[Photographs: Leslie Kelly]

If you want to find the best burger at a ski resort, you ask a liftie. You know, the guy or gal who sweeps the snow off the chairlift and hits the "stop" button if your bum misses its intended target.

After a morning of skiing fresh powder at Whistler Blackcomb, the magnificently beautiful site of the 2010 Winter Olympics, I was starving. There are more than 90 restaurants in and around the ski resort, and I'm guessing more than half those restaurants serve a burger. When I asked a seasoned ski bum for a burger suggestion, she sent me straight to Milestone's Grill and Bar, at the base of Blackcomb.

The sprawling menu at Milestone's is filled with all sorts of warming fare, including those signature burgers this Toronto-based chain is famous for. Out of their three choices of "inspired" topping combos, I dove into the Californian burger, which included chopped tomatoes, avocado, and a gob of double-smoked bacon. (Other choices are the Four Cheese topped with cheddar, mozzarella, goat cheese, feta, and roasted garlic, and the American topped with double-smoked bacon and cheddar.)

The half-pound, well-seasoned patty was cooked on a gas-fired grill to a nicely done medium. The 100 percent Alberta-raised ground beef burger was super juicy. Super fresh sliced tomato, onion, pickle, and lettuce were served on the side—I piled those on the hefty sandwich. Thank goodness the sturdy toasted Kaiser roll-style bun held everything together.

It may sound as if there's too much going on, but it was a winning combination. The smokiness of the bacon didn't get in the way of the burger and the slice of raw onion added a bracing bite to the sandwich. Like a face shot of powder while getting first tracks.

On the fry front, standard fries come with the sandwich, but I opted to pay 99 cents to upgrade and go for the yam frites with chipotle aioli. And, yes, they were as good as they sound, hot and crispy, while the dipping sauce was rich and fiery.

I could have sipped a Canadian beer—there were several on tap—or had a glass of impressive British Columbia wine with my burger. But I was happy to guzzle glasses of water while chowing down on that satisfying sandwich. It's good to hydrate when you're carving turns through fluffy Whistler snow.