DISCLAIMER - These are simply suggestions, from a local. Ski and ride within your own capabilities. I am not to be held responsible for injuries or decisions made based on this guide. These are suggestions only! Ride and ski with care folks! Also, don’t go sharing this with everyone! keep it on the down low!

In general I usually recommend skiing Blackcomb. It has steeper terrain, is less busy than Whistler and usually they get their lifts open quicker. Whistler has much more avalanche terrain to mitigate danger from, so it takes them longer to open on pow days. However, in the 2025/2026 season, both mountains alpine lifts on pow days opened at similar times.

Order of lift openings on Blackcomb (usually) Blackcomb Gondola → Catskinner (open right away) → Jersey Cream → Crystal Ridge → Glacier and 7th Usually open at the same time.

• If you are up early on pow day just lap Catskinner 2-3 times then wait for them to drop the rope and go ski Jersey → Lap Jersey a few times then venture over to Crystal if it isn't too windy and the lift is spinning → A few Crystal laps then head over the Glacier. 7th is great but it is far to get to from Crystal

Order of lift openings on Whistler (usually) Gondola → red and green chair → Harmony sometimes cracks before peak, usually at the same time. Lap red or green chair until the alpine opens or go wait in line at Peak or Harmony on a pow day

Scenario 1: 25+ CM pow day

• Everyone and their mother will be out today. Get to the lift before 715AM and be prepared to wait an hour for them to open it. Some folks get in line at 630AM. Go with your crew, lock down your spot in line - send a few soldiers out for coffees and to use the bathroom before the lift opens. It is way better to wait in line for an hour and ski fresh pow than wait in line for two and ski slightly less fresh pow

• It will take them a while to get the alpine open so be ready to ski lower mountain lifts until the high ones open. If you were out late the night before and do not beat the rush ski right over to Crystal or Glacier and catch it opening and can still have a sick day.

Scenario 2: 8 - 12 CM fresh snow overnight

• These are my favourite days. Everything opens quick, the resort is skiing well Go shred wherever! The leeward aspects get filled in nicely

Scenario 3: Storm Skiing (Windy, snowing hard, high freezing level)

• Ski Blackcomb over Whistler → Crystal might open, jersey should be open. If these lifts are not open it means it’s very stormy and probably bad conditions. Crystal is great because the trees offer perspective and you can see stuff.

Scenario 4: Blue Bird

• 7th Heaven is beautiful, it will be busy though. Ski the alpine anywhere its very pretty.

Ultimate Move:

• This used to work better when Whistler Patrol would take their sweet time opening the alpine. But now that they are quicker its harder to pull off. Here it is; Ski pow on Blackcomb all morning, then head over to Whistler at 1230PM and right as you get off the Peak to Peak gondola they open Peak Chair. You then ski to Peak Chair (wait in a long line, it moves quick - or you sneak in with people, respectfully) and shred a few peak laps and call it a day. The ultimate move. Two people max for this move.

Lessons & Guide

• Whistler Blackcomb Snow School - first-timers, kids' camps, women's clinics.

• Extremely Canadian - expert guiding, steeps clinics.

Not Into Downhill?

• Cross-country & snowshoe at Lost Lake — gear rental at the PassivHaus, 30+ km tracked trails from the Village.

• Whistler Olympic Park (Callaghan, 25 min) — Nordic, biathlon, tube park, snowshoe.