Spring in Whistler is one of the best times of the year. The snow is melting, dual-sport days are a thing again, and the days are longer. This is the time of year where there are so many options, it’s hard to decide what adventure to go on. We picked our top 5 activities that keep our spring jam packed and the stoke levels high.
Spring Ski Touring
Don’t put your skis up for the season quite yet. Spring ski touring is a great time to still get some slack-country runs in, tackle the spearhead traverse, or ditch the resort and head to the Duffey.
As always for spring, make sure you are traveling early in the day and keep a close eye on Avalanche Canada’s website for spring touring information. And don’t forget, pack a hat, sunnies, and sunscreen!
Spring is also a great time of the year to take advantage of end of season sales for new and used gear alike. Choose from ex-demo setups or new 2018/19 DPS skis.
You can check out all of our sale skis by clicking this link below. What better way to get amped for next season than already having your dream setup purchased?
Camping
It’s time to air out your camping gear that’s been in storage, and start planning weekend getaways. Spending time in a quiet camping spot for a weekend can be one of the most rejuvenating activities after a long winter. We can’t recommend this spring activity enough for those needing a mini-getaway!
With over 100 provincial parks in BC that allow camping, you won’t be short on places to stay. Check out the BC Parks Page here to start planning your camping adventure.
If you’re wanting to try the ultimate car camping experience, we have Roof Top Tents (RTT) for rent and purchase at our Whistler Demo Center. Not sure what RTT life is all about? Get inspiration by reading this blog by Escape Route owner, James Retty.
Hiking
The snow is starting to thaw out, and it’s time to lace up the hiking boots once again. British Columbia is a hiker’s paradise with the lush Coastal Mountains, stunning alpine views and lakes.
One of our favourite hikes for the beginning of season is Garibaldi Lake Trail. Depending on how early in the season you go, you might want to pack your snowshoes just in case. To help with planning, you can access trail reports on the BC Parks website here. If you want an iconic and challenging hike, The Chief in Squamish is a trusty favourite. With snow highly unlikely, you’ll be able to enjoy scampering up rocks and dirt, reveling in the freedom of just your hiking boots.
For the perfect hiking boot to tackle day hikes or multi-day trips, we love the Forge GTX boots by Tecnica. These are anatomically designed and built for long days on the trails. The customizable footbeds will add a level of comfort and performance you’ve never experienced with a hiking boot. Happy feet means longer days on the trail, pain free.
Paddleboarding
The lakes are thawing and we know the feeling, you can’t wait to get back on the water. Paddleboarding in Whistler and Squamish is a great way to see unobstructed views and experience serenity, all while gliding on top of the water.
During the spring, it’s best to stick to the lower elevation lakes. We recommend Lost Lake or Alta Lake in Whistler, or Alice Lake in Squamish. Just keep in mind, the water will still be quite frigid, so make sure you’re steady on your board!
If you’re curious to try and haven’t purchased a board yet, you can rent inflatable Red Paddleboards from either of our locations. These paddleboards make for the perfect companion, as they’re easy to hike with, inflate, and steady on the water.
Trail Running
Whether you’re a hardcore runner and have been hitting the trails all winter, or you are just trying to get in shape fast for summer activities, springtime trail running in Whistler is absolutely breathtaking. Running through the lush, temperate rainforest in the valley to the sub-alpine forests is dizzyingly beautiful. It might even take your mind off the lactic acid pump in your legs.
We recommend hitting up lower elevation trail runs in the spring, such as the Lost Lake Trail networks. For an easy to use phone app with live GPS location (without using your data), we love Trail Forks. While this app was designed for mountain bikers, it’s easy to use for trail running as well. Just download the BC region, do some route planning, and hit the trails.
The Salomon Sense Pro 3 is a great lightweight, hard wearing companion for long days trail running. These shoes come with a Premium Wet Traction Contragrip, ideal for maximum traction in the variable wet Sea to Sky spring conditions. There’s also just enough protection with the mudguard and profeel film underfoot, keeping them strong, yet agile and light.
We hope this inspires you to get out there and take advantage of all spring has to offer in Whistler. If you have any questions about local adventures, product, or rentals, stop by and see us at any of our locations in Whistler or Squamish. You can find information about our store hours and locations here.