Fitzsimmons Creek facts for kids
Fitzsimmons Creek is a large stream located in Whistler, British Columbia, Canada. It starts high up at the Fitzsimmons Glacier in the Garibaldi Ranges of the Coast Mountains.
For about half of its 10-kilometer (6-mile) journey, the creek flows through a U-shaped valley carved by glaciers. This valley separates two famous ski mountains that are part of the Whistler Blackcomb resort: Blackcomb Mountain to the north and Whistler Mountain to the south.
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Journey Through Whistler Valley
When Fitzsimmons Creek reaches the lower lands of the Whistler Valley, near Whistler Village, it turns and flows more towards the northwest. It passes by the White Gold neighborhood and then enters Green Lake just east of Mons.
Fitzsimmons Creek is a very powerful and active stream. In the past, during heavy rain, it has caused sudden floods filled with mud and rocks. Because of this, the creek's banks near the village are built up with strong rock walls called rip-rap to help control the water.
Sports and Scenery Along the Creek
Right next to the creek, on the lower slopes of Blackcomb Mountain, is the Whistler Sliding Centre. This special track was built for the 2010 Winter Olympics, which Whistler co-hosted with Vancouver. Athletes used it for bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton events.
The creek's valley is also famous for being crossed by the Peak 2 Peak Gondola. This gondola connects Whistler and Blackcomb mountains and holds records for being the world's highest and longest gondola span between two mountain peaks.
How Fitzsimmons Creek Got Its Name
The creek, along with the Fitzsimmons Glacier and Mount Fitzsimmons, are all named after a person named Jimmy Fitzsimmons. He used to run a small mine close to where the creek begins.
Fitzsimmons Creek Hydroelectric Project
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A special kind of power plant, called a run-of-river hydroelectric plant, was finished in 2010. This project temporarily takes some water from the creek and sends it through a large pipe called a penstock. The water travels about 4.5 kilometers (2.8 miles) downstream and drops nearly 250 meters (820 feet) in elevation.
This falling water then spins turbines in a powerhouse, which creates 7.5 megawatts of electricity. The powerhouse is located between the creek and the lowest part of the bobsleigh track built for the 2010 Olympics. Most of this power plant is owned by Innergex Renewable Energy. They have a contract to sell the electricity they produce to BC Hydro, which is a major power company in British Columbia.
Learn more about the project's location and construction
See the hydroelectric plant's layout at the Whistler Museum
