Spearhead Traverse

The Spearhead Traverse is one of British Columbia’s most iconic ski tours — a high, glaciated arc linking the summits and cols of the Spearhead and Fitzsimmons Ranges between Blackcomb and Whistler. Although it begins and ends at two halves of one of North America’s busiest ski resorts, the heart of the route lies in remote, wild country where sharp peaks, broad glaciers, and long, elegant descents are all on the menu. The route can be done in either direction, but Blackcomb to Whistler is the more popular option.

The construction of the Kees and Claire Hut has made the Spearhead a slightly easier proposition, but the fact that it’s close to the end of the tour means that most teams combine a night there with a camping night elsewhere on the route. Future huts are planned, which will make the Spearhead a much more “Euro” trip, but for now it’s firmly Canadian!

The journey begins high on Blackcomb Mountain, where the lifts give you a ride to the top of the Showcase T-Bar, and the start of the route proper. From here, a short climb brings you over a gentle ridge and onto the Blackcomb Glacier, where the hum of the resort fades into silence. Ahead lies a skyline of jagged summits — Decker, Trorey, Pattison, Tremor, Ripsaw, Macbeth, Benvolio — each linked by snowfields and ice. The pattern of the traverse quickly becomes familiar: climb to a pass, cross a glacier, descend into the next basin - rinse and repeat.

From the Blackcomb Glacier, a gradual ascent leads to Decker Mountain and the first real descent onto the Trorey Glacier. Here the sense of scale becomes clear — the Spearhead Range stretches out in a huge curve, and the Fitzsimmons valley beckons far below. Beyond Trorey, the route climbs beneath Pattison and onto the Shudder Glacier, then winds its way toward Mount Tremor, one of the highest points on the traverse. The views here are among the most spectacular in the Coast Mountains: endless peaks to the north and the Tantalus Range off to the southwest.

From Tremor, the line turns south, dropping across the Platform and Ripsaw Glaciers before contouring below Macbeth’s steep north face. The midsection of the route feels particularly remote; even though Whistler is only a few kilometres away as the crow flies, it feels like another world. Many parties choose to camp in the broad basin between Ripsaw and Macbeth, where there’s shelter from the wind and easy access to morning sunlight.

Beyond Macbeth, the traverse climbs toward the shoulder of Mount Benvolio and then rolls down onto the Fitzsimmons Glacier. This descent, broad and flowing, is one of the highlights of the trip — a long glide across an open glacier framed by Whistler’s most dramatic peaks. The final climb up and over Cowboy Ridge signals the approach of civilization (and the hut, if you’re using it). From the ridge, a steady descent down Singing Pass brings you back into the trees, where the route funnels toward the Whistler valley and eventually the village itself.

In good conditions, strong teams can complete the traverse in a long single day, but most parties take two to four. The extra time allows for detours onto side summits, leisurely mornings at camp, and the chance to savor the route’s rhythm. Despite its proximity to the resort, the Spearhead demands respect: glacier travel, navigation, and avalanche safety skills are essential, and weather changes can be sudden and severe.

For those prepared and patient enough to take it on, the Spearhead Traverse is a classic of the Coast Range — a perfect blend of accessibility and wilderness, challenge and flow. It’s a journey that condenses the essence of ski touring into one sweeping, unforgettable line across Whistler’s skyline.