First Tracks for Breakfast on Whistler Mountain

Editor’s Note: Arden Thorne updated and edited this piece in December 2024.

Here’s a confession—with over 20 years of skiing on Whistler Blackcomb I’ve never done a First Tracks breakfast. But then it dumped big in the alpine and along with some hard-charging friends up from Vancouver, I bought the ticket and took the ride.

Here’s how it works—the first 600 people with a First Tracks ticket who line up at the Whistler Village Gondola get to upload an hour before the rest of the world. Those early risers receive a $17 one-time voucher, valid at any Whistler Blackcomb food and beverage establishment, that can be used anytime throughout the day.

The moment the general public starts uploading in the valley the First Trackers start riding from the top… on an empty, untracked mountain.

We went the morning after a big storm. The alpine regions hadn’t opened the day prior which meant 35 centimetres of untouched snow up high. With conditions like these, the trick to First Tracks is to arrive early, like 6 AM. Although the upload isn’t until 7:30 AM there’s no way of telling if you are among the first 600 in line. The line-up can form mighty quickly so get there early, get up top and get ready.

There’s an inherent peace and stillness to every sunrise. On top of Whistler Mountain all that is magnified. Pika’s Cappuccino bar is open for service when First Tracks guests arrive at the top, so you could use your voucher for coffee and a pastry before getting in those first turns of the day or save it up for a Caesar at the Umbrella Bar after the last turns of the day.

Sit close to an east-facing window while you sip on your java and bask in the oranges and pinks as the sky ignites and another day fires into being. This little calm before the pow won’t last long so enjoy the scenery, because once patrol drops the ropes and rings the “all clear” bell you’ve got about 30 minutes before the hoard arrives. Make haste.

The first run of a First Tracks morning has an eerie, end-of-the-world feel to it (especially with those ski patrol avalanche bombs booming from the alpine ridges). Perfectly empty runs beckon and a carpet of fresh corduroy lays in wait. Ripping your favourite ski trail totally alone is a Zen-like experience.

Smart First Trackers will speed directly to Big Red or Emerald chairs to ensure they get one more lap before the general populace arrives. Laying some turns down underneath the top part of the Village Gondola is highly recommended—let the up-loaders know what they’ve been missing.

And then, with two laps of perfect solitude already under our belts, the day begins. My friends and I hit Peak Chair, waited a few minutes for patrol to finish the avalanche control, and literally dove right into that 35 centimetres of high alpine blower pow, the stuff white dreams are made of. Two laps of Peak brought our day total to five untracked runs and it wasn’t even noon.

So, into the lodge, we went for a delicious lunch at the Roundhouse Lodge using our $17 vouchers before heading back out to pack in more laps. Looks like I’ve been missing out for two decades— First Tracks is awesome.

More First Tracks tips:

• Buy your tickets in advance. On busy days, First Tracks may sell out.
• Don’t discard your voucher once it’s scanned at the bottom, as it is also your $17 CAD one-time mountain dining voucher!
• Listen for the “Runs are open” call when you are in the Roundhouse Lodge.
• Do not ski or ride back to the bottom of the mountain.
• Emerald Express and Big Red Express will be the usual lifts open to you at the top of the mountain.

First Tracks is available from December 19, 2024, to March 30, 2025, but you can buy your ticket now. They are not date-specific but you need to use them when First Tracks are offered and be one of the first 600 in line.