Where did Whistler BC get it’s name? Visiting friends and relatives ask me that all the time. My answer? There’s no better way to Discover Whistler – and stumble upon the answer to that question – than hiking the high mountain trails.
When you hike the Whistler Alpine and hear a loud-wild-whistle… I bet it’s this guy (a marmot)! If you see one – grab your camera and hit record – because you won’t want to miss that high-altitude-conversation.
What’s a marmot (beside the answer to your question, “Where did Whistler BC get it’s name”)?
Only the softest sumo-shaped-ground-squirrel this side of the Garibaldi range!
Yes, that’s right. Whistler’s name sake – the hoary marmot – is biologically categorized as a giant ground squirrel.
Discover Whistler’s fun facts about the marmot and the mountain: Hoary refers to its greyish-white colouring; and marmot refers to the genus marmota.
In the 1960’s, Whistler’s developers referred to it as London mountain due to the fog and mist that often settled on it. However, the historic names of Whistler mountain are actually Cwítima/Kacwítima (from the Lil’wat Nation), and Sk̲wik̲w (from the Squamish Nation).
If you want to meet Whistler’s namesake this year, it’s time to book The Suite Life Whistler and start planning your next go-all-in adventure. And while you’re at it – why not rediscover the alpine – and see if you can garner a few wild-whistles of your own!
And to help you along the way, here’s 3 of the best alpine hikes in Whistler!
