| A multi-summited peak located between Fitzsimmons Creek and the Cheakamus River, on the northwest end of the Fitzsimmons Range directly south of Whistler, BC. This mountain is, of course, the mountain for which the resort town of Whistler is named. The chairlifts start in the town and climb to the summit. From the top of Whistler, one can set out across a series of smaller peaks, known as the "Musical Bumps" and eventually ski down into Singing Pass. In the summer, if you don't want to take the ski lifts to the top, you can simply hike along the ski runs to the north side of the summit block, which is an easy scramble. Name Notes: The original name London Mountain was conferred by Pacific Great Eastern crews because of the heavy fog and rain around this mountain, which reminded someone of their native London. True enough, there's a spot around the old midstation on the south flank where even on sunny days there's often a patch of damp scud clinging to the mountainside. The Whistler Valley, aka the Alta Lake area, was chosen by the Garibaldi Lifts Co., the original ski developers here, because the mountain and area below were at the maximum isohyet - rainfall "contour" - on the pass between Squamish and Pemberton (plus a calculation of the ideal driving time from the North Shore). Of course, in those days the wintertime precipitation was nearly almost always snow...... This peak was known as London Mountain until the developers of the ski resort petitioned to have it renamed in the late 1960's. They didn't think London was a marketable name. Although hill-summits on the ridge connecting this flattish summit to the more alpine areas of Garibaldi Park are named Oboe, Piccolo and Flute, Whistler's name does not come from a musical instrument, but from the whistling marmot which was once common and maybe still is on its slopes. It's because of this that the town's official "mascot" is Willy Whistler, an overweight marmot dressed in red yuppie wear you'll sometimes see trying to have a good time in Whistler village, which is hard to do when kids are pulling your tail.
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