Way beyond Whistler wanders

Whistler Hiking
by Marc Bourdon

Squamish: Quickdraw Publications, 2024
$34.95 

Reviewed by Ron Dart

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I have sitting before me Jack Christie’s The Whistler Book: An All-Season Outdoor Guide (2005) and Brian Finestone/Kevin Hodder’s Whistler Hiking Guide (2009). Needless to say, there have been other Whistler hiking guide books before these two books, but all previous books shrink in comparison to the recently published book by Marc Bourdon, Whistler Hiking.

Whistler Hiking is divided into three main sections with, understandably so, the front stage given to a detailed, visual, and evocative approach to the shorter, medium, and longer treks in the Whistler area. Part I of the book (“Introduction”), rightly so, highlights some of the need-to-know historic background to Whistler and basic safety precautions for trekking in the mountains. Part II (“Whistler Hikes”) is the main actor on the stage, and Part III (“Wildflowers”) is an almost exhaustive overview of many of the alpine and subalpine flowers in the region. But, to the main stage and actor—the varied hikes.

“Whistler Hikes” occupies the bulk of the book and 56 hikes are aptly described in a nuanced and attractive way and manner. Although the title of the book seems to be about Whistler hikes, there is much more than only Whistler hikes in this comprehensive overview of rambles in the area. The first hike noted is Garibaldi Lake (lingering in the Garibaldi area for a few hikes), then inching northward to the multiple treks in the Whistler area and the tome comes to a fit end further north of Whistler into the Joffre Lakes and Anniversary Glacier (#56) bounty of a hike, Motel 66 not to miss.

The sheer abundance of photographs, sketches, paintings, maps, elevation gain, distances, and return times makes this a must-have hiking guide from north of Squamish to Marriot Basin-Wendy Thompson Hut (#54), Rohr Lake (#55) to Anniversary Glacier. The glossary makes for a fine bookend and for those unacquainted with mountain lore and jargon a few more words to up the vocabulary.

My wife, friends, and I have trekked about in the area since the late 1970s, enjoyed many a full moon meander under the star thick lamps of the night, bunked in at huts and tents, lived through many a white-out, blue canopy day and sun-burning-off-mist mornings. Memories aplenty. I have not a moment’s doubt in recommending Whistler Hikes as the finest and best book now published on those keen and eager to explore and see the many beauties waiting to be seen for those willing to do the work—a real 10-bell book that one and all curious about seeing more than most tourists do should own as their mountain guide and mentor, their friend of sorts on the trails, rock ridges, and inviting peaks.  

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Ron Dart has taught in the Department of Political Science, Philosophy, and Religious Studies at the University of the Fraser Valley since 1990. He was on staff with Amnesty International in the 1980s. He has published 40 books including Erasmus: Wild Bird (Create Space, 2017) and The North American High Tory Tradition (American Anglican Press, 2016). [Editor’s note: Ron Dart has recently reviewed books by Paul Zizka, John Baldwin, Diane Kalen-Sukra, Stanley Munn & Patricia Cucman, Don Munday, Susan Leslie, and Torbjørn Ekelund for The British Columbia Review. He has also contributed four essays: Canadian mountain culture and mountaineering, From Jalna to Timber Baron: Reflections on the life of H.R. MacMillan, Roderick Haig-Brown & Al Purdy, and Save Swiss Edelweiss Village.]

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The British Columbia Review

Interim Editors, 2023-26: Trevor Marc Hughes (non-fiction), Brett Josef Grubisic (fiction)
Publisher: Richard Mackie

Formerly The Ormsby Review, The British Columbia Review is an on-line book review and journal service for BC writers and readers. The Advisory Board now consists of Jean Barman, Wade Davis, Robin Fisher, Barry Gough, Hugh Johnston, Kathy Mezei, Patricia Roy, and Graeme Wynn. Provincial Government Patron (since September 2018): Creative BC. Honorary Patron: Yosef Wosk. Scholarly Patron: SFU Graduate Liberal Studies. The British Columbia Review was founded in 2016 by Richard Mackie and Alan Twigg.

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