ski trails – Whistler Museum and Archives Society

Ski Trails and Whistler’s First SeasonSki Trails and Whistler’s First Season

December 10, 2024 Whistler Museum 0 Comments

In January 1966, skiers in the Lower Mainland saw the beginning of two new ventures: Whistler Mountain held its opening day on January 15 and Ski Trails published its first issue on January 20 (although a typographical error dates the first issue as January 20, 1965). Luckily for us at the Whistler Museum, this means that the opening season of Whistler Mountain is documented throughout the first volume of Ski Trails, which was published every two weeks.

The aim of Ski Trails, according to editor Michael Horsey, was “to provide an informative and entertaining service for BC skiers” while targeting “the average recreational skier who wants to know about new skiing areas, new products and what other skiers are thinking about.” To that end, they published longer pieces detailing specific resorts and ski areas and what they had to offer, beginning with Whistler Mountain in their first issue. They also published articles on new ski signs and ski fashions, regular columns that listed new developments and events, and letters from readers, as well as more comical pieces that commented on the ski culture of the 1960s. Throughout their first volume, Ski Trails also published race results for the various races and ski clubs in the province, often including names that would become very familiar in the Whistler area such as Andree Vajda (Janyk), Bob Calladine and Karen Dokka (Vagelatos).

The cover of the first issue of *Ski Trails*, including the erroneous date. *Ski Trails*, Vol 1, No 1

In its first issue, Ski Trails announced that “The hottest skiing news for Lower Mainland skiers is coming from the cold, cold slopes of Whistler Mountain” and listed the different facilities, accommodations and apres options available. It would appear that the early season did not go off without a hitch, however, and by the second issue of January 29, Ski Trails reported on long line ups for the gondola and T-bars that still weren’t in operation. This trend continued into February, with a photo caption that read “Backed up like rush hour traffic, these skiers queue at Tower 9 at the Whistler chairlift.” Because Ski Trails reported on ski areas throughout the province, we know that this problem was not unique to Whistler Mountain and that all of the mountains considered local to the Lower Mainland were experiencing capacity difficulties. The staff at Ski Trails attributed this to a “ski boom” of about 80,000 skiers in the area, leading to “predictable results” including long lineups and crowded slopes.

This photo of Tower 9 of the Red Chair appeared in the third issue of *Ski Trails*. *Ski Trails*, Vol 1, No 3

For Whistler Mountain, this problem was partially alleviated by the February 26 issue, which reported that “the opening of the two T-bars at Whistler has reduced line-ups and is giving skiers a full day of skiing.” At that time Whistler had one T-bar located at the valley and another above the chairlift (today’s Red Chair) near its current location.

Throughout Whistler Mountain’s first season, Ski Trails continued to update skiers about new developments and events such as the First Aid Ski Patrol fundraiser to help build a ski patrol cabin, road conditions and plans for the next season, while continuing to situate the ski area within the context of other ski areas in the province.

*Ski Trails* also reported on what the ski patrol was up to at Whistler Mountain. *Ski Trails*, Vol 1, No 6

As we head into another winter season in Whistler, skiers (and now snowboarders) are sure to experience a very different Whistler Mountain than the one reported throughout Ski Trails in 1966. While we have quite a few issues of Ski Trails in our collection spanning from 1966 to 1973, we do not have a full run. If you happen to come across an issue while cleaning out an attic or crawlspace, we would love to see it!

The Big Test: The 1967 du Maurier International Ski RaceThe Big Test: The 1967 du Maurier International Ski Race

March 26, 2024 Whistler Museum 0 Comments

Just over a year after Whistler Mountain opened in 1966, the Garibaldi Olympic Development Association (GODA) hosted the second annual du Maurier International. This race brought in top ski racers from around the world.

This competition was a test to see if Whistler could handle a race of this calibre, in hopes of eventually hosting the Olympics.

So, how did the first international ski race at Whistler go? Thanks to the publication Ski Trails, we have the full coverage of the event.

This advert for the race ran in *Ski Trails* and also promoted the new features found on Whistler Mountain that season.

The du Maurier International was created in partnership with the Canadian Amateur Ski Association (CASA) and du Maurier Cigarettes. The cigarette company saw the potential for advertising and promotion through skiing events. After receiving approval from the International Ski Federation (FIS), the first competition was held in 1966 and was split in two halves at different locations, Mt. Norquay (Alberta) and Mont-Sainte-Anne (Quebec). The race consisted of two disciplines, slalom and giant slalom, in both men’s and women’s categories.

The Whistler event took place January 28-29, 1967. CASA was responsible for organizing the event, while du Maurier Cigarettes sponsored the promotion and transportation for the athletes. Because the resort was fairly new with limited resources, there was a lot of planning and consideration for racers and spectators.

A crowd gathers at the bottom of the slalom course located alongside the Valley T-Bar. The weekend saw a mix of conditions (rain, snow, wind, and fog) that affected visibility for both racers and spectators. MacLaurin Collection

Luckily, it was a big snow year and the courses were well-packed and many racers complimented the construction. Aside from Canadian skiers, the race drew in professional athletes from the United States, Austria, France, Switzerland, Italy, Norway, Sweden, West Germany, and Finland.

Spectators were charged an entry fee of $1 or $2 if they chose to use the gondola to view the race. Transportation options from Vancouver were a train via the Pacific Great Eastern Railway or a bus via Squamish Coachlines, GODA Charters, or Greyhound. Driving was an option but parking at today’s Creekside area was limited. The event organizers had parking available at Brandywine Falls, with a shuttle ready to transport the public to the base of the mountain. Though the organizers ensured there were extra trains and buses, transport did not go as smoothly as expected.

On both days, the giant slalom was scheduled at 9:30am and the slalom at 1:00pm. Some trains arrived halfway through the first race, and some buses did not leave Vancouver to make the two hour journey until 8:00am. As the race started at mid-station, it took about thirty minutes to hike up to the area, and by that time many spectators did not see much. The slalom was at the base of the mountain and easier to view.

It might be a little hard to see in the crowd, but here Nancy Greene is on the podium at the du Maurier race. MacLaurin Collection

The race results were particularly exciting for Canadians. Nancy Greene placed first in both races, beating France’s Christine Goitschel by two seconds in the slalom and Switzerland’s Ruth Adolf by four seconds in the giant slalom. In the men’s category, Norway’s Haakon Mjoen won slalom and Austria’s Werner Bleiner won giant slalom, though Canadian Peter Duncan placed fifth in both races.

Did Whistler pass the test? Yes and no. Hosting Whistler’s first international skiing event proved the mountain terrain was capable of holding Olympic level competitions; however, the resort still did not have enough resources to accommodate the athletes and number of spectators. The success of this event strengthened GODA’s 1976 Olympic bid, but ultimately these Games went to a previous host (Innsbruck, Austria). This was due to a few factors. The summer Olympics was scheduled to be in Montreal, and the International Olympic Committee did not want to have two Olympics in the same country in the same year. After awarding the bid to Denver, Colorado, it was rejected by the state due to environmental concerns. Whistler was reconsidered, but the new NDP provincial government did not support this round. Though disappointing, it gave Whistler more time to develop its resources.

Trail Names Celebrate History: Own A Piece ThursdayTrail Names Celebrate History: Own A Piece Thursday

February 5, 2019 Whistler Museum 0 Comments

On Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains, names are often used to tell a story. Even names that began as simple descriptions of a place have evolved over time to share a part of Whistler’s history (after all, there is nothing round about the Roundhouse these days). Names of trails, lifts and structures on the mountains are recorded on trail maps, in operational lists and, most visibly, on the signs that direct skiers and snowboarders around Whistler and Blackcomb.

The trail names of the two mountains have hundreds of stories behind them, some hotly contested and some documented. Because we’ve got names on our minds, we’re sharing the meaning behind a few here.

One of the best-known stories is likely the tale behind Burnt Stew, which actually occurred before Whistler Mountain even opened for skiing. During the summer of 1958, museum founder Florence Petersen and friends Kelly Fairhurst and Don Gow were camping on Whistler and, forgetting to stir the dinner left cooking in an old billycan, the smell of burning stew began to waft through the air, setting up the moniker we still use to this day.

Florence Petersen and friend Don Gow enjoy a (possibly overcooked) meal in Burnt Stew Basin. Petersen Collection.

Other trails were named by or for people who loved to ski them. Chunky’s Choice was the favourite run of Chunky Woodward, one of the founding directors of Garibaldi Lifts Ltd. and a member of the Vancouver department store Woodward family. Over on Blackcomb, Xhiggy’s Meadow was named for Peter Xhignesse, one of the original ski patrollers on Blackcomb Mountain.

A Whistler Mountain trail map from simpler days. Whistler Mountain Ski Corporation Collection.

Many of the names on Blackcomb reference the valley’s forestry history, which was active into the 1970s. A catskinner, for example, is a tractor driver, a cruiser is a logger who surveys standing timber for volume and a springboard is a board used to provide a place to stand when hand-felling large trees.

There are also names that describe something about the trail. According to our sources, Boomer Bowl gets its name from the vibration that rattled windows in Alpine Meadows when the bowl was bombed by avalanche control. Windows today may not rattle in quite the same way, but it is still noticeable in Alpine when avalanche control is active near Harmony.

While trail names don’t change frequently, the signs they are inscribed on are replaced every so often. On Thursday, February 7, the museum and Whistler Blackcomb Foundation are offering the chance to own a piece of Whistler’s mountain history with the sale of over 250 unique trail signs taken off of Whistler and Blackcomb as a fundraiser for both organizations.

Some of the signs have quite literally taken over the Whistler Museum.

Whether you love the trail the name signifies or the significance behind the name (or you just really want to let people know when to lower their restraining device) chances are you’ll find a sign that reminds you of days spent on the mountains.

Signs will be available for purchase at whistlerblackcombfoundation.com from 10 am on February 7. Signs can be picked up from the Whistler Museum during our opening hours on February 9, 10 & 14.

If you want to learn more about the stories behind trail names, take a look here and here.

Plans for Lost Lake: Then and NowPlans for Lost Lake: Then and Now

January 31, 2015 Whistler Museum 0 Comments

By guest blogger, Diana Caputo

In 1980 Alta Lake Sports Club compiled a proposal to build cross-country ski trails in the Lost Lake area. At that time cross-country skiing was on the rise and was already a major sporting activity, with many competitor resorts progressing with new terrain for the sport.

The goal of the initial idea was to offer cross-country ski trails suitable for a variety of purposes; the Floodlight run was designed for evening skiing, and runs to support competitions were in the works. It was important to provide grooming and separate hiking trails in winter but also attract hikers, walkers and runners in summer.

The network of trails proposed were split into three areas:

School Ground to Lost Lake
Northwest of Lost Lake
High plateau north of Lost Lake

alsc map003 — Proposal for the Construction of Crosscountry ski trails in the Lost Lake Municipal Park, 1980.

The proposal went ahead, although not to the exact specifications. So what has been changed and what is it like today?

https://www.whistler.ca/sites/default/files/related/rmow_cross_country_ski_and_snow_shoe_map.pdf — Current map: https://www.whistler.ca/

Comparing the two maps we can see traces of the original proposed trails in the current landscape; however, today Lost Lake offers much more than originally envisioned. Even the cross-country ski trails boast a wide range of skill-levels. Although the former idea of the Floodlight run is not as originally intended, there are currently four kilometres of lit trail constructed for night skiing. Besides that, there are many snowshoe and Nordic hiking trails provided in winter; although, on the down side, winter walkers are not permitted nowadays.

As soon as the snow hits, it is quite busy on the Lost Lake trails. Unfortunately, the snow conditions over the last two years have been less than ideal, which has caused delays for opening day. Because of this recent pattern of reluctant snowfall, the Municipality of Whistler is considering installing snowmakers to avoid delays in the coming years.

In summer the Lost Lake Park provides much more than planned back in 1980. Lost Lake attracts hikers, runners, dog-walkers, and bikers, with its great multi-use trail network. Lost Lake even offers a disc golf course, sandy beaches, docks, and BBQ areas. Not a bad place to spend your summer days.

[Click to view summer map]

Lost Lake Park also offers cross-country ski, snowshoe, and bike rentals, as well as lessons, and guided tours of the area. I can’t stress enough how enjoyable and impressive the park is in both summer and winter. We’re fortunate to have such a place here in Whistler.