Getting a season pass for the ski season has always been a bit of a ritual for my husband and I for the past 31 years. It’s sort of a joyful thing where you put your money down and celebrate a little bit that you’re set for the season to have some fun in the snow. This was not the case this year.
To Vail Resorts’ credit, they sent me a letter telling me about the $244.20 credit for my Epic Pass of last year, towards an “eligible pass product” for the 2020-21 season. This was due to the pandemic and nobody was at fault, but we did lose more than 30 per cent of our season.
I was very disappointed when I was told that I was only eligible for $181.80 credit towards my Whistler Blackcomb senior pass. The reason was that it was 20 per cent off the new pass regardless of the credit letter. I can’t go to the U.S. to ski this year in all likelihood, so why buy an Epic Pass? I just got old enough to qualify for a senior pass.
The credit has nothing to do with this coming season; it was a credit for last year’s season, which ended months ahead of schedule. Why is my new pass affected by last year’s dollar credit?
It’s only $60 but on principle, it feels wrong to me. It also hasn’t served anyone because I wasted 45 minutes of some nice girl’s day on a task that should have taken five minutes.
She did mention they’re having a hard time getting and keeping staff. Line-ups on the phone have been lengthy. I waited five hours to get a callback to spend some money with them.
For the sake of $60, Vail Resorts has managed to turn what used to be a joyous event of getting your pass into a frustrating argument and although I bought my pass, I’m not feeling joyful.
It turns out it’s not a credit at all but a discount on next year’s pass. Perhaps they should have said that from the beginning.
I sure hope we have a good season and I wish Vail Resorts all the success of the coming season. I’m sorry to start the season with a bad feeling about my pass purchase.
Karen Gardner // Whistler
Keep Lost Lake for Nordic skiing and snowshoes
Yes, I am one of the “handfuls of people” who has the privilege of skiing in “the centre of town while the majority of locals and visitors are shut out of the park for the entire winter” (Pique, “Letters to the Editor,” Aug. 20).
In summer and winter, Lost Lake Park is truly a jewel in our community, and should be shared by all user groups. Many locals take advantage of the fact that it is in the centre of town, which allows them to get a quick blast of fresh air and exercise before or after work. Callaghan is not an option for many of those people.
I have owned dogs for the majority of the 46 years that I have called Whistler home. I often walked at Lost Lake and, yes, I admit to enjoying the times when the snow in the valley arrived late and we had a few extra weeks to use the trails in the park.
The skiing at Lost Lake is typically open sometime in December and never remains operational past the end of March. That is really not an unbearable stretch of time to perhaps explore some of the other trails around town. Your dog would probably enjoy a bit of variety and you could familiarize yourself with some of the other spots that offer exercise and tranquility.
They might not be walking distance from your home, but neither is Callaghan. Here are some of your options: Whistler Golf Club course, Cheakamus Lake trail, Riverside trails in Function, the microwave tower access road in Function, Callaghan snowshoe and dog trails. There are more if you really want to escape the madness, but they are secrets known only by a few of the intrepid locals.
I am happy to have my tax dollars go towards the Nordic skiing at Lost Lake.
Plowing the trail all winter would also be a major expense and would make a mess. They wouldn’t be able to clear every little bit of snow from the trails without damaging the surface. People who have lived here for any length of time know that our winters bring an endless stream of melt-freeze cycles.
Climate change has made for even more melt cycles. Anyone who walks a plowed Valley Trail during the winter knows that a rain and subsequent cooling can make for unpleasant conditions. If the trails in the park were also plowed, the same icy conditions would occur, salt would need to be applied, and we all know where the salt ends up.
I have also spent time working as a volunteer on the Nordic trails. Policing the trails is a tiny part of the job. There are volunteers manning the ticket booths who work for Cross-Country Connection.
Ski patrol members who work for the Resort Municipality of Whistler are also a presence on the trails and deal with first aid, offering suggestions and assistance to visitors, maintaining signs and fences, and reporting on the condition of the trails.
I would also like to mention that the paid grooming staff does an unbelievable job of readying the trails for the skiers. Anyone familiar with the properties of snow knows that grooming a run/trail to perfection is a delicate balance between timing, experience and the fickle weather.
My suggestion to anyone upset with the existence of our Nordic trails is that you invest in some snowshoes, walk on some of the trails that are packed down by other walkers, drive down to Callaghan to take advantage of what they have to offer (their dog loop is a multi-use trail that allows dogs to be off leash—it is a great social experience for one’s dog) or take up cross-country skiing. If you are looking for fresh air and exercise and have limited time, it is a much better investment of your time than downhill skiing/boarding.
Many of the fun activities in our town run at a deficit and will continue to do so. Instead of worrying about losing Lost Lake for a few months, I would suggest that people think about how we can bolster the businesses that are continuing to run at a deficit and try to come up with suggestions that will keep our economy going.
Jan Tindle // Whistler
Winter at Lost Lake works fine the way it is
In response to Kathleen Smith’s Letter to the Editor on Aug. 20, “Open Lost Lake Park to everyone this winter”—how selfish. Shame on you!
Lee Goldsmid // Whistler
Whistler pickleball thank you!
The Whistler Pickleball Association (WPA) is grateful to the Resort Municipality of Whistler for supporting a very successful Whistler Pickleball Week (Aug. 8 to 16) and to the facilities staff for arranging the reserved use of all municipal courts throughout the week.
Fifty-four adults and 15 children/teens took advantage of the introductory sessions and increased the membership of the WPA.
Our sincere thanks to the WPA Board, which devoted countless hours to the planning and preparation for Pickleball Week, and to Kirk Paterson for his continued guidance and support.
Thank you also to the dedicated ambassadors who assisted the coaches and welcomed newcomers to the game.
Many people contributed to the success of the first annual Whistler Pickleball Week: Reporter Dan Falloon (Pique coverage), Justin Belanger (photographer), 101.5 Whistler FM for airing the radio advertising during Pickleball Week and to David Lewis for voicing the advertisement.
Thank you also to Whislife for its generous contribution of lanyards for the ambassadors and coaches.
The Whistler Racket Club hosted several events throughout the week and the WPA appreciated the support.
Finally, thank you to Walter Knecht of Pickleball BC for his advice and support during the planning of Whistler Pickleball Week; it was a great success!
Garth White and Norm Binion // interim co-presidents
Let us enjoy Lost Lake on skinny skis
In response to the letter last week suggesting that the municipality make the trails at Lost Lake open to the public and not exclusively for cross-country skiing: There are many trails in and around Whistler available year-round for walking (Pique, “Letters to the Editor,” Aug. 20).
I believe the Lost Lake trails should remain groomed and maintained for Nordic Skiing.
Not everyone is able to, or wants to, drive to the Callaghan to cross-country ski. Locals and tourists alike cherish the opportunity to use the Lost Lake trails for Nordic skiing for a few short winter months and climate change may well make the time we do have even shorter.
Please let us enjoy this gem on our skinny skis before the snow disappears at this elevation.
Dawna Westman // Whistler
Lost Lake trails are part of enjoying Whistler winter
In response to the letter “Open Lost Lake to everyone this winter” (Pique, Aug. 20): While there may be a point to be made for limited pedestrian access to Lost Lake in winter, there are many visitors who enjoy their initial attempts at cross-country skiing at Lost Lake, safely, on dedicated trails with no dogs or walkers to make anyone more nervous than they already are.
For winter walkers, there are several kilometres of multi-use trails at Green Lake and from the Meadow Park Sports Centre to Rainbow Park. There are the trails on the valley golf course, and many, many kilometres of Valley Trail for those who prefer hard surfaces.
[Letter writer] Kathleen Smith said she would like the current cross-country trails, including those on the golf courses, to be plowed. Why does she live in Whistler? There are lots of us (taxpayers!) who like to ski at Lost Lake, without having to drive to the Callaghan—not everyone has a vehicle, and not everyone has the time for an hour of driving (return) to enjoy an hour or two of skiing.
Having the Lost Lake cross-country trails in town and readily accessible to all shows that Whistler is not just about downhill and that all types of skiers are welcome here.
If you want to access the Upper Fairways or the nice flat routes on the Nicklaus North in the winter, strap on some cross-country skis and come enjoy the season!
Carol Piercy // Whistler
