January 5, 2010, Callaghan Valley and Lodge

To escape from warm and soggy Seattle we spent three nights up in the Callaghan Valley at the Callaghan Lodge, 10 kms south of Whistler. We saw it written up in Baldwin€™s new guidebook and decided to check it out. Had 2 clear days with nice dry snow, one warm and overcast day, and rain the day we left (the 8th). Skied up the Solitude Glacier (7,400€™) and the next day skied up to the Ring/Callaghan pass (6,500€™), with an impressive view of the Pemberton Icefield in the distance. We would like to go back and ski some of the south side of Callaghan Mt and the north side of Journeyman.

The lodge is at 4,500€™. 2,000€™ up from the parking lot. Runs are 2-3,000 up from the lodge. Lots of tree skiing and pillows. The parking lot and access road are new 4 years ago, so before this was a 20km ski in, which turned folks off.

Pros- Great lodge, great food, great stories from Brad and staff, you can do a faster and cheaper trip here than driving to Golden and flying into a hut, great groomed skate and classic tracks outside the front door, lots of terrain, especially on the north side of Journeyman.
Cons- flat bits across the valley floor to get to the snout of the Solitude Glacier and the Callaghan/Ring terrain.

Logistics-The parking lot is the same areas as the Olympic Nordic area. The lodge hauls your gear in 12 kms. You ski in 12 kms. (better to do this on XC or skate skis and have your AT gear hauled up).