6 Facts You Might Not Know About Whistler

Let's be honest: Whistler isn’t exactly a well-kept secret.

Most folks know about our incredible winters and out-of-this-world skiing experiences. More and more people are learning that Whistler is just as fun in the summer months as it is in the winter, with plenty of hiking and biking opportunities. Our nightlife, arts scene, restaurants, spas, and shops are all frequently buzzed about topics.

But there are probably a few things that you don’t know about Whistler. From World Records to surprising stats, we’ve assembled some little known facts about our town. Use them to impress your friends on the gondola ride or to take the grand prize at trivia night – you never know when your Whistler knowledge will come in handy!

Our Gondola is a World Record Holder

You haven’t truly experienced Whistler until you’ve floated through the sky in one of the Peak 2 Peak Gondola's red or silver cabins. Spanning a distance of more than two kilometers between Whistler and Blackcomb mountains, the Peak 2 Peak rises a mind-boggling 436 meters above the valley floor.

You’ll find the Peak 2 Peak in the 2015 edition of the Guinness World Records book in two different places: as the highest cable car above ground, and as the longest unsupported span between two cable car towers. It really is the best gondola ride in the world!

We’re Small, But We’re Big

According to the 2011 census, Whistler has a permanent population of 9,824 – but most of the time, it feels much more crowded. That’s because we have an additional seasonal resident population of around 2,266, and we can accommodate an additional 35,000 overnight visitors. That means that almost 50,000 people are in town on the busiest days of the year.

We Take Our Skiing Seriously

There’s a lot of terrain to explain on Whistler and Blackcomb mountains – 8,171 acres, to be exact – and when there is fresh powder to be found, we don’t waste any time getting around. Whistler and Blackcomb’s combined 38 lifts can move up to 65,507 skiers per hour. That’s a lot of skiing!

November Is Our Surprise Powder Month

The snowiest month on record dating back to the 2003/2004 season wasn’t January, February, or March, as you might think – it was actually November! November 2009 saw more than 560 glorious centimeters of fresh snow, creating the perfect base for yet another unforgettable season. In many years, November is the snowiest month on record.

We Wanted the Olympics—Badly!

You probably already know that Whistler hosted the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, along with Vancouver. But you might not have known that we’d been trying to host the Olympics for a while. We bid on both the 1968 and 1976 Winter Olympics, but we didn’t get the honour of hosting them until 2010.

We Care About the Environment

Our town is fueled by nature, so it just makes sense that we care about protecting and preserving the environment. Whistler Blackcomb takes the environment seriously—as evidenced by the 18 awards won for its sustainability programs. Take part in protecting the environment---it's the Whistler way!