My Favourite Whistler-Blackcomb Runs

I currently have a couple of mates who are over enjoying the ski season at Whistler Blackcomb and having just spent a season there and reminiscing a bit on the season myself, I thought I’d recap all of my favourite runs by difficulty.

Favourite Green Runs

3 Votes: Ego Bowl (Whistler Mountain) – Great little cruiser to start off with, particularly on powder days, where plenty of it can be found in the trees off to the left and right. Usually much less crowded that Whiskey Jack.

Accessed by: Emerald Express, Big Red Express, Whistler Village Gondola

2 Votes: Upper & Lower Olympic (Whistler) – When the snow is good, it’s a fantastic run to finish off the day. Particularly after working on the lifts, I always enjoyed burning down to the bottom on Olympic without the Mountain Patrol slowing you down.

Accessed by: continuing on from the bottom of Emerald Express.

1 Vote: Burnt Stew Trail (Whistler) – Great top half gives you great views of the Black Tusk, it takes a left turn and shows you the wide expanses of Symphony bowl along with the back side of Harmony. Main access point to the Symphony Express. Gets a bit flat towards the bottom so not ideal for snowboarders.

Accessed by: Harmony Express, Peak Express via Mathews Traverse

Honourable Mention: Sunset Boulevard to Last Resort (Blackcomb) – Nice way to get back to the bottom of Solar Coaster from the bottom of 7^th Heaven. Get’s a bit flat in places but particularly good views after snowfall.

Favourite Blue Runs

3 Votes: Rock’n’Roll (Blackcomb) – Quite possibly my second favourite run of all. Fantastic when its groomed, fantastic on a powder day, fantastic in the slush and when its icy, great views, it has everything.

Accessed by: Glacier Express via Crystal Traverse, Crystal Chair

2 Votes: Ridge Runner (Blackcomb) – Another awesome neighbour of Rock’n’Roll, its almost as good in every way. Perhaps the fact that it’s a bit busier detracts a little from an otherwise great run.

Accessed by: Glacier Express via Crystal Traverse, Crystal Chair

1 Vote: The Saddle (Whistler) – Almost nothing beats a run down here, particularly when freshly groomed. Great vista of Rainbow Mountain across the valley and the Black Tusk behind, it sits in the saddle between Whistler Mountain and Little Whistler, hence the name. When pointing straight down, one can hit some pretty hairy speeds.

Accessed by: Harmony Express via Burnt Stew Trail, Peak Express via Mathews Traverse

Honourable Mention: Backstage Pass (Blackcomb) – Why this run never gets skied is beyond me because its as good as Ridge Runner. On a powder day, in fact, no one ever touches it so you can easily set multiple sets of fresh tracks down it.

Favourite Black Runs

3 Votes: Dave Murray Downhill (Whistler) – This is such a tough one to pick as there is a plethora of amazing black runs on both mountains. Dave Murray takes it because of: a) the fact it hosted the Winter Olympics alpine skiing events; and, b) it’s great fun. A great feeling when you nail through the toilet bowl section into the Weasel, a fast, off-cambre right-hander that’s just waiting to catch amateurs out. When ski racing down it, the Weasel becomes a jump that has to be landed on edge or else the crash barrier awaits. The lower sections are also great fun too. Super fast and super exciting. A great run to epitomize Whistler.

Accessed by: Garbanzo Express, Big Red Express via Upper Whiskey Jack to Orange Peel, Emerald Express via Upper Whiskey Jack to Orange Peel

2 Votes: Whistler Bowl (Whistler) – Comes in a very close second, provided it has snow recently. Other times its just bumped out to the extreme but when filled with powder, Whistler Bowl is epic.

Accessed by: Peak Express

1 Vote: Cougar Chutes (Blackcomb) – Again, you have to catch this on a good day as it is very exposed and can be pretty bare even on the deepest powder day if the wind is blowing right. Great pitch that works the legs and provides a spectacular view of the valley.

Accessed by: 7^th Heaven Express via Secret Bowl

Honourable Mention – Bear Paw (Whistler) – Off shoot of Dave Murray Downhill. Great run that is usually pretty quiet and allows access to some smart gladed runs.

Favourite Double Black Runs

N.B. Its worth noting that not all of the double black runs are marked, or named officially by Whistler Blackcomb. They also usually include cornices, moguls, trees and cliffs so take care if exploring.

3 Votes: V.D. Trees (Whistler) – On the lee slope of the Shale Slope and Air Jordan, there is no better place on a deep powder day. Great pitches, easily accessible, skied only by people who know what they’re doing.

Accessed by: Peak Express via Whistler Bowl then traverse above Shale Slope

2 Votes: Unsanctioned (Whistler) – This gladed run that branches off Bear Paw is another gem on a powder day. I stumbled on it with some mates after one of the biggest snowfalls of the season and it was just about the best day of skiing in my life.

Accessed by: Garbanzo Express via Dave Murray Downhill to Bear Paw

1 Vote: Ruby Bowl (Spanky’s Ladder) (Blackcomb) – Doesn’t need to be deep or even powder to be great, Ruby Bowl throws up some great steep pitches and some awesome free skiing terrain. Not as terrifying as Diamond or Sapphire Bowls but definitely as good.

Accessed by: Glacier Express to Spanky’s Ladder bootpack

Honourable Mention – Garbanzo Lift Line/International Trees (Whistler) – A bit tighter and gnarlier than V.D. Trees, it is prone to fallen logs for the unaware. For those just sticking to the lift line, you’ll still be rewarded with a sensational run.

For the really insane, there are 3 runs that you simply have to do whilst you are at Whistler Blackcomb:

1. West Cirque (Whistler) – Insanely steep, tight chute. If you fall, you will at best be injured. Just to get down it is an achievement  but the sense of reward afterwards is impressive. Accessed by: Peak Express via Upper Peak to Creek. The run begins in a narrow gap between the two Permanently Closed Areas at the top of Whistler Mountain.
2. Exhilaration (Whistler) – Don’t attempt it unless you have extremely fat conditions otherwise you will kill yourself on a rock. Extremely steep pitch but like West Cirque it is incredibly rewarding to conquer. Access by: Harmony Express and then boot packing up Little Whistler to the right of the chairlift.
3. Couloir Extreme (Blackcomb) – One of the steepest inbound, marked runs in the world, its another where the sense of satisfaction upon completion is boundless. Extremely scary on powder days because of the pitch, it feels like every turn you make will be an avalanche. Best to go 2-3 days after a heavy snowfall.