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

Flames · 05-27-2005, 02:26 AM

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 · 05-27-2005, 02:35 PM

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.

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

Have fun.

patrolskid · 05-27-2005, 03:32 PM

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 · 05-27-2005, 05:25 PM

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.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CreamyCanuck

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.

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 · 05-27-2005, 05:33 PM

-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 · 05-27-2005, 05:49 PM

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 · 05-27-2005, 10:02 PM

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 · 05-27-2005, 10:38 PM

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

Flames · 05-27-2005, 11:05 PM

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 · 05-27-2005, 11:49 PM

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 · 05-28-2005, 12:07 AM

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 · 05-28-2005, 12:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michelin man

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 · 05-28-2005, 12:51 AM

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 · 05-28-2005, 12:52 AM

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 · 05-28-2005, 12:55 AM

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!

05-27-2005, 02:26 AM	#1
Flames Jackass In Training Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Barrie, ON Posts: 575 Rep Power: 3359	End of Season Riding @ Whistler - Ontario Rider(s) 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

05-27-2005, 05:49 PM	#6
EndoKing Sorry... I can't do that Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Downtown VanCity Posts: 664 Rep Power: 35	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. __________________ I'm quitting organized crime; from now on I'll stick to the regular kind.

05-27-2005, 10:38 PM	#8
michelin man SuperSenior member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Richmond BC Baby Posts: 2,074 Rep Power: 297	consider this it may cost 600 in gas but what about the hotels on the way you cannot possibly drive 45h straight __________________ (\ /) (O.o) help bunny achieve world domination. sig him. (> <)

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05-27-2005, 02:35 PM	#2
CreamyCanuck I used to be evil. Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Where else? Van. Posts: 78 Rep Power: 0	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. The last time I "visited" BC I decided to move here. Have fun.

05-27-2005, 03:32 PM	#3
patrolskid Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 4,486 Rep Power: 2903942	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 .

05-27-2005, 05:33 PM	#5
mattj inactive Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 3,320 Rep Power: 50450	-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

05-27-2005, 10:02 PM	#7
Flames Jackass In Training Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Barrie, ON Posts: 575 Rep Power: 3359	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

05-27-2005, 11:05 PM	#9
Flames Jackass In Training Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Barrie, ON Posts: 575 Rep Power: 3359	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...

05-27-2005, 11:49 PM	#10
Rover Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Coquitlam Posts: 129 Rep Power: 27794	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.

05-28-2005, 12:07 AM	#11
Flames Jackass In Training Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Barrie, ON Posts: 575 Rep Power: 3359	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

05-28-2005, 12:51 AM	#13
Flames Jackass In Training Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Barrie, ON Posts: 575 Rep Power: 3359	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

05-28-2005, 12:52 AM	#14
patrolskid Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 4,486 Rep Power: 2903942	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 . . . .

05-28-2005, 12:55 AM	#15
Flames Jackass In Training Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Barrie, ON Posts: 575 Rep Power: 3359	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!