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Renting a car in Seattle & driving to Revelstoke & Whistler?

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speedin
Posts: 731 - Karma: 131
I wanted to see if anyone has any info, pointers, knowledge, ect....on driving from Seattle to Revelstoke, and then to Whistler and back to Seattle. Here is my idea. I want to fly into Seattle, because its $250 cheaper then Flying into Vancouver. Rent a car. (I can get a small/midsize car for very cheap), and drive to Revelstoke. Their website, along with google maps says its 7.5 hours. Which of course is weather permitting. I plan to ski 3 days at stoke, and then drive to Whistler. Google maps says its about 6.5 hour drive to Whistler. I plan to ski 3-4 days at Whistler, then drive back to the Seattle Airport.
To me sounds like a fun trip. Is this a trip that is going to be totally necessary with a 4wd vehicle? I have never been to BC before. Any tips or pointers would be much appreciated. Ohh..and I plan on going in January because from what I have read it says BC gets the most snow in Jan. Correct me if i'm wrong.
Oct 16 2012 3:42PM
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howlongcanausern
Posts: 4982 - Karma: 1,737
no. also i would NOT try to dupe the rental car agency about taking the car into another country...shit can get real shitty if something happens in canada.
Oct 16 2012 3:54PM
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pretzels
Posts: 416 - Karma: 43
if you're headed to Revelstoke first, you should check ticket prices to Spokane then drive up from there. It's pretty much a straight shot up from the states and will be easier than doing the drive from Seattle.

after shredding glorious pow at Reve, you can do the drive over to Whis from there.

personally, I would stop along the powder highway at a few more resorts rather than focus on Whistler. Whistler is EPIC, but there are some hidden gems of the ski world in the Revelstoke area as well.


Oct 16 2012 3:55PM
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speedin
Posts: 731 - Karma: 131
All of the rental car companies I have researched have said they allow their cars to be driven in Canada, without any additional coverage. I will be getting a rider added on my auto insurance policy though.

Oct 16 2012 3:58PM
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MacMahoooon
Posts: 9009 - Karma: 3,305
I've done those drives a few times and totally doable. Times do vary based on snow conditions, and there is always the possibility of highway closures, so you have to be a little flexible. I'd actually suggest tying to add a stop in between each way to break up the drive, there are tons of options.

Try your best to get a rental with snow tires, as the highways can get pretty sketchy or semi bald all season tires. Also make sure you pick up a set of chains for your car. Highways in and out of Revy can have mandatory chain requirements when weather is bad, and you'll simply get denied access, or hit with a huge fine if you get caught.

Also as sick as a drive as it can be on a good day, I don't suggest taking the Duffy Lake road over the top and coming into Revy from Pemberton (Google Maps directions) it can get really sketchy in a hurry with any snow and not the place for a rental car and inexperienced mountain driver.

Have an awesome trip!
Oct 16 2012 4:21PM
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ski0
Posts: 2321 - Karma: 5,370
revelstoke seems so out of your way. just spend the whole time in whistler and travel by train/bus and you will save about a thousand dollars and 14 hours of driving
Oct 16 2012 4:21PM
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Clark_Griswold
Posts: 1283 - Karma: 48
If you just wanna chip in for gas I'll make the trip. I live in Seattle and want to hit up revy this winter.
Oct 16 2012 4:26PM
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speedin
Posts: 731 - Karma: 131
It is a possibility...however I have heard and seen really good things about stoke, and I would like to ski there for a few days. It ends up costing more money taking bus train, and longer.....
Oct 16 2012 5:22PM
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p-fo
Posts: 9372 - Karma: 6,155
I'd rather just spend the trip at Revelstoke actually. I've been to Whis a couple times, and it really wasn't as awesome as people like to say. Too many fucking people, especially on good days, and weather seems to be consistently shitty with only the occasional epic day. Revelstoke sounds like way more of an experienced skier's mountain, and way less of a "destination resort".
Just from what I've heard and experienced.
Oct 16 2012 6:14PM
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grambo
Posts: 1125 - Karma: 93
This. Whistler is awesome if:

1) Weather/snow conditions are good
2) You know where/when to go
3) It's not super busy

If you don't know #2 or it's #3, you spend the day lining up and skiing tracked snow very frustrated. It's a race to get pow there and you are competing with 100's of people that know what they are doing.

I would either do the entire trip at Whistler (with maybe a day or two at Baker depending on conditions) or a trip to Revelstoke, Kicking Horse, Red Mountain and Whitewater, you will drive less, ski more and not be competing with 25,000 of your closest friends for powder at Whistler.



Oct 16 2012 6:44PM
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rudager
Posts: 11332 - Karma: 4,597
Like the above post, hit up Kicking Horse (Fly to Calgary), then do KH, Revy, Whitewater, and Red. All resorts offer amazing terrain and snow, and the drive between each town/resort is much more do able and less stressful. Driving across BC to just hit to hills is quite the waste of time in my opinion.
Oct 16 2012 7:09PM
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speedin
Posts: 731 - Karma: 131
Never been to whistler, so I would have no idea where to go, and don't want to ski tracked out snow.
I've heard whistler has some of the most consistent favorable weather conditions. Is this not true?

Oct 16 2012 7:23PM
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speedin
Posts: 731 - Karma: 131
only prob is that, flying into Calgary costs a lot of money, almost twice as much then to flying to spokane, or Seattle. I am trying to do this cheap as possible....
Oct 16 2012 7:31PM
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rudager
Posts: 11332 - Karma: 4,597
Then forget whistler and start in Spokane, and head to Rossland, ski Red, then Whitewater, followed by Revy, and Kicking Horse f you want. You want cheap, but value is important too. You can ski 3-4 hills full of amazing terrain and minimal crowds, or you can hit Whistler and ski that, and (like your plan states) drive to Revy. Not only do you lose a drive; but you still ski two hills.
Oct 16 2012 7:43PM
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liftedresearcher
Posts: 1140 - Karma: 1,774
i drive those highways numerous times a season. those highways can get real ugly real quick. google maps times are for summer driving. 4WD isnt necessary, i drive them in my volkswagen rabbit, but i have nokian hakkas, so winter tires are pretty much a must have, especially if you arent used to winter driving. rogers pass can be a nightmare.

Whistler is sick if you know where to go, but the place gets lined up to fuck on weekends/ holidays especially if there is powder.

id suggest flying to spokane and doing Red, Revelstoke, Kicking horse and maybe fernie or whitewater. lots of options in the kootenays and alot of snow. youll get alot more skiing time and way less people. plus save some money on lift tickets. whistler is pushing 100 bucks a day nowadays.
Oct 16 2012 7:47PM
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grambo
Posts: 1125 - Karma: 93
Whistler has consistent snowfall from Nov-mid April, but also gets rain to the peaks and dry spells during that time frame. I would say the interior has more reliable conditions snow wise, Whistler is just bigger. The problem is whenever it snows, half of Vancouver shows up. Even mid-week, you will line up on powder days (at least in the morning). If you do not time the opening of lifts right, getting untracked lines on the "best" terrain is hard, and you cannot spend 2-3 runs a lift figuring out where you go as it will be fully tracked in 60-90 minutes tops, also people will line up for the chair openings 1+ hour before hand so be mentally prepared for that (and agonizing over whether you made the right choice). Honestly, I love Whistler, but it's not a great place for a first visit as a hardcore skier unless you have someone to ski with to show you the ropes. You get better value/skiing in the interior (especially midweek when the resorts there are empty).

Also thee guy above is right, you NEED winter tires to drive these highways, it's not an option some days, so make sure your rental has them (yes, skilled drivers can handle them with all weathers but it's dangerous and stressful). 4WD doesn't matter on highway winter driving, winter tires do.
Oct 16 2012 8:34PM
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Furrer92
Posts: 784 - Karma: 341
Everyone that is saying hit Red is bang on. Incredibly great friendly town with some of the best terrain right off the lifts. Not to mention they're adding another 1000 acres of ski able terrain that they're shuttling with a snow bus.
Oct 16 2012 8:52PM
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SurfaceHoar
Posts: 311 - Karma: 240
I would fly into spokane, then ski Red/Whitewater, then look to do a standby day of Cat skiing at one of the ops on the way to Revy, (retallack, Whitegriz, SWS etc) repeating the process on the way back.

Also much more likely of getting a rental car with winter tires in spokane.
Oct 16 2012 9:44PM
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SurfaceHoar
Posts: 311 - Karma: 240
Spokane also gives you the option to head to idaho/montana/pnw should conditions be less than ideal in the kootenays.
Oct 16 2012 9:48PM
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speedin
Posts: 731 - Karma: 131
Man.....It has been my dream since I was a kid to ski Whistler. I dunno....I wanna do em all! LOL....I'd really like to just track a storm and fly out, but the problem is the weather changes so fast it seams impossible to do.


Oct 16 2012 10:57PM
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liftedresearcher
Posts: 1140 - Karma: 1,774
dont get me wrong, whistler is unreal, i love it, but its like the disneyland of skiing, everything is busy and expensive. you can definitely get more bang for your buck in the BC interior.
Oct 16 2012 11:09PM
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speedin
Posts: 731 - Karma: 131
I dunno...if I decide to go to Whistler maybe I can find someone to show me the ropes....
Oct 16 2012 11:31PM
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speedin
Posts: 731 - Karma: 131
plus whistler has a 3 day lift ticket for $201.00....thats 67 bucks a ticket. Not bad....if you ask me.
Oct 16 2012 11:34PM
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SurfaceHoar
Posts: 311 - Karma: 240
If you plan on staying inbounds, then go to whistler.
Oct 17 2012 11:04AM
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*steeze_is_good
Posts: 2885 - Karma: 718
Talk to this guy!
Oct 17 2012 11:20AM
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acc
Posts: 4122 - Karma: 222
Did the drive from Spokane to Revy and back last winter. We had a Nissan Armada and drove both ways through snow storms. I felt it was easier to drive it at night because the roads are pretty well covered and have huge snowbanks so being able to see headlights coming from a distance was huge. The drive is long but it isn't horrible, even in the snow...so long as the roads are open anyway. I told the car rental place (Hertz) that we were taking it up to Revelstoke. It didn't cost any extra and they didn't care. Just make sure you have the rental agreement close by in case border patrol wants to see it. I'd also recommend stopping in Spokane to buy a cooler and some food/beer because it is expensive as hell in Revelstoke. Like $50 Canadian for a 24 pack of beer. You can only carry so much over the border though. Good luck! Galena Bay Ferry was a piece of cake too...and free.
Oct 17 2012 12:45PM
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acc
Posts: 4122 - Karma: 222
Also, we were there in January and it snowed every day it was awesome.
Oct 17 2012 12:46PM
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snowbombz
Posts: 2456 - Karma: 96
do you watch top gear?
Oct 17 2012 1:25PM
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