5 Surprising To-Dos in Whistler, B.C.

(Legendary waffles included!)

By Mary-Colleen Jenkins

Photo at right: Soar on a zipline above inaccessible winter terrain and through old-growth forest at Whistler. Photo courtesy of Ziptrek Ecotours

The 2013 –14 ski season started off so slowly that by the time my family got to Whistler at the end of January, we didn’t even think about doing anything but skiing all day long. But, that didn’t stop me from learning about some of the other activities I’d like to try next time we head up to B.C.

Skiers dig into the legendary waffles at Whistler’s Crystal Hut. Photo by Paul Morrison, courtesy of Whistler Blackcomb

#1 Waffles at the Crystal Hut

Technically this is a ski-based activity, but we heard about the legendary waffles at the Crystal Hut on our second day at Whistler and, sadly, never managed to eat one.

The tiny lodge on Blackcomb Mountain was absolutely packed when we went in and, from the smell of the waffles floating in the air, we understood why.

Next time? We’re skipping breakfast on our first day and heading straight up the mountain to Crystal Hut before the crowds converge!

The Crystal Hut: www.whistlerblackcomb.com
Search Crystal Hut

#2 Dog Sledding

Dog sledding is the quintessential Canadian experience and several operations in Whistler make it easy for tourists to get a taste of one of the oldest forms of transportation in the world.

Guided tours last up to three hours and include education on harnessing and staging the dogs, interpreting the musher’s vocal commands and, for the adventurous, a chance to drive the dogs yourself.

After your ride, you might even get a chance to mingle with the next generation of working dogs: the puppies!

Canadian Wilderness Adventures: www.canadianwilderness.com

Blackcomb Dogsled: www.blackcombdogsled.com

#3 Winter Ziplining

Skiing and dog sledding get you right into the heart of the mountains, but ziplining offers a completely different experience: soaring above inaccessible terrain through old-growth forest.

Ziplines are more and more popular these days, but how many places offer you a high-altitude experience of zipping through the snow-covered trees on a bluebird day? It’s a winter person’s fantasy!

Two major companies operate from Whistler-Blackcomb, and each has a unique take on the art of ziplining. Each outfitter also offers several options for adventure – imagine stepping off a platform and zipping through the skies at night!

Superfly Ziplines: www.superflyziplines.com

Ziptrek Ecotours: www.ziptrek.com/whistler-canada

#4 Biathlon

One of the most interesting sports in the Winter Olympics is the biathlon. It’s incredible how the athletes are able to ski at such a heart-thumping pace and then calm themselves down enough to hit a target five times before sprinting off to do it all over again.

The Whistler Olympic Park in the Callaghan Valley, built for the Vancouver Olympics in 2010, offers newbies the chance to test their aim on the biathlon course.

Never fired a rifle before? That’s okay. The Park offers individual, semi-private and family lessons. You can choose your preferred type of skiing (classic or skate), and an instructor will take you out for a two-hour lesson.

Whistler Olympic Park: www.whistlerolympicpark.com

Bundled-up bobsleigh riders pile in for a ride at the Whistler Sliding Centre. Photo by Coast Mountain Photography, courtesy of Whistler Sport Legacies

#5 Bobsleigh

This is another Olympic sport that I don’t fully understand, and, to be honest, I’m not sure that I really want to try it so much as to see it up close. The Whistler Sliding Centre allows visitors to try it (if they’re brave enough) or to watch (if they’re not).

If you are adventurous enough to give it a go, the team at the Sliding Centre will take you on an experience of a lifetime. They will guide you through everything, from being appropriately outfitted, to track etiquette and a mock run, before hitting the track with a professional pilot at the helm.

If hitting the final curve at 75 miles per hour isn’t enough to assuage your need for speed, then you can always try skeleton at the Sliding Centre, too!

Whistler Sliding Centre: www.whistlerslidingcentre.com

Mary-Colleen Jenkins is a freelance editor, writing coach and writer of the blog Along the Branches (www.alongthebranches.wordpress.com). She teaches technical writing at the University of Washington. You can find her on Twitter at @EmceeReads

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