Whistler Backpacking

Whistler Backpacking Itinerary:

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• Day 1 Meet your fellow adventurers in Whistler Village this evening and enjoy the local atmosphere and beautiful alpine scenery.

  Your trip begins this evening at 6pm in Whistler Village. Meet the group for dinner at Whistler Brewhouse, one the most popular local village haunts. We will take time to go over the itinerary in detail and discuss group gear and packing techniques. There will be time to stroll the village and soak in the atmosphere of this legendary adventure town. Dinner included. Tonight's Lodging is not included in your trip cost.

• Day 2 Board the gondola and glide up to the high country! Begin backpacking, taking in amazing views of jagged peaks and hanging glaciers.

  We will start out our day at 8.00am with a delightful group breakfast at Gone Bakery, a quaint bistro in the heart of the Village Square. Immediately following breakfast we will board the Whistler Mountain Gondola, leaving the Village behind and heading to the high alpine! Upon arrival at the top we will begin our trek along the High Note Trail with stunning views of the jagged peaks and hanging glaciers of the Fitzsimmons and Spearhead mountain ranges. Poetically named in the 1950s for the sound of the alpine winds, the summits of Piccolo, Flute and Oboe (the Musical Bumps) will be our route through Singing Pass before reaching our high alpine, backcountry camp at Russet Lake. All meals included.

  Backpacking 6-8 miles, 1000-1200 ft elevation gain.

• Day 3 Set out from our camp at Russet Lake on a great loop hike with only your daypack. Take a dip in the lake if you're feeling brave!

  This morning we will wake up to sunrise over the crystal clear glacial waters of Russet Lake and enjoy a warm cooked breakfast around the camp. Today we have a number of great loop options, including exploring Overlord Glacier and Fissile Peak. We will set out from our base camp with only small day packs and enjoy the freedom and flexibility of the high alpine glacial flats of the Spearhead Range. We will enjoy lunch on trail today and head back to base camp mid to late afternoon in time for a quick dip in Russet Lake, if you're feeling brave! We will enjoy another impressive backcountry cooked meal while enjoying the sunset over the peaks of Garibaldi Provincial Park. All meals included.

  Day hikes from base camp, 6-9 miles 800-1500 ft elevation loss/gain.

• Day 4 Hike the lovely Musical Bumps and Singing Pass trails and traverse the mighty Overlord Glacier. Return to Whistler this afternoon.

  Another spectacular sunrise over the peaks and cooked breakfast will begin our final day at altitude. Following breakfast we will pack up camp and head out along the Musical Bumps and Singing Pass trails. We will continue along the Northern slopes of the alpine canyon, descending back to Whistler Village far below the Peak-to-Peak gondola. Traversing the base of Spearhead Peaks of Blackcomb lends stunning vistas of the towering peaks; serving as a memorable completion of a truly epic high alpine backpacking experience. We expect to be back in Whistler Village by 4:00 pm. Please be sure not to book flights any earlier than 8:00 pm out of Vancouver International Airport or 11:00pm out of Seattle- Tacoma International Airport today.

  Backpacking 8-10 miles, 3500 ft elevation loss. Breakfast and lunch included.

Although we do our very best to adhere to the schedule above, the itinerary is subject to change for numerous reasons beyond our control, including weather and terrain conditions.

Contact REI Adventures prior to purchasing your airline tickets to confirm the trip has the minimum number of participants required to operate.

Two nights camping in Whistler alpine; all meals as noted in the daily itinerary; selection of snacks to pack prior to leaving the trailhead; professional instruction and guiding; group cooking gear; group first aid kit; water filter; park and camping permits; Whistler gondola ticket to alpine access.

Transportation from your hometown to group meeting point; first night's accommodations; park entrance fees where required, insurance of any kind; alcoholic beverages; soft drinks; guide gratuities and items of a personal nature.

This trip is rated Moderate Plus [3-4] as we plan to hike for 6-10 hours per day most days on steep, rocky, sometimes exposed terrain, gaining and/or losing up to just over 3,000 feet in elevation some days. We will carry packs weighing 30-35 lbs while we hike as well. To maximize your enjoyment of the trip we suggest that you engage in a regular exercise regimen beginning at least three months prior to your departure. Most important to your enjoyment of the trip is your overall fitness level.

We expect summer daytime high temperatures to range from the mid 50's to 70's with evening temperatures dropping into the 40s - 50s. You may encounter freezing temperatures at some of the higher elevations. Afternoon thunderstorms are a distinct possibility so adequate raingear is important.

Vancouver International Airport, Vancouver, BC. - 85 miles; 2 hours

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Seattle, WA - 230 miles; 4.5 hours

Bellingham International Airport, Bellingham, WA – 130 miles; 3 hours

This trip is subject to the booking information set forth in the current REI Adventures Weekend Reservation Information. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A full gear list and detailed pre-trip information is sent upon sign-up. We highly recommend the purchase of travel insurance through REI Adventures. If coverage is purchased at the time of your initial reservation, the 'Pre-existing Conditions Exclusion' is waived (certain exclusions apply).

We look forward to having you join us for the trip of a lifetime! Why wait? Space is limited, reserve your adventure today.

The key to staying comfortable while on an active trip is layering. To get maximum comfort with minimum weight, you need versatile layers that mix and match to create the right amount of insulation, ventilation and weather protection. Try to bring only what is necessary—this will help you and the field staff.

Gear Checklist