Whistler is a town north of Vancouver, B.C., one of the largest ski resorts in North America. It is the home of 2010 Winter Olympic Games.

Mount Tantalus is located in the marine west coast climate zone. Most weather fronts originate in the Pacific Ocean, and travel east toward the Coast Mountains where they are forced upward by the range (Orographic lift), causing them to drop their moisture in the form of rain or snowfall. As a result, the Coast Mountains experience high precipitation, especially during the winter months in the form of snowfall. Temperatures can drop below −20 °C with wind chill factors below −30 °C.