Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing (Area code 604)

Nordic skiing is nearby and easily accessible on the municipal Lost Lake Trails, 32 km. of double-tracked trails with a skating lane. Trails are well marked and start right from Day Skier Lot 4A off Lorimer Road in Whistler Village. At night, a 4-km. stretch of trail is lit until 10 p.m. The log hut at Lost Lake is a great rest stop. For conditions or information, call Cross Country Connection at 905-0071, where you can also rent cross-country gear.

Another local trail network is at Nicklaus North Golf Course Trails, with 6 km. of easy trails at the foot of Old Mill Road. Trail tickets and rental equipment are available at the Meadow Park Sports Centre (935-7529), which is a full fitness facility just 4 miles north of the village off Hwy. 99. Your trail pass includes a hot tub soak, steam room, sauna or swim at the center.

Whistler Cross Country Ski & Coast Mountain Guides (932-7711), a local outfitter for lessons or guided cross-country ski tours at the golf course, operates out of Whistler Village and runs a shuttle back and forth.

Many avid cross-country skiers travel north to the Cariboo region and the 100 Mile House, with more than 150 km. of groomed tracks. Call 435-5622 for more information.

The outdoor adventure playground west of Whistler called Callaghan Country features more than 8,000 acres of high Alpine terrain, unlimited ski touring, Nordic skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling with 36 feet of guaranteed natural snow and no altitude problems. Guests of the Callaghan Backcountry Lodge (938-0616) are transported to this adventure in the mountains, old growth forest and Alpine meadows via helicopter, snowmobile or snowcat. Guides, transportation, food, equipment and lodging are included in the lodge's packages. Callaghan Country will be the site of the Olympic biathalon, cross-country skiing, Nordic combined and ski jumping competitions, as well as the Paralympic events. Plans are to build a Nordic Centre, an athlete's village, a media village and stadiums.

Snowshoeing in Whistler can be done on any of the local hiking trails. More isolated and easy snowshoeing on your own can be done along the Cheakamus River, accessed at Function Junction on the west side of Hwy. 99. The 12-km. hiking trail along the river is quite scenic. Cross Country Connection (905-0071) rents snowshoes. It's on the Whistler trail network, which can be reached day or night right from the village. The Lost Lake Loop is a popular and gentle trail that takes about 45 minutes to snowshoe.

Outdoor Adventures at Whistler (932-0647) offers an introductory snowshoeing experience that travels from the Whistler Gondola midstation back to the gondola base, primarily following a trail used for mountain biking in summertime. Most of the walk is downhill, but there are some brief, relatively easy uphill sections. While this makes a good introduction to snowshoeing, and while the knowledgeable guides impart a variety of interesting information on flora, fauna and local history, the route down among the ski runs doesn't yield a sense of adventure or terrific views. Other tours, ranging from 1.5 to three hours, travel beyond the ski resort and vary in degrees of difficulty from easy to challenging; some include snacks or lunch. There is also an evening fondue dinner tour.