Whistler’s Creekside was the original access point to Whistler Mountain and is the traditional morning meeting place for course workers.

Located on the Southwest side of Whistler Mountain, Creekside is now a thriving mini-community that boasts restaurants, deli’s coffee shops, hotels, condominiums galore, a food market and Whistler’s only gas station.   Long gone are the old gondola, the gravel parking lot and the original Dusty’s Pub.  These have been replaced by a high speed Gondola, a multi-story parkade and a shiny new and expanded Dusty’s Bar & Grill, still located at the bottom of the Creekside ski runs, right beside the Gondola.  Also new to Creekside is the bottom of the “Peak to Creek” run, probably the longest run in the valley.  It’s the third run to end at Creekside, besides the Dave Murray Downhill and Franz’s Run.

Creekside is the first commercial area encountered when driving to Whistler from Vancouver, and the first (most southerly) access point to Whistler Mountain.  Creekside is still home to Hoz’s Pub,   one of the few remaining “older” establishments and a popular watering hole and eatery among race workers.  The Whistler Resort and Club, where many volunteers are accommodated, is adjacent to Hos’z.

The Creekside Food Market  is located on the upper level of the Creekside parkade, near the Volunteer Tent.

Whistler Village and the second gondola lift to Whistler Mountain is a further 5 minute drive to the north.

Course workers meet each morning at 7:00 AM in Dusty’s for their morning coffee, and perhaps some breakfast, to check in with Accreditation and to discuss the day’s plans with their Crew Chief. If it’s your first day, just look for your Crew Chief’s name on one of the tables. If you have not been placed in a crew, speak to the Accreditation folks. Everyone must check in each day to get credit for his or her work and to receive a lift pass for the day.

On race days, the Lunch Crew will have great sandwich lunch bags for all working course crew.  Make sure you have one, and lots of water, in your daypack.

For people working or cycling on the lower part of the course, Dusty’s offers a friendly retreat in which to warm up, buy a coffee purchase lunch or just to have a rest.  Those working on the upper portions of the course may wish to use the on-hill “Soup Tent”, where warm soup, and coffee is supplied.

At the end of the day, accredited volunteers congregate in the Volunteer Tent located on the top level of the Creekside parkade, where their last job of the day is to tap a couple of kegs of Kokanee’s best, share some stories and discuss the trials of the day.

Volunteer Parking

In Feb 2008, parking arrangements in Creekside will be severely limited.  Watch the Whistler Alpine Volunteers Web site for details of parking and transportation arrangements.

Don’t park for the day on the upper level of the Creekside parkade.

New Arrivals

Volunteers arriving in Whistler by bus in the afternoon (but before 7:00PM) can ask to be let off at the Legends Hotel at Creekside.  After 4:00 PM, walk across the parking area to the Volunteer tent, introduce yourself, meet your fellow volunteers, and perhaps your Crew Chief and find some help in getting to your accommodation.  Before 4:00PM, you may find some fellow volunteers in Dusty’s (try the restaurant area in the back, nearest the bottom of the ski run and the gondola).

The Beer Tent

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The Beer Tent is a Whistler Weasel Worker tradition dating from the dawn of time.  Some now like to refer to it as the “Volunteer Tent”, but that confuses the locals, who have no hope of respectability.  Entry to the Beer Tent is restricted to accredited volunteers sporting a suitably tired look.  New arrivals, just off the bus and who are expected and registered, are welcome.    NEW IN 2008:  Minors will be permitted (but not to drink) and an outdoor area will be available for smokers.  Due to the peculiarities of BC law, cups of amber liquid are strictly verboten in the parking lot, outside our Beer Tent area.  We are strictly non-smoking within the tents.

The Beer Tent is a tent (that has not always been the case), a large white canvas structure usually erected at the northwest corner of the top level of the Creekside parkade, opposite the Legends Hotel and the Food Market. It has a stunning view of the highway.   In 2008, there will be a larger meeting tent and an encolsed oudoor area  in which  members can smoke and drink.

Daily hours of operation are usually 4:00PM to 7:00PM.  Due to the limited size of the tent, and to accommodate course workers who may be late off the hill, patrons are encouraged to stay for just a couple of hours, and then to move on to dinner and bed.  There will be a few days on which the Beer Tent does not operate (night of the Volunteer Dinner) or when hours of operation may change (day of the Safety Meeting).  There are no “beer tickets” or other such silliness.  Quafters are subject to the steely eye and good judgement of the Beer Tent crew.

Creekside Amenities

Dusty's Bar and Grill,        Whistler's Only Gas Station        Whistler Resort and Club       Boston Pizza   
Creekside Food Market      Hoz's Pub and Restaurant      BC Liquor Store     Whistler's  Railway Station


Creekside Map

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Creekside Map