Adventuring to Dine
Story by Nikki Bayley | Images Courtesy CWA
Fresh Tracks
by Snowmobile for
a Yukon Breakfast
Start the day strong with an unforgettable backcountry breakfast after powering over freshly groomed backcountry trails through the Callaghan Valley to a rustic log cabin on Sproatt Mountain. Enjoy a fresh-tracks experience with the trails at their absolute best for a smooth trip through snow-laden, old-growth forest with dazzling mountain views along the way. Your knowledgeable guides will take you through safety training and get you kitted up, and then it’s off on your snowmobile! Get comfortable and confident on the first part of the trip on easy terrain, then challenge yourself as you head through the amazing ancient forest.
On the menu is a full Canadian breakfast cooked on an old-fashioned wood-burning stove. With options available for vegetarians, vegans, dairy and gluten-free folks, the skillet-style feast includes fluffy scrambled eggs, succulent back bacon, Yukon gold potatoes, sautéed onions and peppers, along with Belgian waffles and maple syrup.
Appetite sated, take a zip over a frozen lake or explore some more of the alpine terrain before you descend and return to Whistler to embark on your next adventure or take it easy for the afternoon.
Snowshoe to
Pure Canadiana
at the Campfire Cookout
After a short shuttle ride from Whistler Village, gather around a cherry-red, de-commissioned CN Rail caboose to get suited up in warm winter gear and snap some photos before strapping on a headlamp and snowshoes for a unique adventure in the snowy forest of the Callaghan Valley. This interactive, guided snowshoe tour takes in the history of the area as well as interpretive information about the different trees and wildlife you may spot along the way — look out for the very cute but hard-to-spot snowshoe hare, which transforms from rusty brown to snowy white each winter.
After a carb-burning trek on snow-covered trails, head back to basecamp and enjoy your own roaring fire and a mouth-watering menu of classic Canadian campfire treats. Roast your smokies (tasty, hot dog-style sausages) and marshmallows over the fire and warm up with a steaming bowl of spicy chili while you enjoy live entertainment from Randy Phelan. Expect the lively energy of a singalong to favourites, including ’80s hits, Coldplay and Neil Diamond. Stomp your feet and dance by the fire; get involved with shakers and tambourines, and maybe even join Randy for a duet at the mic!
Snowmobile to
a Candle-lit
Steak Dinner
Greater challenges bring greater rewards! Perfect for confident beginners and intermediate riders, head out on a nighttime adventure powering up Sproatt Mountain deep in the Callaghan Valley backcountry for an extraordinary evening dining in a remote, rustic, charmingly lit log cabin. After a safety briefing, follow your guide along the well-lit trail and travel deep into the mountain backcountry. On a clear night, your journey lit by the moon, you may see stars!
After working up an appetite, delight in an intimate three-course gourmet feast prepared by the Bearfoot Bistro team and finished by chef Kim Eijdenberg on the wood-fired stove and grill. Savour a hearty meal starting with a coconut lemongrass butternut squash soup with house-baked bread, followed by an 8-ounce sterling silver beef sirloin steak with red wine jus, with decadent buttermilk mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables, and finish with a rich, sticky toffee pudding smothered in salted caramel sauce for dessert. Options are available for vegetarian, vegan, gluten, and dairy-free diners. Look down to see the lights of Whistler far below and make new friends as you share this once-in-a-lifetime, family-style, long-table feast in the peaceful quiet of the backcountry.
Snowmobile or Snowcat
to a Fabulous Fondue
at the Crystal Hut
Both transportation options are available — if you don’t want to snowmobile but you can manage stairs, you can do this tour. Everyone’s invited to this fondue party; zoom up the mountain by snowmobile or ride in comfort and style on the snowcat to enjoy an award-winning Canadian Signature Experience on Blackcomb Mountain.
If you are touring by snowcat, climb aboard the 18-person, heated machine and head up to the high alpine through Blackcomb’s skiable terrain along a dedicated route: no skills are required, and this is a rare chance for everyone to enjoy the evening beauty of the mountain. Meet up with snowmobilers who’ve travelled up and explored the forested trails with their guide, and dive into a delicious fondue meal at 6,000 feet (1,828 metres)!
Steaming hot and ready for you to feast on is a traditional cheese fondue of creamy melted Gruyere, Emmental, wine, and kirsch with freshly baked crusty bread. Also enjoy charcuterie with cured meats, artisanal cheeses, and accompaniments, as well as warm, pan-roasted chorizo sausage and IPA bratwurst. The tempting dessert is a world-famous Crystal Hut waffle with fresh berries, chocolate, and whipped cream. As you dip, devour and chat, this must-do experience is complemented by live entertainment from local musicians. Take a moment on the deck to snap photos and soak in the jaw-dropping views of the snowy Coast Mountain Range and the glittering lights of Whistler Village far below.
