Whistler Traveller - Summer 2017

With recent upgrades to the trails of Rainbow Lake, Sproatt Mountain and Train Wreck, runners and bikers have an expanded playground to explore. With so many trails to choose from, any list of local running “favourites” is purely subjective — when asked to comment on this writer’s list, Titus offered a few of his own. Trail runners, of course, come in all shapes and abilities, as one’s pleasant experience might be another’s gruelling nightmare. Here’s a brief list of trails, broken down into Nice (easy), Nasty (intermediate) and Gnarly (more difficult).

Nice

• Valley Trail — No matter where you are in the resort, you are probably not far from a segment of the 40-kilometre- long, mostly paved Valley Trail. It links Whistler Village and Creekside with lakes, parks and neighbourhoods and is used by those commuting to work as well as those out for a pleasant walk. Wayfinding signs make it easy to head out for a run and find your way back.

• Lost Lake Trails — Not far from the Village, the trails in Lost Lake Park encompass both doubletrack paths (Panorama and Centennial) and singletrack (Tin Pants, Molly Hogan and Old Mill Road). For a slightly hilly singletrack running experience almost devoid of rocks and roots, start at the PassivHaus near Whistler Village and head up the wide path toward Lost Lake. Look left for the sign to Tin Pants, a twisty, up-and-down and nicely gravelled path that leads to other, similar trails.

Nasty

• A River Runs Through It — One of the signature Whistler singletrack trails, it has been upgraded several times over the years. The elevation gain is minimal but includes enough twists, turns, planks, logs and bridges to keep your interest. Most people start the 4.3-kilometre, out-and-back trail from Rainbow Park. Allow 30 to 40 minutes in each direction, or you can loop back via Alta Lake Road or Bob’s Rebob/ Whip Me Snip Me on the north side of the road.

• High Note — For a run or hike with amazing alpine vistas, it is hard to beat this one. Purchase a ticket for the Whistler Village Gondola, then take the Peak Chair to the summit for the start of the

9.5-kilometre route that loops back to the Roundhouse Lodge. “High Note is nice because you’re starting and finishing in the alpine; so it’s beautiful, for sure,” Titus said. Before you go, be sure to find out whether the trail is snow-free and bring sunscreen and an extra layer along as it can be chilly even on sunny days. You’ll have to pick your way down a few switchbacks near the start, but there are some great run-able sections and incredible views of Cheakamus Lake and Black Tusk.

TRAVELLER I ADVENTURE

FINDING THE PERFECT GRIP

Josh Barringer, a technical writer for Arc’teryx, is a passionate long distance mountain runner, working with the footwear design team testing the company’s new shoes in the mountains throughout the Sea to Sky Corridor.

Available at Arc’teryx Whistler, “the Norvan VT strikes a balance between comfort and confidence when navigating alpine terrain.

Running through Brandywine Meadows up to Brandywine Mountain shows the Norvan VT grip excel from trail to rock and the absence of a rockplate maintains the necessary nimbleness for scrambling,” Josh said. (Image on page 28)