Callaghan Valley
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The Callaghan Valley is a popular wilderness recreation area 14 kilometres south of downtown Whistler, in British Columbia. It is primarily a backcountry skiing, telemark skiing, and cross country skiing area in the winter; hiking and canoeing are common summer activities.
The Callaghan Valley will be the site of the Whistler Olympic Park (formerly Whistler Nordic Venue), where all of the Nordic events for the 2010 Winter Olympics (biathlon, cross country skiing, nordic combined, and ski jumping) will be held.
[edit] Activities
During the winter, the area is a prime ski touring destination, with terrain well suited to cross country, telemark, and alpine touring. Snowshoeing is also a popular option. In good seasons, skiing in the alpine lasts well into the spring.
In summer, hiking, heli-hiking, and canoeing are popular activities.
[edit] 2010 Olympics
Facilities for the 2010 Olympics are being constructed in the Madeley Creek Basin. Three stadia, with both temporary and permanent features, are being built with a capacity for 10,000 spectators each (6,000 for the Paralympics). The location is approximately 8 km from Highway 99 and 14 km from the Whistler Olympic Village.
14 kilometres of cross country and biathlon trails, two ski jumps (90 and 120 metre), and another 20 to 25 km of recreational trails are being built. Overall, $100 million will be spent on the facilities in the Callaghan Valley. Permanent features are scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2007. In the future, it is expected to be one of the premier cross country and back country ski destinations in Canada.
