usually the gondola shuts down for maintenance after labour day. wonder if thats going to affect the fall riding season with the fitzsimmons down.
Good question, not sure how long a window they need for maintenance. Maybe they will shut down Whistler early again this winter (end of April) and run Blackcomb in the spring. That would give them time to start earlier on Fitz and maybe do maintenance on village gondola then? Although maybe they need it to be snow free hence typicallly doing in the fall.
usually the gondola shuts down for maintenance after labour day. wonder if thats going to affect the fall riding season with the fitzsimmons down.
Good question, not sure how long a window they need for maintenance. Maybe they will shut down Whistler early again this winter (end of April) and run Blackcomb in the spring. That would give them time to start earlier on Fitz and maybe do maintenance on village gondola then? Although maybe they need it to be snow free hence typicallly doing in the fall.
at least they can shut down the upper cable to roundhouse and still run the lower half, garbo chair can still run
I was planning on going up to whistler this summer to finally be able to ride up there (broken scapula prevented that the first time I went up). It was going to be a big trip, probably about 10 days with the family and friends, but with the news about the fitz chair being down the whole summer, I'm wondering if I should hold off on booking this trip. From what I saw they were saying the gondola would be running to give access to pretty much the whole park, but I'm wondering how effective that's going to be. I know lines have been long for fitz and if I can only really get 3 runs in a day with like an hour of waiting in between each time I want to know if people think that would be worth it or just hold off until 2024? Also plan on doing a lot of pedaling outside the park but we all know the main reason you travel to whistler...
Or go to a few of the other bike parks. CGP, Mt Washington, Sun Peaks... Spend your big 'merican dollars, but just spread them around the Province a bit. Whistler doesn't need 'em!
Sun peaks is more fun. Sun peaks is the nerdy girl in high school that takes her glasses off and puts her hair down and ends up being hotter than the popular girl aka Whistler.
Sun Peaks is not as busy, is less expensive and has a better family vibe. Whistler has more trails & I think they are better trails for the most part. Whistler knows they are considered the best bike park in the world, they charge accordingly.
I was planning on going up to whistler this summer to finally be able to ride up there (broken scapula prevented that the first time I went up). It was going to be a big trip, probably about 10 days with the family and friends, but with the news about the fitz chair being down the whole summer, I'm wondering if I should hold off on booking this trip. From what I saw they were saying the gondola would be running to give access to pretty much the whole park, but I'm wondering how effective that's going to be. I know lines have been long for fitz and if I can only really get 3 runs in a day with like an hour of waiting in between each time I want to know if people think that would be worth it or just hold off until 2024? Also plan on doing a lot of pedaling outside the park but we all know the main reason you travel to whistler...
If this summer was anything to go by with Creekside being closed we were queuing for close to and hour some times at fitz and gondola. Short staff in the village meant long waits and poor maintenance on the park - ridden here for many seasons and this one just gone was the worst in terms in trail conditions/wait times etc just thinking without fitz it will a nightmare despite the promises. That said amazing trail riding in the sea to sky so worth doing some Squamish/whistler/Pemby riding on your trip 100% and a day in park but as others said maybe a tour of the other BC bike parks would be great
Sun Peaks is not as busy, is less expensive and has a better family vibe. Whistler has more trails & I think they are better trails for the most part. Whistler knows they are considered the best bike park in the world, they charge accordingly.
Exactly this. If you emptied out the bike parks and gave me a choice, I'd pick Whistler every time. But now I usually ride Whistler a couple times a year and pick a park in the interior for a couple days as well. I enjoy it being less busy and cheaper at the other places (both for park tickets and staying overnight, even camping in Whistler is getting more expensive).
I was planning on going up to whistler this summer to finally be able to ride up there (broken scapula prevented that the first time I went up). It was going to be a big trip, probably about 10 days with the family and friends, but with the news about the fitz chair being down the whole summer, I'm wondering if I should hold off on booking this trip. From what I saw they were saying the gondola would be running to give access to pretty much the whole park, but I'm wondering how effective that's going to be. I know lines have been long for fitz and if I can only really get 3 runs in a day with like an hour of waiting in between each time I want to know if people think that would be worth it or just hold off until 2024? Also plan on doing a lot of pedaling outside the park but we all know the main reason you travel to whistler...
If this summer was anything to go by with Creekside being closed we were queuing for close to and hour some times at fitz and gondola. Short staff in the village meant long waits and poor maintenance on the park - ridden here for many seasons and this one just gone was the worst in terms in trail conditions/wait times etc just thinking without fitz it will a nightmare despite the promises. That said amazing trail riding in the sea to sky so worth doing some Squamish/whistler/Pemby riding on your trip 100% and a day in park but as others said maybe a tour of the other BC bike parks would be great
Thanks all, I was on the fence earlier but this was all good insight and I think what I might do is just change this to a weekend trip to do some riding in the valley and squamish and hold the big bikepark epic trip until 2024. Heartbreaking but seems like the best decision.
You are making the right call. Lift lines will be an absolute disaster next summer without Fitz, and I would assume there will be rolling trail closures in Fitz zone with lift construction. 2024 will be epic (heh) with the new 6 pack Fitz, new Creekside trails (opening 2023 I believe) + Creekside gondola etc. Whistler is amazing as everyone has said, but insane lines ruin the experience, really think that 2024 will be an awesome summer.
Another vote for Sun Peaks, the tech trails are amazing and the new jump lines on Sundance addressed the main weakness of the park. Barely any lines means you can ride until your body won't let you anymore. The upside of Whistler is the access to trails outside the park in the Sea to Sky. Kamloops has some amazing riding as well but not the same access/scale as S2S.
I was planning on going up to whistler this summer to finally be able to ride up there (broken scapula prevented that the first time I went up). It was going to be a big trip, probably about 10 days with the family and friends, but with the news about the fitz chair being down the whole summer, I'm wondering if I should hold off on booking this trip. From what I saw they were saying the gondola would be running to give access to pretty much the whole park, but I'm wondering how effective that's going to be. I know lines have been long for fitz and if I can only really get 3 runs in a day with like an hour of waiting in between each time I want to know if people think that would be worth it or just hold off until 2024? Also plan on doing a lot of pedaling outside the park but we all know the main reason you travel to whistler...
If this summer was anything to go by with Creekside being closed we were queuing for close to and hour some times at fitz and gondola. Short staff in the village meant long waits and poor maintenance on the park - ridden here for many seasons and this one just gone was the worst in terms in trail conditions/wait times etc just thinking without fitz it will a nightmare despite the promises. That said amazing trail riding in the sea to sky so worth doing some Squamish/whistler/Pemby riding on your trip 100% and a day in park but as others said maybe a tour of the other BC bike parks would be great
Thanks all, I was on the fence earlier but this was all good insight and I think what I might do is just change this to a weekend trip to do some riding in the valley and squamish and hold the big bikepark epic trip until 2024. Heartbreaking but seems like the best decision.
Smart. I live 2 hours from Whistler and won't be riding the park this summer. It's gonna be nuts. Squamish and the Whistler Valley trails are amazing though so you won't miss out... just gotta pedal for the laps!
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