Whistler’s Sasquatch Turns 10
Story by Dee Raffo | Images courtesy Ziptrek Ecotours
Did that headline catch your attention?
No, Whistler doesn’t have a friendly, forest-dwelling Sasquatch you can take a selfie with, but it does have a monster of a zipline.
Celebrating a decade of thrilling adventurous guests, Ziptrek Ecotours’ “The Sasquatch®” is the longest zipline in Canada and the U.S., spanning two kilometres (7,000 feet) in length. It’s also 183 metres (600 ft.) above the valley, with zippers reaching speeds of more than 100 km per hour (62 mph), which makes it quite a beast.
“It’s a unique zipline, both in terms of height, length, speed, and where it ultimately takes place, between the two signature mountains of the resort,” says Warrick Hubbard, Ziptrek’s global director of marketing. “Given the proliferation of ziplines around the globe, I’m thrilled that it remains the longest zipline in Canada and the U.S., even 10 years on. However, it’s really about where it takes place and the memories it creates for our guests. Engineered to deliver such an amazing zipline ride from start to finish, it really is one of the best in the world.”
A quick scan through 10 years of reviews reveals that the most commonly used expressions to describe the experience are “exhilarating,” “thrilling,” and “amazing.” These adjectives get you some of the way there to understanding how this zip feels, but the only way to know is to experience this must-do Whistler activity yourself.
The zipline spans the Fitzsimmons Valley, launching from Blackcomb Mountain and travelling to Whistler Mountain, offering spectacular 360-degree views above the old-growth forests and looking out toward the ancient glaciers and jagged peaks of the Coast Mountains. Yes, that initial step into thin air from the starting platform will get your adrenaline pumping (it's a 27-degree angle), but it’s the views that will take your breath away.
The Sasquatch is a thrilling two-minute adrenaline rush, but you’ve got to go up to enjoy the gravity-fuelled ride down. After you’ve donned your harness and helmet, the Ziptrek team will escort you up the mountain in the Blackcomb Gondola, and from there you’ll zip across to mid-mountain on Whistler.
With guides connecting and disconnecting you, the only thing to worry about is who you want to go with, as it’s a dual line, meaning you can go side by side. Why not make it a race? The entire experience takes 1.5 hours, but you can also bundle the Sasquatch line with more ziplining fun if you’re keen for more airtime — and you’ll get a discount, too.
You can also feel extra contented about your Ziptrek experience because the company takes sustainability seriously. From Day 1 (2002), education has been a core part of all their tours, and to date, they’ve spoken to more than 1 million guests about how we can live lighter on the planet. They consistently strive to reduce their impact on the ecosystem even further, with a goal of achieving net-zero emissions. The infrastructure for the ziplines has been built and placed in such a way that it can be taken down and dismantled without causing damage to the trees it’s secured to.
Safety is an essential aspect when you’re sending people down a wire at 100 km/h. Ziptrek Ecotours is proud to hold a Safe Travels designation, and many reviews mentioned how rigorous the safety checks are, applaud the professionalism of the guides, and even comment on the smoothness of the ride — that is, once they’ve stopped screaming!
If you’re after a memory-making experience that will take your breath away, the Sasquatch is the beast for you.
