Blackcomb Peak, standing tall at 2,436 meters (approximately 8,000 feet) above sea level, is a prominent mountain located near Whistler in British Columbia, Canada.
Blackcomb Mountain, as seen looking north from Whistler Mountain.
It forms a natural boundary between the famous Whistler Blackcomb ski resort and the beautiful Garibaldi Provincial Park. This awesome mountain is found in British Columbia, Canada. It's super close to the town of Whistler, an area known for its stunning natural beauty.
History and Development
Blackcomb Peak is part of the Fitzsimmons Range of mountains. Located in the Fitzsimmons Range, this peak was previously named London Mountain prior to the opening of the ski resort in the late 1960’s. This was changed to disassociate the peak with the poor weather in London, with the peak being renamed Whistler Mountain to reflect the whistling sounds made by local marmots.
Whistler was originally conceived as part of a bid to win the 1968 Winter Olympics. Although the bid failed, construction started anyway and the resort opened for the first time in January 1966. Blackcomb Mountain, originally a separate entity, opened for business in December 1980. The two resorts underwent a period of intense rivalry through the 1980s and 1990s, with constant upgrades and improvements that were unseen at other resorts.
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By the mid-1990s, the area was repeatedly named the best resort in many skiing magazines. Whistler Blackcomb was the centrepiece of a renewed bid on the part of nearby Vancouver for the 2010 Winter Olympics, which they were selected in July 2003. During the 2010 Winter Olympics, some of the fastest sliding sports happened here.
In August 2016, the American company Vail Resorts bought Whistler Blackcomb Holdings for $1.39 billion.
Whistler Blackcomb Ski Resort
Whistler Blackcomb resort is big and beautiful in summer or winter. By many measures, it is the largest ski resort in North America and has the greatest uphill lift capacity. The ski areas at Whistler and Blackcomb are situated on two ridge-lines running roughly northwest to southeast. The two are separated by a deep valley with Fitzsimmons Creek running along the valley floor.
Together, Whistler and Blackcomb form the largest ski area in North America at 8,171 acres (33 km2). It features the Peak 2 Peak Gondola for moving between Whistler and Blackcomb mountains at the top.
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Blackcomb has a higher skiable vertical, at 1,565 meters (5,135 feet), but less in-bound skiing area at 3,414 acres (1,382 ha). Blackcomb is the location of the world-famous "Couloir Extreme" run, which is one of the top ten steep in-bound runs in the world, according to Skiing Magazine.
Hiking Blackcomb Peak
Blackcomb Peak is one of Whistler’s iconic ski mountains and it is these very same slopes that make the peak a great destination for hikers. The hike up to Blackcomb Peak is an amazing day hike from Whistler Village that climbs uphill along a ski run to summit the iconic peak. Hikers will need to make their way up to the trailhead, either by trail or gondola, to set out on a path along the Green Line toward the summit.
From there, you will traverse a rocky ridgeline and experience stunning panoramic mountain top views.
Route Description
The hike to Blackcomb Peak sets out from the Rendezvous Lodge and climbs uphill along a ski run before the final summit of the peak traversing a rocky ridge. To avoid the long, uphill grind from Whistler Village, hikers looking to reach Blackcomb Peak can utilize the gondola ($65/single day pass) to get to the elevated starting point of the hike at the lodge.
Otherwise, you will need to make your way up the Little Burn, Big Burn, and Heart Burn trails before starting the hike outlined in this guide. The route itself is not overly difficult, as it largely makes use of the Green Line ski run to gain elevation up the mountain. At the top of the ski run, hikers will need to traverse the ridge to reach the peak, a process that includes a few short exposed sections of trail.
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The initial stretch of the trail climbs uphill along the ski run to Horstman Hut, at which point the more adventurous part of the route begins. Hikers will need to make their way southeast along the ridge, clamouring over exposed sections of rocky trail on the way to the summit of Blackcomb Peak.
Trail Directions
After making your way up to the trailhead next to Rendezvous Lodge, follow the trail east and pass through the two junctions to get to the top of the Jersey Cream Express ski lift. Pick up the trail on the south side of the ski lift to begin your uphill climb along the Green Line ski run. This portion of the trail will take you on an elevation gain of 300 m as you climb through the alpine terrain on the way up to Horstman Hut.
After reaching Horstman Hut at the top of the ski lift, take a few moments to rest up before setting out to traverse the rocky ridgeline on the way to the summit of Blackcomb Peak. When you are ready to tackle the summit, make your way along the trail to the southeast, following along the ridgeline toward the peak. Although this last stretch of the trail is fairly rocky with some short exposed sections, it is not very technical, making for a fun climb up the last 200 m of elevation gain.
As you traverse the ridge and arrive at the summit, you will be greeted with amazingly scenic views of the surrounding mountains. Wedge Mountain, the region’s highest point, can be seen standing proudly to the northeast, and Whistler Mountain in the Fitzsimmons Range can be spotted to the southwest.
Insider Hints for Blackcomb Peak Hike
- Purchase a gondola pass ($65) to avoid the long hike up to the trailhead.
- Bring Microspikes, crampons, or snowshoes to better traverse snowy trail conditions.
- Stop for a snack at the Rendezvous Lodge before heading back down the mountain.
Getting to the Blackcomb Peak Hike Trailhead
To reach the parking area for Blackcomb Peak from Green Lake, head southeast on BC-99 S toward Whistler Village and turn left onto Nancy Green Drive.
Climate
Based on the Köppen climate classification, Blackcomb Peak is located in the marine west coast climate zone of western North America. Most weather fronts originate in the Pacific Ocean and travel east toward the Coast Mountains where they are forced upward by the range (Orographic lift), causing them to drop their moisture in the form of rain or snowfall.
As a result, the Coast Mountains experience high precipitation, especially during the winter months in the form of snowfall. Temperatures can drop below −20 °C with wind chill factors below −30 °C.
Facts and Statistics
Whistler Blackcomb offers more choices than nearly any other mountain destination in the world.
Here are some key facts about Whistler Blackcomb:
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Whistler, British Columbia, Canada |
| Peak Elevation | 2,436 meters (approximately 8,000 feet) |
| Skiable Area | 8,171 acres (33 km2) |
| Vertical Drop (Blackcomb) | 1,565 meters (5,135 feet) |
| Lifts | Numerous gondolas, chairlifts, and surface lifts |
Named the #1 ski resort in NA, by Condé Nast Traveler's annual reader choice awards. Host of the 2010 Olympics and the first to be in British Columbia. We are home to one of the longest ski seasons in North America, but in the summer, offer a variety of activities including hiking and biking trails, the Whistler Mountain Bike Park and sightseeing on the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola.