Whistler Mountain | |
---|---|
Highest point | |
Elevation | 2,181 m (7,156 ft) |
Prominence | 471 m (1,545 ft) |
Coordinates | 50°03′33″N 122°57′25″W / 50.05917°N 122.95694°W |
Geography | |
Location | British Columbia, Canada |
District | New Westminster Land District |
Parent range | Fitzsimmons Range |
Topo map | NTS 92J2 Whistler |
Climbing | |
Easiest route | Ski lifts |
Whistler Mountain (Lillooet/Ucwalmícwts: Nsqwítsu) is a mountain in the Fitzsimmons Range of the Pacific Ranges of the Coast Mountains, located on the northwestern edge of Garibaldi Provincial Park. It is the location of the Whistler-Blackcomb ski resort and the town of Whistler, British Columbia, Canada, and played host to the 2010 Winter Olympics.[1]
Previously, the mountain was called "London Mountain," named after a mining claim in the area and the fog at the mountain's base.[2][3] The locality was called Alta Lake before the creation of the Resort Municipality of Whistler in the 1970s, but the mountain's name had already been changed in 1965.[4] With the advent of the ski resort in the late 1960s, the name was changed to "Whistler" to represent the whistling calls of the marmots, which are also known as "whistlers", that live in the alpine areas of the mountain.[5]
Because of the mountain's proximity to Garibaldi Provincial Park, ski lifts are regularly used to quickly reach the alpine and ski tour into the park. The summit is home to the Whistler Peak chair, and this makes it one of the most travelled summits in British Columbia.
The mountain forms part of a major ski and snowboard resort, the largest in North America.[6]