Much of it comes from unassailable facts: Whistler is a giant ski area with Alps-like-vertical benefitting from snow that comes dependably and in quantity.

Some of Whistler's cachet comes from the simple fact that it's in Canada, which, as a Commonwealth country, is a natural destination for British, Australians and New Zealanders, a group who, collectively, are more ubiquitous across the world ski resort scene than any other. Chamonix, for instance, is likely home to more English-speaking ski bums from the British Empire than to native French ski bums. Even in the U.S., whether it's Snowbird, Telluride or Jackson Hole, Brits, Kiwis and Aussies abound. They have a palpable effect on global ski consciousness, one that we beleive has helped boost Whistler to something of a legendary status among most recreational skiers.

To be fair, this place deserves its exalted status. There's more than one reason ZRankings grades it out so highly. First is the terrain: both Whistler Mountain and Blackcomb Mountain give experts and intermediates lots of space to play. Lots as in 8,000 acres. The upper reaches of the mountains hold long pitches of steep terrain that evoke all of those ski magazine shots we've all grown accustomed to seeing out of this place. On Whistler Mountain, Whistler Bowl challengers skiers to open it up and search out hero shots. From the top of Peak Express, Skiers can head down a gentle ridge run and peel off to skier's right in spots of their choosing for the kind of steep, snow-bound shots that make British Columbia a destination. Taking the plunge earlier, closer to the lift, rewards skiers with the maximum amount of time on true fall lines, minimizing run outs. Skiing the ridge farther out can snare more untouched powder as a morning wears on, but the run out back to a chairlift becomes longer while the fall-line vertical decreases. Glades and tree shots abound on this mountain. This place, after all, is part of a coastal range that comprises part of the most prolific log-producing stretch of country on the earth.

Over on Blackcomb, skiers can get to the Horstman Glacier, which offers even intermediates a way to experience a high-alpine environment without while staying at a relatively low altitude (~7,000 feet). From the top of Glacier Express, things get rather European, as the opportunities to go up are limited to T-bars, those lovely instruments that, if a person hasn't been to the high Alps or the Upper Peninsula of Michigan lately, may strike a rather bizarre note. Just jam it between your legs and hold on as you head higher up the glacier, to the peak, or over to rather gentle terrain below the 7th Heaven Express Lift. Below this lift are some sneaky little tree runs that can hold snow when people are busily packing other areas of the mountain. And they can stay fresh as they're hard areas to lap because of the lift layout at Blackcomb.

Being part of the coastal range brings Whistler-Blackcomb a lot of storms at all times of the winter, but the storms can often be warm, resulting in capricious displays of precipation that can change rapidly as one travels from the base of the resort to the top (which, vertically, is nearly a mile). Rain in the village is quite common, but it's nothing that should get skiers too depressed. Batten down the Gore-Tex, head to the lifts and simply ascend until you find conditions to your liking. It's best to head out ealry at Whistler before the crowds at the bottom get unwieldy, which can maximize your time doing two things to be avoided: getting wet, and standing in line.

We recommend heading to Whistler during times when others don't. The massive village and lodging infrastructure, plus the weekender and day traffic from Vancouver, can bring enough skiers together to make even this many acres of slopes and lifts crowded. If there's early snow, try and shoot out for a sneaky mid-December trip. Or, nearly as good, hit the place after the New Year's crowd has headed away and before things get rolling again in earnest in mid-February.