Should I take a suitcase or a pack to Whistler?
January 9, 2009 6:54 PM Subscribe
Should I take a suitcase or a pack to Whistler?
I'm going to Whistler for 3 weeks of skiing (yay). Leaving from Auckland (New Zealand), with 2 nights stopover in Vancouver on the way, and 3 nights in San Francisco on the way back. There'll be a few transfers on buses or in taxis during the journey.
I'm 5' 4", and not very strong. I prefer a suitcase with wheels, because I can roll it along and my strength isn't an issue. My boyfriend thinks I should take a pack, because I can put it on my back, and if there's snow on the ground a suitcase on wheels wouldn't be suitable. I think a pack will be too heavy for me (I have used one before to get up the mountain when we ski locally, and always find it very difficult).
Which would you take?
I'm going to Whistler for 3 weeks of skiing (yay). Leaving from Auckland (New Zealand), with 2 nights stopover in Vancouver on the way, and 3 nights in San Francisco on the way back. There'll be a few transfers on buses or in taxis during the journey.
I'm 5' 4", and not very strong. I prefer a suitcase with wheels, because I can roll it along and my strength isn't an issue. My boyfriend thinks I should take a pack, because I can put it on my back, and if there's snow on the ground a suitcase on wheels wouldn't be suitable. I think a pack will be too heavy for me (I have used one before to get up the mountain when we ski locally, and always find it very difficult).
Which would you take?
A suitcase will be fine. You can get dropped off at your hotel, and there are plenty of sidewalks in the village. The annoyance of lugging a pack around far outweighs the slight chance snow will cause problems with your suitcase.
posted by KokuRyu at 7:12 PM on January 9, 2009
posted by KokuRyu at 7:12 PM on January 9, 2009
To be perfectly clear, even if there is snow, it won't be a problem. I was in town for the Whistler film festival (!) and it was -15 with a foot of snow. I walked around with my wheeled suitcase and dress shoes with no problems.
posted by KokuRyu at 7:15 PM on January 9, 2009
posted by KokuRyu at 7:15 PM on January 9, 2009
Best answer: I've pulled a filled wheeled suitcase through snow. It's nonideal but doable (helps if the snow is dry, or the bag is at least a little water resistant). Also you have to stop every so often to kick away the little mountain of snow you've plowed up. Pack is easier but only if you can make the pack very light, and you will have a certain minimum of ski stuff you have to bring.
if you're doing pack make sure you have a good hip+sternum strap and that the fit is right for you, that might be your issue with having carried heavy packs before.
Of course, if you're going to whistler, what you really should take is me. Man, I'm jealous. Have a good time!
posted by nat at 8:01 PM on January 9, 2009
if you're doing pack make sure you have a good hip+sternum strap and that the fit is right for you, that might be your issue with having carried heavy packs before.
Of course, if you're going to whistler, what you really should take is me. Man, I'm jealous. Have a good time!
posted by nat at 8:01 PM on January 9, 2009
Best answer: The people in the village are pretty fanatical about shoveling snow so you won't have far to go through the snow (if there is any at all).
posted by mmascolino at 8:02 PM on January 9, 2009
posted by mmascolino at 8:02 PM on January 9, 2009
Unless you're planning on snow hiking with it, I'd stick with the wheeled suitcase. Even if there was snow on the ground you should be able to wheel through it fine. A hell of a lot easier than lugging around a pack, especially since you have previous problems with those.
posted by dead cousin ted at 8:30 PM on January 9, 2009
posted by dead cousin ted at 8:30 PM on January 9, 2009
Or alternately, you could take a duffle bag and stick it on a golf pull cart.
posted by dead cousin ted at 8:37 PM on January 9, 2009
posted by dead cousin ted at 8:37 PM on January 9, 2009
Best answer: Wheeled luggage will be totally fine. If you're staying in the Village, the bus drops you off right there and the walkways there are almost always plowed, shoveled, salted or sanded. If you're not staying in the Village, I'd imagine you'd take a taxi to the hotel that first night anyway. If there is some kind of killer snowstorm (you can only hope) that renders the Village shovelling inadequate, it's only one very short walk from the bus to the hotel - you can just drag it through the snow and all will be well.
Have fun!!
posted by barnone at 9:23 PM on January 9, 2009
Have fun!!
posted by barnone at 9:23 PM on January 9, 2009
Response by poster: Just a quick followup to say thanks for the advice. I took a wheeled suitcase and it was just fine. Season isn't great here, but even a bad day on Blackcomb is good!
posted by girlgeeknz at 11:16 AM on January 31, 2009
posted by girlgeeknz at 11:16 AM on January 31, 2009
This thread is closed to new comments.
fwiw, i was chatting with a friend in whis a few days ago, and she said there's very little snow in the village right now. hopefully it'll change before your trip! :)
posted by bellbellbell at 7:10 PM on January 9, 2009