End of Season Riding @ Whistler - Ontario Rider(s)

[Flames]

Well, I'm going to be having two weeks vacation come September/October, and I would love to head out to Whistler/Blackcomb. I've sorta mapped it out, and it's a 45 hour drive from my location in Collingwood, Ontario. I'd fly out, but I'd imagine that the flight would cost the same amount as driving out. $600 bucks for a flight versus $600 bucks in gas for both ways.

Only thing I'm curious about is that I've read there are places to camp in around Whistler, and that's not a problem. What are the conditions like near the end of September, and if I were to plan this trip for say, the second last week and stay for a week, what other things should I consider?

Just want to get an idea of what I would be up against. Any help or links would be appreciated

[CreamyCanuck]

Sounds like a good plan. As a former Ontario resident myself I would do the flight. I have done that drive a few times to BC and it really drains you. You are better off flying and staying in BC for the extra week. September is one of the best times in BC to ride. Whistler mid-week in September is great as all the groms are back in school. Be sure to stop by the Shore and hit up Cypress, Fromme and Seymour. If you have time there are 100s of other trails to hit but for a quick trip to Vancouver get your fill of Whistler and then proceed to explore the Shore.

I am also assuming that you don't consider Blue Mountain trails challenging, if you do get ready to be owned by Whistler and the Shore. :dizzy:

The last time I "visited" BC I decided to move here. 8)

Have fun.

[patrolskid]

i'm a big fan of the road trip . . . . when you get west of alberta there is so much riding , and with the freedom of a vehicle you will be able to explore at your will .

if you start the tour in fernie , you can take 12 hours off that drive time . and if you are driving with a partner you can sleep part of the time . also you will have a portable base to work from : bring tools , food , all the things you need to enjoy yourself .

there is a lot more to bc than whistler . . . . drive .

[Flames]

Thanks for the tips. I'm more into the driving aspect than flying. No telling if my bike would actually make it to BC or not, and I can always make stops along the way to chill out and ride. The route I mapped out goes through the US, instead of going across to Thunder Bay and out across the praries. On the return trip, I could always come back through Canada.

I am also assuming that you don't consider Blue Mountain trails challenging, if you do get ready to be owned by Whistler and the Shore. :dizzy:
I don't find the trails @ Blue Mountain challenging. Some can be a little tricky sometimes, but Blue is a different style of riding altogether. It's not as tall elevation wise, and it's not as big as Whistler as well.

I think I'd be heading out close to the end of September, and I'll have all my gear with me for the way out. Tools, clothes, etc. I'll be bringing food and camping gear so I don't have to eat out so much.

Thanks again for the help. Any other comments?

[mattj]

-sounds great. I've done it before and the only part I hated was the drive home. To drive 40 hours straight to go somewhere that's worse than where you left is painful.

Also, go through Canada. It's a bit longer time wise but it's a beatiful drive in late summer/early fall...

pm or email me when you're here if you want to ride...


-m

[EndoKing]

Patrolskid is right. There's so much riding in BC, you'd be crazy not to drive through at least one way. So many options & a lot more freedom when you have your car with you.

If Whistler is your primary destination, check to be sure they're open all week when you're going to be here. I believe they went down to weekends only near the end of Sept last year.

[Flames]

EndoKing I'll definately have to check that out. Would anyone be able to help me out with that? I'm just curious anyways.

I will be more than likely be driving back through Canada on my way home. I'm going to try and get another buddy or two to come with me on this trek. I just put my used (new to me) Thule rack on my V Dub, saved a whack of cash buying used. Just need an actual bike mount, and I'll be ready to rock.

Thanks for the replies again

[michelin man]

consider this it may cost 600 in gas but what about the hotels on the way you cannot possibly drive 45h straight

[Flames]

If I had a partner or two to drive out, then we'd be driving pretty much 24 hours a day, or close to it. I hadn't thought of hotels because you could possibly pitch a tent and crash there, if your allowed to. (rest stations, etc)

If I drove by myself, I can always sleep in my car. It's mighty comfy if that's what it came down to. I can drop my seat to nearly a horizontal position. Might take me like 4 days to drive out though...

[Rover]

Riverside RV park (http://www.whistlercamping.com/home.html) has camping spots (good sites, washrooms and amenities) and is a short ride (good warm up) to the lifts.

[Flames]

Rover, thanks for the info, much appreciated.

Anyone happen to know if Whistler would be open during the week come the end of September? I'm going to ask a few members of Dropmachine.com who live in the Whistler area if they know the score.

Thanks again

[Troup]

consider this it may cost 600 in gas but what about the hotels on the way you cannot possibly drive 45h straight
Technically you could drive and stay in 3 or 4 hotels on the way if you drove about 12-14 hours each day but...Camping is the way to go!

[Flames]

Well, after talking to a fellow member on Dropmachine.com who works @ Whistler/Blackcomb, she's informed me that the park will be open during the week till the closing date of October 10th. I'm very stoked about this. Only thing that will stop me is someone dying in my family, or something else huge happens.

Thanks again for all the help

[patrolskid]

why in the hell would you stay in a hotel en route ?


it's a road trip . . . . . drive til ya get to where you are going , then figure out how you are going to live , and do the shit you came for . . . . you don't spend good money on a hotel before you even get where you are going . . . .

[Flames]

A tent is going to serve me just fine. Hell, I can put it up in the matter of 10 minutes. Waterproof to boot, found that out camping in Northern Ontario in April.

Hotels are for pansies anyways, it's a roadtrip!

[SkunkworkS]

Mmm... Roadtrip. (taken from VW Jetta commerical)

Have fun buddy.

[Straw]

You'll probably end up staying...or moving out here later.

I grew up in Stratford, ON. I looked at University as a way to move out here, and I don't think I'm ever going back. I went to UVic, and then moved to Whistler a week after my last exam.

Whistler is great is Sept. No lines, predictable weather, and last year alot of new trails came online near the end of the season.

[Kerensa]

I have moved back and forth between BC and Ottawa a couple of times... I usually do the trip by myself and it takes me 4-5 days - I like the drive - hate taking my car over border crossings especially on road trips so have stayed in Canada all trips but one. The drive is so worth doing once if you have never done it - growing up in BC the praries blew my mind - the sky was just so huge -- Whistler gets hyped so much out east and don't get me wrong it is amazing- but there is so much more to the riding out here. There is just so many other places you are going to want to check out. Don't spend all your time in Whistler. There is camping in Whistler but there is tons of places where free camping is easy just past Whistler towards Pemberton - I think the camp site in Whistler is about $30 per night or you can stay at the Shoestring for about $16. Let me know if you have any other questions...

[Flames]

Kerensa thanks for the tips. I'll most likely drive back through the US, unless I can figure out a quick way to go across the Northern part of ONT.

I've been to BC before, when I was 12. I went to visit my grandmother that lived in Terrace. I don't remember a whole lot, I just knew it was a cool place to be (BC that is.) I'm sure I just won't ride Whistler, maybe check out a few other places. What I'll have to do is map out a couple of spots to ride, and just hopefully sample the different cultures from the Coast to the Praries back to ONT.

Thanks again everyone for your replies

[Incorrigible]

I've driven, flown, taken the bus, flown myself, several times back and forth over the years, and the road trip is the most fun. You can sleep in your car. Save your $$.

Whistler gets old (and expensive) after a couple of days for me, so be sure to check out other areas of BC.

[Flames]

I've been checking out various resort sites. I'm planning on driving through the US and then going back across the Praries back into Ontario.

What resorts should I check out? I figure I'll have around 6 days to ride in total. I'll check out Whister for sure, but what about other resorts? What about Fernie, Panorama, Sun Peaks and Silverstar? Since I've only got a short time to ride, what should be recommended?

Thanks in advance again, and I hope by the time I plan on driving out, I've got a workable fork!

[phat-phur-knee]

Flames,

Lots of good suggestions for you in this thread. Definitely drive through Canada, way less hassles, and the difference in gas prices isn't what it used to be. Temps aren't a whole lot different either at that time of the year and at that particular latitude. Camping in Whistler? hmmmm, unless the situation has improved a whole bunch since I was last there, not great! There was the forest service site @ Cal-Cheak south of town- that might be a good option for ya. If you're into the rustic squatter-type camping, there's lots of logging roads in the area to " hide yourself in the woods" in. Or try to meet a "local" and see if you can couch surf or stay in their yard.
As for your map guide out here. Be sure to leave Hwy #1 at Medicine Hat AB and get on the #3 Crowsnest which will deposit you in Fernie 45 min from the AB-BC border. Here, there is some crucial riding, perhaps not your easiest intro to BC riding. Only bummer is that the Bike Park stops running lifts Labour Day Monday Sept 6??? However, awesome BC Parks campground $14 per night situated ideally for riding. Could be wet though depending whether or not Indian summer is in full swing by then, but generally the weather is awesome during Sept. From Fernie you can take #3 west to the Columbia trench and head north on #3/93 to Panorama and Kicking Horse which again is on the #1. From there, there's Revelstoke, the Rogers Pass, Kamloops, Pemberton and Whistler via the Duffy Lake Rd #99 ( make sure your brakes are in good shape when you leave Cache Creek)
Have fun and hope this helps.

[Flames]

The count down is on. I'm currently looking for another driver, but it doesn't look like it's going to happen.

Can anyone verify that Whistler will be open at the end of September? I was going to call and double check, and also find out prices for lift costs.

I'm getting very stoked about it. Any other help will be much appreciated. On another note, anyone want to offer a back yard as a tent spot? I can pay with beer and rides to and from the resort. Just wanted to see if anyone was cool with that or not.

Thanks again - 2 months to go!

[waukee]

Hey,


I'm from Guelph, Ontario. Don't drive. It will take you five days and 500-600 dollars in gas one way. Most gas in northern rural Ontario, Manitoba etc is very very expensive over 105per L. Unless you have other people to split the cost then flying is way cheaper.

Also think of hotel costs! My girlfriend and myself roughed it and slept roundside three out of the five days in a tent. It rained everyday. In Swiftcurrent I scored a cheap motel for 40 bucks and then Kelowna for 80 (cheapest price).

You don't need a car in Whis if you're here for a short while.

There is also the Greyhound bus. If you book 14 days in advance you can get a round trip ticket for under 250.

stefan

[Flames]

waukee I know how long it'll take me to drive out, and how much it will cost in gas. I don't want to fly, because it's around the same price as driving out. I've got a much more fuel efficient vehicle than my truck, so gas isn't an issue. If it ends up costing me a few hundred bucks more, than so be it. It's a ROAD TRIP.

I'm trying to find someone else to drive out with, but it's been hard to find someone so far. If I can do it, then I most certainly will.

Thanks for the reply

[kevman]

How long do you have off? If it were me, I would fly and take the extra 8 days you save to ride (or relax). Seriously if it's a toss up in money wouldn't you rather get a handful of extra days in riding? Once you're in BC it's fairly easy to get from place to place, they're all pretty close. Are you old enough to rent a car? That's another option even if it makes the trip as a whole slightly more expensive you'll get that much more riding in. I'll do the drive from Calgary over a 4 day weekend (drive out that night, ride 3 days, come home) but could never imagine driving 4 days straight to get 6 days riding and then spend 4 more driving especially by yourself.

[Straw]

How long do you have off? If it were me, I would fly and take the extra 8 days you save to ride (or relax). Seriously if it's a toss up in money wouldn't you rather get a handful of extra days in riding? Once you're in BC it's fairly easy to get from place to place, they're all pretty close. Are you old enough to rent a car? That's another option even if it makes the trip as a whole slightly more expensive you'll get that much more riding in. I'll do the drive from Calgary over a 4 day weekend (drive out that night, ride 3 days, come home) but could never imagine driving 4 days straight to get 6 days riding and then spend 4 more driving especially by yourself.

Renting a car one-way is expensive, because you pay a one-way fee. If you do want to do it one-way, you have to go to America, because CDn companies don't do cross-country one way trips. Avis doesn't, at least. One way from BC to Winnipeg costs about 1500, just for the car. Renting for that much should not be an option.

[waukee]

Take this greyhound bus like I said, 200 and something dollars.. I drove it from Toronto in five days at over 1200 km a day, thats something like over 12 hours a day!!! It's going to cost you min 1000 dollars in gas round trip. If you're car breaks down along the way then be ready to pay out the nose.

stefan

[schoenrock]

Take this greyhound bus like I said, 200 and something dollars.. I drove it from Toronto in five days at over 1200 km a day, thats something like over 12 hours a day!!! It's going to cost you min 1000 dollars in gas round trip. If you're car breaks down along the way then be ready to pay out the nose.

stefan

i drove out here on 2 separate occasions, each time i made it in 2.5 days. the last trek was in early october and i made it with a touch over $300 of fuel and that was in a supercharged nissan xterra(not fuel efficient at all) loaded to the tits with all kinds of crap.
if you can handle it, go for it.
i must ad that i never drove back, in 94 we sold the car and flew back and just recently was a permanent move.
i'm never going back!

[Flames]

Well, a train would be over 3 grand, and I would agree with schnrck, driving isn't as expensive as anyone thinks. From my location, up around Thunder Bay to Van City is a little over 2500 miles, one way. Not too shabby.

I'll check Greyhound, but I don't think it'll be much better

[Flames]

Well, I've done some info searching, and I think flying is the way I'm going to go. $570 bucks round trip for my ticket, and it's going to be around $130 bucks for the shuttle round trip from Van City to Whistler, and probably another $125 bucks to ship my bike along with the plane, unless I can figure something out cheaper.

The following is an offer to anyone who lives in the close area of Whistler. If I am able to pitch a tent in your backyard, so I can stay for 8 to 10 days, I WILL PAY WITH BEER. Pick your poison, and I'll hit up the local beer dispensing establishment. If your interested, please PM me or hit up a reply in this post.

Thanks again for all your help, and I'm super stoked about this trip

[theweev]

WHAT????? when the hell did we start letting people from Ontario into BC??? isn't there a law or something??? ;) . Have a great trip!! rip it up and don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out. ;) ( jokes ) Leafs suck!(no joke...well actually ya, a bit of one. ). Go Canucks Go

[Splan]

Hey Flames,

Awesome trip you have planed.

$125 from the airport to whistler roundtrip? You may be able to find a ride with the huckwagon for cheaper. www.huckwagon.com (http://www.huckwagon.com). I'm not too sure about prices from the airport, but from Van it's $35 round trip with your bike and gear. Plus you get to talk to some fellow riders all the way up.

Call Tim. He's a really nice and chill guy.

All the best.

[Straw]

Hey Splan;

St. Ratford represent! Let's go to Dragon's Drop! ( I think that's what it is/was called...out by the Country Club)

[Flames]

Splan Thanks for the info, I'll give them a call closer to the time of my arrival. I checked out renting a car/truck, and I'm looking at like $400 bucks for 2 weeks. That's wayyyyyyyyyy too much in my opinion.

[Marsellus Wallace]

If you fly, hit up your bike shop for one of the boxes their new bikes ship to them in. This will be good to ship your bike in on the plane ride. They are totally re-usable many times over if you look after them.

The drive will be cool, but if you are concerned about dollars, you also need to factor in wear and tear, the possibility of failure/repair, and speeding tickets.

That said, I would probably do the road trip for the unknown element.