Industry News
Summer camps on the Horstman Glacier, at Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia, have long been a staple for anyone who wants to ski and ride in the summer. Located high on Blackcomb Peak, the glacier is typically open from early June to mid-July for freestyle and race camps. It is one of only a few places in North America where you can ski and ride in the summer.
Unfortunately, it was confirmed by the resort that the glacier will not open this summer for skiing, snowboarding, or summer camps.
A Whistler Blackcomb spokesperson had this to say about the situation:
“Whistler Blackcomb is unable to host camps during the 2024 summer on the Horstman Glacier. This decision was not made lightly – we know these camps, and this experience, have a long history at our resort. Unfortunately, the conditions related to this season’s snowfall prevent summer camps to safely operate this year.”
This isn’t the first time the glacier hasn’t opened in recent years. In 2020 and 2021 it was closed mostly due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Even before that, the resort struggled for many years to open the glacier due to melting snow and glacier retreat.
Certainly, the below-average snowfall at Whistler this season was a contributing factor to reach this decision. As of the beginning of April, the year-to-date snowfall was 357 inches. The resort typically averages around 450 inches per year.
This is an unfortunate circumstance for anyone who was planning on training at the glacier this summer. Hopefully, summer training can resume again next year, but don’t count on it. For now, it looks like the status of summer riding will be made on a year-by-year basis depending on snow conditions.
- Related: Has Climate Change Brought an End to Summer Skiing on Horstman Glacier, Whistler Blackcomb, BC?
