CHRISTMAS SEASON AND EARLY SEASON CHALLENGES
Early Season General
Mother Nature has presented us with a few challenges here in the early season, but our teams have taken advantage of optimal weather conditions to make snow and expand our terrain offerings, and will continue to do so as conditions permit.
We are expecting cooler temperatures and inbound snow heading in to the holiday weekend, which bodes well for our snowmaking and terrain expansion efforts – and fun for guests who are arriving to celebrate the holiday here in Whistler.
Of course, weather is dynamic and can always change, so we encourage guests to visit the Lift and Terrain Status page on our website, download the My Epic app, stay close to our Instagram, Facebook pages, and tune in to Mountain FM locally for real time lift, terrain and trail status updates.
Christmas Season
This weekend, forecasts are projecting cooler temperatures with substantial snowfall occurring largely on Monday. While this is encouraging, it may present some challenges to our Patrol and Mountain Ops teams as they work hard to open up terrain, especially given the recent milder temperatures and rain we have received.
Incoming guests are encouraged to plan ahead and know before they go. It is always important to be aware of the terrain available, the forecast and the conditions. We have many tools and resources to help guests plan their trip, including our website, social media and the My Epic app. We also encourage guests to visit Drive BC for information on road conditions, as well as the Resort Municipality Of Whistler (RMOW) website, which is a great source of local information. Use them and always bear in mind that conditions on-mountain and in-resort can change.
No matter the weather, there are many ways to enjoy your time in Whistler. Guests can visit our events page, the RMOW website and Tourism Whistler for a long list of fun activities and experience over the holidays and into the new year. Peak 2 Peak Gondola Sightseeing, which features our two First Nations-wrapped cabins, part of the Gondola Gallery by Epic Pass, which is a collaboration of artists sharing a love of mountains and their diversity through unique stories and art. F&B options on mountain and in the valley, including Umbrella Bar, Glacier Creek, the Roundhouse, Rendezvous, Merlin’s, Dusty’s and GLC Incredible events and experiences, such as the all-new Rockstar DJ Cat (mobile DJ booth playing great tunes and delighting guests), Fire & Ice kicking off New Year’s Eve in Skier’s Plaza, Vallea Lumina, the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre, the bubly Tube Park and Ziptrek Eco Tours.
As of Thursday, December 20, we have 19 lifts open based on current conditions, servicing approximately 24 percent of available terrain (2,000/8,171 skiable acres). At this time last year, we were able to capitalize on favourable conditions and open up more of the mountains and with that, more lifts. That said, our teams are ready to mobilize and make more snow at a moment’s notice, and work with the new snow we are forecasted to receive to continue expanding terrain, so we encourage guests to regularly check our website, our My Epic app, and social channels for updates.
Lift Ticket Prices
Our Pass Products are currently off sale for the 2023/24 season, but they remain the best value for guests. With that in mind, the best option for guests looking to purchase lift tickets is to buy online and in advance. You will always save more this way compared to purchasing at the ticket window day-of. Lift tickets are refundable, so if you aren’t inclined to ski due to the current conditions, you have the flexibility to get your money back. If you have a Day Pass or other Pass product, while it is not refundable, it can be used at any point during the season.