Whistler Olympic Park
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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
For the 2010 season, Whistler Sports Legacies Society is operating all the XC ski trails on both the eastern (Whistler Olympic Park) and western (Callaghan Country) portions of the trail system. The backcountry Lodge at Conflict Lake continues to be run by Callaghan Country Wilderness Adventures Ltd.
Fees
New user fees for backcountry users are in effect for 2010-2011:
- $20 per person full XC ticket if you want to use the groomed XC ski trails
- $10 per person Snowshoe/Toboggan/Backcountry Access (STBA) pass if you are not using any groomed XC ski trails.
Fees will be collected at the main gate as you drive in to Whistler Olympic Park.
Parking
There are 2 main parking areas - The Nordic day lodge and the Biathlon Building. The Callaghan Country Parking lot will not be plowed for the 2010/2011 winter season. Overnight parking will not be permitted in the WOP parking lots. The main gate will be locked after hours, so make sure you get back to your car in time to get out. Closing times are 4:30pm in the winter and 6:00pm in the spring. 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. Washrooms, showers and food are all available at the day lodge.
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. 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.
Callaghan Country
This parking lot will not be plowed for 2010/2011.
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.
- 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. Some of the kids (biathletes in training) can be poor shots.
- Observe the nordic skier responsibility code on all XC trails.
Routes
Hanging Lake
A marked wilderness ski trail climbs steeply up to Hanging Lake from the Whistler Olympic Park Biathlon Range. There is good skiing around Hanging Lake, or continue up to Gin Peak or Rainbow Mountain
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.
Madeley Lake
Routes to Madeley Lake use XC trails, so you must purchase a $20 XC trail ticket.
- 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 $20 XC trail ticket to use the grooming on mainline trail, or break your 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 $20 XC trail ticket to use the grooming on mainline trail, or break your own parallel trail for the first 3km along Callaghan FSR.
Links
- Whistler Olympic Park main website
- Whistler Olympic Park snow report
- Whistler Olympic Park webcams
- Whistler Olympic Park trail map #1 with contour lines (1340kb)
- Whistler Olympic Park trail map #2 without contour lines (620kb)
- Whistler Olympic Park parking map
- Callaghan Country website
- Callaghan Country current conditions and snow report
- Callaghan Country trail map