) we ask that you please acquire a map and ask staff about current events and the most direct route to your trailhead. Whistler Olympic Park is host to many events in a season which change the dynamics of the site dramatically. During competition parking lots might become full, accreditation might be needed to access certain areas, or the range might be in use. Obviously these events will change the everyday movement of persons wishing to access certain areas. A stop at the Day lodge gives the staff an opportunity to direct people in a way that will ensure safety and reduce confusion
  8. Using any of our trails to ski either on the ascent or the decent voids the B/C pass and the normal trail usage fee would apply (Note: this is also true for usage of the trails on the “Pooched Loop” where a proper trail pass must be purchased; cost $6.00)
  9. All pets must be maintained on a leash at all times within W.O.P. land / tenure and not released until well into the forest.

Please Note: The Ski Jump area and the immediate area below the chairlift is RESTRICTED to all public AT ALL TIMES. You will be asked to leave if found around the ski jump / chairlift structures or on or near the adjacent North and South slopes of the ski jump complex

The presence of a RED FLAG on the Biathlon range means it is in use, and thus the entire area behind the range is RESTRICTED for obvious safety reasons. You will be asked to leave if found in this area during shooting. (see Day lodge for alternate route)

Do not interrupt a competition for any reason i.e. cross the biathlon or cross country stadiums. Competitions take a lot of time and organization, please respect the event.

If not sure …..just ask we are here to help everyone…… Thank you, and enjoy your trip.

Additional Notes

  1. It is not possible to register or get tickets at the Biathlon building. If you want to park by the Biathlon building, check in at the day lodge first then go park by the Biathlon building.
  2. 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.
  3. 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, or from the day lodge using the XC trails.
  4. Don't ever ski behind the biathlon range. Some of the kids (biathletes in training) can be poor shots.
  5. Observe the nordic skier responsibility code on all XC trails.
  6. If you arrive early in the morning (before the day lodge opens), please leave a note on your dash stating your destination and expected return time.

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. Anyone who is interested in helping out with developing the trails should contact User:ScottN.

Parking

There are 3 main parking areas - The Nordic day lodge, the Biathlon Building, and Callaghan Country. WOP has published a handy map showing all the parking lots.

Day Lodge

There are several parking lots around the day lodge (P1-P6). Some of these lots may be closed during World Cup XC 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. Tickets, vehicle registration, nordic trail maps, washrooms, showers and food are all available at the day lodge.

The Day Lodge parking lots will be closed from September 1 2009 to May 1 2010 for the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Biathlon Range

The Biathlon range is about 1km past the Day Lodge area. There are three parking lots (P7-P9), the main one being the Biathlon Spectator Parking Lot (P8) on the left side. No parking will be available at the Biathlon Range during the World Cup Biathlon events (see the Whistler Olympic Park Event Schedule for dates). Parking should not be a problem during smaller competitions. Tickets are not available at the Biathlon Range - please take care of tickets and vehicle registration at the day lodge first.

The Biathlon Range parking lots will be closed from September 1 2009 to May 1 2010 for the 2010 Winter Olympics.

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. Tickets, vehicle registration and nordic trail maps are available at the Callaghan Country base area.

Routes

Hanging Lake

  • Park in the Biathlon Spectator Parking lot (P8) located on the left as you drive towards the Biathlon building.
  • Head into the forest east of the Biathlon Range, to the right of the scoreboard. A flagged route starts here. The route and climbs steeply at first to get out of the dense second growth forest, then heads 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. This trail is for downhill traffic only and XC skiers may be going very fast around some blind corners.
  • There is some competing flagging higher up the slope. Flagging for the ski route is always tied around tree trunks, never hung from branches.
  • After a pair of switchbacks, the snowcat/snowmobile service road forks. The right branch is reserved for snowmobiles/snowcats but the left branch is ungroomed and available to BC skiers. Follow this narrow road a short distance until it forks again. Go right at the upper fork, and then when the road switchbacks to the left continue straight through some tangled trees to reach the end of a logging road.
  • Go along the logging road for perhaps 50m to where the snowmobile/snowcat service road emerges from the forest. The flagged route enters the forest 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 steeply uphill (avalanche hazard) 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 on a bench at the bottom of an open talus slope. To reach Hanging Lake, continue left along the bench, until it ends near the creek flowing out of Hanging Lake. Then climb steeply back to the right to gain a higher bench (below a cliff) that leads left to Hanging Lake.
Distance Location Elevation Position (NAD27)
0.0km Biathlon Parking 875m 10U 0491858E 5554703N
TBD Trailhead & start of flagging 875m 10U 0492001E 5554753N
TBD Leave logging road 945m (?) 10U 0492592E 5554652N (?)
TBD Cross main creek 1086m 10U 0493173E 5554707N
TBD First Bench 1239m 10U 0493513E 5554712N
TBD Second Bench below Talus Slope - end of flagging 1317m 10U 0493729E 5554661N
TBD Hanging Lake 1410m (?) 10U 0494017E 5555002N (?)

If the Biathlon Range parking is closed, an alternate start for this route is possible from the day lodge using the XC competition trails. Don't forget to purchase a $6 backcountry trail ticket at the day lodge. Bring an XC trail map since route finding is a bit tricky in the complicated XC trail network.

  • Start on Olympic XC Blue and cut over onto Olympic XC Red to the top of the first hill.
  • Take shortcuts on Olympic XC red to quickly reach the highest point on the trail. Head uphill and 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.
  • Return via Olympic XC Red, taking all shorcuts possible to return to the day lodge directly.

Beverley Creek

A marked wilderness ski route 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 orange flags 50m west of the bridge over the creek. The flagged route goes along the ridge between Beverley Creek and Madeley Creek to a lake, across the lake then traverses back to Beverley Creek. The flagged 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.
  • Beverley Lake can be reached by climbing up through steep forest. Slopes above Beverley Lake lead to Rainbow Mountain, or there is some nice north facing ski terrain north of the lake, dropping down towards the Soo River.
  • The peak 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

Madeley Lake

Routes to Madeley Lake use XC trails, so you must purchase a $6 backcountry access pass at the Day Lodge or Callaghan Country Base. Callaghan Country is the most convenient parking area for skiing to Madeley Lake.

  • From the Callaghan Country Parking lot via Madeley Road trail. Return via same route since it's a 2 way trail all the way.
  • From the Biathlon 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. Return to the Biathlon Range via Madeley Road, Lunch Lake, Norwegian Woods and a shortcut through the forest. 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. There is some uphill skiing at the end 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. Return to the day lodge via Madeley Road, Inside Passage and Outrun. There is some uphill skiing at the end to climb back up to the day lodge.

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.
  • 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

  • 3km up Callaghan FSR (mainline trail) an ungroomed road heads off on the right. This turnoff is signed as the "Into the Woods" trail.
  • 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.
  • You must buy a $6 ticket to use the grooming on mainline trail, or break your own parallel trail for the first 3km along Callaghan FSR.

Whistler Nordic Centre & Callahagn Valley Master Plan

Whistler Nordic Centre Homepage

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