Whistler March Break???

don't worry about it. Yes spring break will be busier than other weeks but it's a huge area and the crowd always spreads out (as long as the alpine is not shut down while waiting for a big over night dump to be avaly controlled) Pictures of crowds waiting for chairs to open always looks discouraging

but they are usually timing events. The lifts are all high speed and once running clear the crowds out pretty efficiently. Just don't get to the hill late. There is always the 9:00 to 10 up load crowd  which if you become  part of  will get your day off to a slow start. Study the map, watch the sign boards, be flexible. I don't ski to a  lift if it is showing any more than a light line. At different times, different lifts will all be ski on

oops error in above post. Whistler/Blackcomb are so full of themselves they don't just have "trail maps"  they have a "mountain atlas". But it is that big, enjoy.

8:45 arrival at lift line is not an early upload. I'm usually on the gondola just after 8 at Creekside and that is often after a drive up from Vancouver. Seriously by 9:45 you should have gotten at least 3 good runs  and be thinking about which runs next to take to time for coffee/early lunch. Avoid lodges 11-1 pm. Not that you won't get seated or fed but the slopes have less traffic. Personal recomendation: early in your trip be sure to ski down to Creekside from the Peak Chair (arrive at base after 11 so you don't still hit the end of the up load crowd)  Depending on snow conditions it often turn into some of the best skiing on the hill. When ducking the "patrol boundary" rope be sure to know where your going or at least tag along with someone who does.  

to the OP, this was all discussed within the past month; you'll find a lot of great info doing a search. Early morning midweek there aren't queues unless it's a powder day. Some lifts open earlier than posted times. Blackcomb is less busy than Whistler in general, but if you know how to ski Whistler you'll not wait in line much even on weekends. Get the official WB app for your iphone/android phone if you want to see lift wait times in realtime--it's my favourite app. 
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by noncrazycanuck 

Personal recomendation: early in your trip be sure to ski down to Creekside from the Peak Chair (arrive at base after 11 so you don't still hit the end of the up load crowd)  Depending on snow conditions it often turn into some of the best skiing on the hill. When ducking the "patrol boundary" rope be sure to know where your going or at least tag along with someone who does.  

Agreed with watching carefully for patrol boundary signs at WB. I still don't know why some of the signs are permanently up (since you can see the rest of the run on the other side) but you can really get yourself in trouble if you don't know where you're going.

Peak to creek is often the worst skiing on the mountain. I find the grooming is inconsistent at different points - and since it's one run, you can't just peel off somewhere else. Also, you're skiing through multiple climate zones on that run, often getting powder, ice, bumps, and slush all in one run. It's a scenic run, and good for intermediates who want to feel like they've finished a marathon, but not much of a treat for someone who has a more specific idea of what they'd like to ski. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by skiwhitblu 

lines mid-week, it can`t be as bad as those pictures around christmas break is it........if it makes a difference we are advanced skiers probably staying in the alpine on the blacks.

Maybe you are - if they're open.

A couple of years ago I was there during that week, and the alpine never opened the entire week. The usual Whistler white out.

Make yourself an alternate plan in case it gets socked in and doesn't open.

sorry to deliver bad news but spring break for most school districts is 2 weeks 10-24 March so you will be in.it anyway. Still don't worry big area. If weather is bad at one elevation ski at another. That actually is one reason why I recommended at least trying the Peak to Creek side. Don't worry about inconsistent grooming if you stick with the best lines you won't encounter any grooming. The Peak to Creekside is a geographic area. Much more there than just the intermediate ski run of the same name.  

Quote:

Originally Posted by noncrazycanuck 

 Don't worry about inconsistent grooming if you stick with the best lines you won't encounter any grooming.

True, AND, you might go from mid-winter on top down to spring slush at the bottom. Just part of skiing a big hill with real vertical, but as mentioned, there's usually enough terrain that you can find something you like somewhere at any given elevation.