The alpine ecosystem is snow-free at its best in August, lots of wild flowers and mountain birds like the gray jay. Take care to avoid the bears. I highly recommend taking the gondola to the topunless you are very fit and have plenty of time.

Whistler Mountain (Alpine Meadow)
Whistler (126 km north of Vancouver)

Alpine habitat;
Gondola takes you to the top;
Gorgeous views and short trails;
Allow 2 hours on the mountain;
Easy walking near the lodge but poor-quality hiking trails;
Snow-free from mid-July to mid-September.

Known as one of the top ski areas in North America, Whistler Mountain also offers a summertime alpine environment, with captivating views of deep valleys and snowcapped mountains. White and pink mountain-heathers dominate this relatively arid plant community found amongst bare rock slopes. Maple-leaved currant, club moss, and white rhododendron are common, along with small groves (called islands) of weather-worn mountain hemlock, subalpine fir, and whitebark pine trees. These islands occur in somewhat protected, moist locations, where the snow-pack melts most rapidly in the early summer.

You will also enjoy a few small lakes, and birds such as gray jays, Clark’s nutcrackers, and white-crowned sparrows that frequent the area. Keep your eyes open for hoary marmots that favour these rocky slopes, and for black bears as well. The Roundhouse Lodge provides all the facilities needed for a comfortable outing. From the lodge, check out the views on the Ridge Lookout Trail, involving a 30-minute return climb that can be done in light walking shoes. You can view the alpine vegetation on the Paleface Trail (moderate, 30 minutes return climb) and the Harmony Meadows Trail (challenging, 60 minutes return climb). Ski-run construction has interfered less with the vegetation on the Harmony Meadows Trail, although the condition of this walking trail is poorer and requires hiking boots. Be prepared for changing weather conditions and do not leave the trail.

Drive west through West Vancouver on Hwy. 1 and north to Whistler on Hwy. 99. Once in the Whistler area, drive to Whistler Village and turn right through the village to the free public parking areas adjacent to Blackcomb Way. Walk back through the village to the Whistler Village gondola, following the signs. Through the summer, it operates daily 10am5pm (later on Saturday); and on weekends only starting in September. The cost of the round trip for an adult is about $23. It whisks you from an elevation of 675 m to the Roundhouse Lodge at 1,850 m in about20 minutes. Please review the hiking safety information available at the gondola station. Stop in at an information booth if you wish more information on services at Whistler. Call Whistler/Blackcomb at 604-932-3434 for more information.

If you would like to know more about local ecosystems get the Vancouver Ecological Explorer: A Walker’s Guide to the Ecosystems ($6.95) available in most book, outdoors and nature stores in Vancouver. More information is available at www.ecoexplorer.ca. Contact us at guidebook@ecoexplorer.ca and tell us about your visits to natural places. The drawing of thegray jay comes from the BC Provincial Museum, artist Frank Beebe; and thewhitebark pine comes from an old US Forest Service monograph.