If one doesn’t want to purchase a pass they can climb up along the Singing Pass trail heading steadily upwards. It’s a fairly long climb, so many choose to purchase a Backcountry Pass from Guest Services (prices are around $80 but change frequently). The pass is only available if you demonstrate you have avalanche gear, and do not use the lifts for anything except traversing to the backcountry.

From Symphony chair head to the Arch beneath the peak of Flute, and climb the groomed road to the summit of flute. From here you can descend a ski line into the valley off of Flute. The lines here are a bit steeper than those on Oboe. What out for convex rolls that are common in this zone.

Once in valley bottom, transition and climb up Oboe, and take the shorter, gentle tree run down to the singing pass trail. Skin up to the ridge, and head up towards Cowboy ridge. There are several options for good runs here, though this is one of the steeper sections of the tour. At the base take the line of least resistance back up to the ridge, and follow it back to Flute. While there is a short downhill section it’s easier not to transition and keep skins on. Traverse flute, staying beneath the summit. The better runs are a little further down flutes eastern ridge. Once on the ridge you’re back in the resort. If you’ve moved fast you can catch the lift up to make the run out easier. Otherwise you will need to skin back up to the Burnt Stew Trail to get back on the runs down to Whistler.

It is possible to descent Oboe, or Flute valleys down onto the Singing Pass Trail, but be warned this is a narrow trail that goes very quickly and is quite tricky for skiers not used to fast tight trees. Unless you enjoy ski school luge tracks in the trees, it’s worth taking the main runs back to the village.