Paradise for Cross-Country Skiing
As skiers and snowboarders, we’re all familiar with the sensation of sliding on snow. But have you ever tried gliding on snow?
Cross-country skiing pre-dates downhill skiing by centuries, used as a veritable method of transportation in Scandinavia when snowstorms buried roads and trails to remote settlements.
In modern-day Whistler, crosscountry skiing is a purely recreational pursuit (unless you try your hand at some local races) and can be just as rewarding as a day of downhill at Whistler Blackcomb. Here are some of the biggest reasons:
It’s aerobic. Runners, cyclists and other types of endurance athletes crave cardiovascular workouts during the winter months, so why spend all those hours on trainers and treadmills? Enjoy the fresh air and winter outdoors and work your body at the same time.
It’s for all skill levels. Whether you’re an expert alpine skier or new to snow altogether, the learning curve to becoming proficient on a pair of cross-country skis varies little. The difficulty of trails is less pronounced, with fitness for climbing steeper hills being the main barrier. If you’ve ever been intimidated by the speed and terrain of alpine skiing, you’ll enjoy the fact that cross-country always lets you move at your own pace.
The scenery is incredible! While it doesn’t always get you high alpine elevations, the vista of trails through snow-laden trees and views of distant mountain ranges is just as fulfilling, especially in Whistler.
There are three venues for crosscountry skiing in Whistler, all with their own unique terrain and attractions.
Lost Lake Park is just a few minutes walk from Whistler Village and has thirty-two kilometres of trails. Cross Country Connection operates rental, retail and instruction services out of the Passiv Haus building adjacent to the day parking lots. Open for night skiing and with all levels of trails, Lost Lake is popular with visitors and locals alike.
Whistler Olympic Park (WOP) is home to the national training teams but is open to all levels of cross-country skiers. WOP has over 130 kilometres of trails and is the only venue in Whistler to offer the biathlon experience. Where else can you get an aerobic workout on snow and shoot a rifle at targets?
Callaghan Country is Whistler’s cross-country skiing wilderness escape. Head out for a day or spend the night at the rustic yet luxurious Journeyman’s Lodge—however much time you choose to spend at Callaghan Country, it will leave you breathless. A season’s pass from Ski Callaghan gives you access to both WOP and Callaghan Country, and they offer a “Dual Area Pass” that adds Lost Lake as well.
Whether you’re looking for a new challenge or just a different snow experience, it’s worth giving cross-country skiing a shot the next time you visit Whistler.
www.whistler.com/activities/nordic-skiing