Long Awaited Alpine Terrain Opens This Weekend At Whistler Blackcomb (26-Jan-09)

WHISTLER, BC, January 26, 2009 – Symphony Bowl and the Peak Chair on Whistler Mountain are set to open

Symphony Bowl and the Peak Chair on Whistler Mountain are set to open Saturday, January 24 in addition to Blackcomb Glacier which opened Thursday, January 22. These three areas combined add over 1,700 acres of skiing and riding terrain, bringing the total skiable acres at Whistler Blackcomb to 7,000. 

“I was in the Blackcomb Glacier area skiing today and it was great,” says Doug MacFarlane, Whistler Blackcomb Mountain Manager. “Conditions are soft packed and really nice. With the Peak Chair and the Symphony Amphitheatre opening on Saturday, guests will have access to truly spectacular areas of the mountains and with the sun in the forecast, the views will be breathtaking.”

All operations crews at Whistler Blackcomb from groomers, to snowmakers, to patrol and forecasters have been working hard every day to safely open more terrain for guests. A deep seated instability in the snow pack has been a challenge this season. Extensive avalanche control work by the patrol team, coupled with a warmer then cooler weather pattern this past few weeks has resulted in a more stable snow pack allowing the terrain to open. Despite the terrain openings the underlying weakness has not gone away so it is important for guests to obey on-mountain signage and initiate backcountry access with appropriate equipment, knowledge and partners.

Whistler Heli Skiing is also open and available for excursions. All heli-adventures are lead by a professional, certified heli-ski guide with an average of 19 years of experience. For package information visit whistlerheliskiing.com.

With the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola open guests of Whistler Blackcomb this weekend will be able to check out Symphony Bowl, then ski Spanky’s in an afternoon for the first time this season. Accommodation and lift ticket packages such as a three night, two day package starting from $106 per person, per night is available at whistlerblackcomb.com.