Whistler Mountain Orientation Tour

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Whistler Mountain Orientation Tour
A Free Tour Led by a Whistler Blackcomb Resort Host

I've always thought that one of the best services a ski resort can offer is the free tour that is hosted by a resort ambassador. Whistler Blackcomb Resort provides two tours daily, one on each mountain.
Also called guides or hosts, these men and women have an obvious love for their home resort and steep themselves in the history and uniqueness of what makes their resort so special to them.
In some cases, the hosts are paid employees of the resort. However, most times your host is a local person who loves skiing and especially loves skiing their home mountain to the extent that they are excited to show it to you.
Whistler Blackcomb Resort has approximately 92 men and 64 who share Mountain Host duties. Included in this diverse corps are 1 manager of a golf course, 1 bellman, 1 ferryboat captain and 18 retirees.

The Whistler Mountain Orientation Tour

The Whistler Mountain Orientation Tour meets at the Guest Satisfaction Center at the Alpine Lightboard at the top of the Whistler Village Gondola.
The Blackcomb Mountain Orientation Tour and Blackcomb Glacier Tour meet at the Guest Satisfaction Center at the top of the Solar Coaster Express.
Both tours leave at 11:30 am, but plan to be there at 11:15 am to meet and greet your host and align yourself in the appropriate skiing ability tour.
On my tour, our Mountain Host, Tom, was originally from Michigan, came to Whistler back in the 70's, and never looked back. We had a cold windblown day, but Tom knew right where to take us to see some awesome vistas and explain some of the history that goes with Whistler Blackcomb.
For instance, I bet you didn't know Blackcomb Mountain was laid out from computer models that took into consideration the fact that snowboarders don't really like long semi-flat runouts where they have to squiggle along. So therefore, all the marked trails filter downward to the lifts eliminating flats.
Free mountain tours are full of these interesting and engaging tidbits of knowledge and the best views around as known by a local person. Check out my photos of our Whistler Mountain tour and do yourself a favor - never pass up a free tour, but check the times as they are subject to change.

Mountain Hosts and guests.

Mike Doyle


By Mike Doyle, About.com Guide