For most of us, skiing and camping are different seasons. We spend our winters watching snow rulers and chasing powder days, and our summers looking out for a few days of sunshine to head off into the bush.

What if I told you that beautiful Whistler British Columbia gives you the chance to do BOTH activities in April and May?

This might surprise you, but at Whistler in April, you can start your spring morning waking up in a cozy tent by the lake, head up to the high alpine to ski fresh powder lines all day, and find a spot in the valley for an evening cookout and pints. With Whistler’s massive elevation change and varied climate from the base to the alpine, this is one of the best ways to spend time in May.

The Camping Season

April and May are when camping season starts to get going in the greater Vancouver area. While there are still some rainstorms mixed into the forecast, you’re going to see several days with highs of 20 degrees Celsius (~68°F), and mild temperatures overnight. It’s an awesome time of year to start enjoying some of the summer sunshine, and longer, sunnier days that are a treat BC is really known for.

Another advantage of camping in April and May is that it’s the best time of year to have a campfire. It rarely rains in the summer in BC, leading to annual campfire restrictions, aimed at protecting the area from wildfires. In spring, that’s not an issue. The high alpine has often built up a 3-5 metre snow base by this time of year. It melts into surging rivers in the forest below in spring, keeping the forests lush, green, and well-protected from wildfires. It’s the best time of year to go off into the backcountry and start a cozy campfire, worry-free.

Whistler Skiing

Spring is often one of the best times of year to ski Whistler. With one of the highest average annual snowfalls in the world, Whistler Blackcomb has a full snow base well until closing day, which is typically around May 20th. While it’s warm and sunny at the base, temperatures often stay below freezing for much of the season in the alpine. That means you’re not just skiing spring slush, you’ll often get some of the best powder days of the year in April, and the odd one in May.

When the powder isn’t falling, the mountain turns into a party of Hawaiian shirts and sunny slushy days. Park skiers love these days, as the biggest jumps are still in full swing, and have a softer landing if you don’t stick your backflips. You’ll want to get a later start on warmer days to give the slush some time to soften up — hitting the mountain around 10 is ideal. Make sure you have dark-lensed ski goggles, or pop sunglasses under your normal ski goggles for some added UV protection. Lots of sunscreen is imperative.

One side of the mountain — either Whistler or Blackcomb — closes in mid-April, so that’s one point to keep in mind when planning. Spring sees fewer crowds, so you’re unlikely to get stuck in any lines. Whistler Mountain alone has 4,757 skiable acres, more than Revelstoke, Kicking Horse, Banff Sunshine, pretty much any other Canadian ski resort except Sun Peaks.

Combining Camping and Skiing

Now that we’ve gone through the highlights of spring skiing and camping, let’s craft the perfect day for you at Whistler in April:

You arrived at Whistler the evening before, and found a nice campsite along Fitzsimmons Creek. After a lovely evening around the fire, you cozy up in your roof-top tent, with a light rainfall rocking you to sleep.

You wake up the next morning to discover that the rain in the valley was snow in the alpine. Since it’s a quiet spring Tuesday, you’re the first in line for the Whistler Gondola, arriving at the high alpine with 20 centimeters of untracked powder in every direction. You score fresh tracks on every one of Whistler’s iconic lifts, Harmony, Symphony, and the Peak, skiing 25,000 feet of vertical before noon. That’s when the sun comes out and you retreat to the patio to enjoy a cold beverage while soaking up the sun. The tracked out powder slowly turns to soft slush, so you spend your afternoon enjoying the sunshine, trying out some tricks in the park, or forming an annual snow snake with a bunch of new friends you made on the slopes that day.

Once the ski day wraps up, you head down to the village for après festivities, where it’s a sunny 20 degrees. After a couple hours enjoying the warm spring day, you head back to your creekside camping spot. You open up the truck and have a camping cookout, lighting a fire as the sun retreats behind the mountains and mild temperatures roll in.

Does this sound like the dream day for you? If so, contact us or book your FarOut overland vehicle, so you can explore some of Whistler’s most scenic backcountry camping spots: today!