| Whistler is known as a four-season resort, with | | | | January often has the best snowfalls of the year |
| activities for all the family available all year-round. If | | | | (Jan 2006 was the snowiest month in Whistler for 25 |
| you are planning a trip, when should you come? | | | | years). It also offers discounted accommodation (you |
| First we must divide this question into two parts. If | | | | can safely wait to the last minute to get a great deal |
| you are coming for the legendary skiing on Whistler's | | | | on a beautiful chalet or condo), and no lift lines, |
| 8000+ acres, you have to choose sometime | | | | except on weekend powder days, when the locals |
| between November and April. Although there is skiing | | | | will crowd the lifts lines at 8.00 to catch the fresh |
| available later than April it is not for serious skiers, | | | | tracks. But it can be cold, and it gets dark early. |
| due to the combination of marginal snow conditions | | | | January is the best month for hard-core skiers. |
| and limited mechanized uplift. Within this time, you | | | | February and March are more crowded, but more |
| should definitely avoid November, as although | | | | mellow. Avoid Presidents Week in February and |
| occasionally there is good snow, more often than not | | | | Spring Break in March and you could have the best |
| it is too thin on the ground. So your choice is | | | | of all worlds: plenty of time for snowfall accumulation |
| between the months from December to April. What | | | | to have built up, plenty of buzz in town but easy |
| are the main characteristics of each month? | | | | access to the best tables. |
| December is a game of two halves. The early part | | | | April is mainly for the British market, who come over |
| will find the slopes deserted, great deals on | | | | in droves during their Easter holidays. The peculiarity |
| accommodation and restaurants and a lottery with | | | | of the April snow is that there is more of it at the |
| respect to snow. If you have come in a great early | | | | top of the mountain, but less at the bottom, so don't |
| snow year, this will be a fabulous time to visit. If not, | | | | bother to pay the premium for a ski-in, ski-out condo |
| bring your rock skis and plan to spend some time in | | | | as it may not be possible. Last minute Whistler |
| Whistler's great spas. Later in December, and | | | | accommodation discounts are widely available in April. |
| especially over Christmas and New Year, you will pay | | | | In the non-skiing season you can pretty much write |
| the steepest prices of the season, have trouble | | | | off the autumn: too cold to swim in the lakes and |
| getting a table in any of the good restaurants and | | | | too much rain. May and June can be fabulous |
| stand in some brutal line-ups on the Harmony Chair. | | | | weather-wise; perfect conditions for white-water |
| However you will experience the rush which goes | | | | rafting in the snow run-off and great golfing weather. |
| with peak season in a top resort: the buzzing nightlife, | | | | But you will probably have to leave it to July and |
| the parades, the fireworks and the thrill of First Night | | | | August if you are looking for warm water in |
| in the Village. | | | | Whistler's beautiful lakes. |