Whistler on a Budget
Like Vancouver, due in part to the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, Whistler is very
accessible and is great for travelers with limited mobility. However, keep in mind that Whistler Village is pedestrian only. While this can be good for wheelchair users, it created problems for both Peggy and Dave. Unlike many other towns, where you can drive up and drop off at the front door of bars, restaurants, and activities, this is not possible in Whistler Village.
Parking in Whistler Village is around the perimeter. We found the best option for dropping off and picking up close to the center of Whistler Village was to drop off at one of the hotels and then for me to go find parking in one of the large lots positioned in the exterior of the town.
We made this mistake of leaving Dave’s wheelchair in the car when visiting Whistler Village. While I dropped Dave off close to the restaurant where we ate at dinner, we decided to walk to an ice cream shop for dessert. This was a mistake as the ice cream shop was downhill from the restaurant, and then there was no good way to get Dave and Peggy back to a location where I could pick them up in the car. In the end, we continued downhill and found a hotel with a bench where Peggy and Dave could wait while I retrieved the car and picked them up.
As an alternative, many hotels may offer shuttles into Whistler Village. This is a great
way to avoid paying for parking or the stress of needing to find a parking spot; however,
keep in mind that this may mean a lot of walking, and most hotel shuttles are not
wheelchair friendly.
Superfly Zipline
Located a short drive outside Whistler, Superfly Zipline offers accessible options for ziplining on Cougar Mountain with breathtaking views of Wedge Mountain and Blackcomb Mountain. Superfly is experienced in working with guests with limited mobility; however, you must have sufficient hand strength and grip to hold the handlebar and must weigh between 60 lbs. and 250 lbs.
Both Dave and Ken had moments of doubt about their ability to do this tour, but they overcame their fears and decided to give it a try. They were both able to enjoy the thrill of ziplining down the mountain with Superfly. Ken has a rotator cuff injury that limits his overhead strength; however, he had no problem holding on to the handlebar. Dave had more challenges with getting into his harness and on and off the individual zipline platforms. On one platform, the staff were able to lower him directly onto a wheelchair; however, the second platform did not have a wheelchair, and it took quite a bit of effort to help Dave get his legs down and to stand up.
To slow down as you near the end of each zipline, they ask you to spread your legs apart. This was a challenge for Dave, given his CP; however, he was able to do as instructed. I’m not sure how they handle this for individuals with less mobility than Dave. Our guides indicated that they do sometime offer fully wheelchair accessible tours, so they likely have some additional accessibility options that they did not use for Dave.
Dave’s advice for ziplining: close your mouth. Dave found himself breathless and his theory is that too much air was rushing in his mouth when he left it wide open as he gaped at the sites.
While the tour is normally 4 ziplines for those who can ambulate without assistance; we were limited to only 2 ziplines. In addition to the ziplines, you will also take an ATV ride from basecamp up the mountain to the first zipline and back to basecamp after the second zipline.
I can’t say enough great things about the staff. They really figured things out on how to make this a great experience for all three of us. I was very impressed with how friendly, competent, and helpful they were.
It is chilly on the mountain, even in July, so dress warmly, but leave your baseball hat at home as you will be putting on a helmet. Ken enjoyed a seat by the bonfire in Basecamp while we waited for our tour to begin.
Superfly is advertised as accommodating those with mobility disabilities on the Accessibility in Whistler website; however, they no longer have accessibility information posted on their own website. I encourage you to contact them directly to discuss the mobility limitations in your group and see whether they might be able to accommodate your needs. I booked our trip well in advance and conversed with them via email to ensure that they would have the ability to accommodate Dave’s limited mobility.
Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Center
One of the places on our itinerary that we simply ran out of time for was the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Center. The center is designed to evoke the form of a Squamish Longhouse and Lil’wat Istken and embodies the partnership between the Squamish and Lil’wat Nations. There are hourly guided tours that include a hand drum welcome song, 15-minute film, and guided exhibit tour by Cultural Ambassadors from the Squamish or Lil’wat Nations.
There is a large ramp at the front of the building for accessible access. The Center is fully accessible with an elevator and clear views of the main activities for wheelchair users. The pathways are a hard packed surface with a maximum slope of 5%.
Peak 2 Peak Gondola
Year-round, but particularly in the summer time, the Peak 2 Peak Gondola is an incredible experience. Leaving from Whistler Village, you will take the Whistler Village Gondola (25 minutes) then transfer to the Peak 2 Peak Gondola (11 minutes) before coming down via the Blackcomb Gondola (25 minutes). The entire trip is fully accessible, and they will stop the Gondolas to allow those with limited mobility to board. The Peak 2 Peak Gondola spans the distance from Whistler and Blackcomb mountains in a 2.7 mile, 11-minute journey. Plan for the round-trip journey to take roughly 2 hours.
The Peak 2 Peak Gondola has a glass bottom and provides a bird’s eye view of the forest. The Gondola is fully enclosed and operates year-round.
While we didn’t take this trip on this vacation, Peggy and Megan previously took the Peak 2 Peak Gondola on a previous trip to Whistler. It provides breathtaking views of the mountains, and we were even able to spot some wildlife while on our Gondola ride.
Ticket prices vary by season and age group with discounted or free tickets for seniors, teens, and children. Tickets do not sell out; however, during some seasons only some of the Gondolas may be available. Operating times also vary by season.
Hotel with a Walk In Shower
We stayed in a two-bedroom condo at the Blackcomb Spring Suites by CLIQUE. The suite was a two-bedroom, two-bathroom suite with a full kitchen and living room. One room had a king-sized bed and the other was two twins. At least one of the bathrooms had a walk-in shower. The hotel had a pool and hot tub as well as a grilling area if you wanted to cook your own food. It was located a little outside of the main Whistler Village area; however, it did provide a shuttle to get to the Village if you didn’t want to drive your car and find parking in town. To Ken’s disappointment, there was no air conditioning; however, fans were provided. We did not book an accessible room at this hotel, and the toilets were a little bit lower than Dave and Peggy would have preferred.
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