Opening Day 2018/2019 season

Official opening day for Whistler and Blackcomb this year is Thursday, Nov 22nd with a base depth of 34cm.  That matches the lowest snow base for opening day since 2014.  The 14/15 was one of the worst snow seasons since I've been living in Whistler.  We were all riding bikes on all the bike trails in mid-February.

Vail has failed to open the new multi-million dollar $$ Blackcomb Gondola on time for opening day.  Blackcomb will open on Thursday with Whistler but access will only be via the Excalibur Gondola and only operating the Excelerator Chair and Jersey Chair, however the only trail open will be Wishbone.  Whistler will be running the new Emerald six-pack and Franz Chair with Upper Whiskey Jack, Ego Bowl, Papoose, and Pig Alley being the only trails open.

Also, Vail issued an all employee email citing that no employee or dependent passes will be allowed to ski or ride during opening weekend due to the lack of terrain unless they are working.

Day 48 - Mountain Exploration

The rains subsided and the flurries continued.  Temps went back down to normal leaving most of the mountains hard packed/icy.  We had a training day called Mountain Exploration.  Not a mandatory training but I decided to tag along because it's usually fun.  Unfortunately I only made it to one run because I didn't feel like dealing with the conditions.  Snow was okay to just about the bottom of Emerald Chair.  The snow higher up was good but the awesomeness that once was (last week) is gone.  I didn't even snowboard to the bottom.  I downloaded from the Roundhouse.

Day 47 - and then came the rains

Another 15 inches fell in the last 24 hours bringing the snow base to a height of 327cm.  Unfortunately the freezing levels rose and the amazing powder is now something similar to what I can guess is "elephant snot".

It wasn't very busy in Whistler Kids, and I didn't get a chance to go to the Roundhouse but it was snowing at the Roundhouse level all day.  I had one kid in level two and by lunch I managed to get him up to level 3 so after lunch I peaced out and went home.

Day 46 - JAPANuary

The last seven days have been, by far, the best snow we've had in Whistler for a long time.  Nearly seven feet of snow has fallen in the past seven days.  But not just any kind of snow:  perfect champagne snow.  It's deep.  No matter where you go off piste, it's deep!  Snow is still forecasted to fall this week, however freezing levels are going up so the conditions will probably get a bit heavy.

I was scheduled for Club and they did not need me.  I reported to Destination and by 11:30am, they told me they did not need me.  I met up with Irish at the Roundhouse around 12:30.  He was riding with Kalen and a bunch of his buddies.  We did a lap down Whiskey Jack - by this time the temps had started riding and the snow was getting quite chunky and heavy.  We ran down Dave Murray, where the snow was not as chunky and quite a bit nicer.  Next we jumped onto Bear Paw, and into the glades called Unsanctioned.  It was absolutely amazing in there.  I haven't been in there for years.  I was glad to get back in and remember it was an option that I had forgotten about.

Day 45 - Steeps, Trees, Drops and SOOOOO DEEP!!!

 I haven't been on my board for a few days and it's been snowing every day this week since we got that two feet of snow on Sunday.  Ellen Barbour put on a women's only Steeps, Trees, and Drops full day session today and it was amazing.  Almost six inches was measured overnight and it snowed most of the day.  There were five of us with Ellen and she took us to some sweet places off of the Peak.  Spots I don't normally ride and neither do a lot of other people .... certainly not the general public.  The snow was so soft.  I haven't been in snow that soft EVER!  But it was also so deep.  I have to say it was the best, the softest, the and steepest snow I have ever experienced.  Unfortunately I had to leave a bit early to go to the dentist but the four laps I did do were so worth it.  OMG!

Day 44 - these goggles keep me from seeing the wind

It's not too busy these days in Whistler Kids.  We had about 20 kids in snowboard lessons and I ended up being a floater for the morning.  I hung around for a few hours, and after lunch I took a split in the level threes.  It snowed most of the day so it was really windy at Roundhouse elevation.  Peak Chair and Symphony Chair were both closed.  I found plenty of soft snow and even got from fresh turns here and there.  More of the fresh stuff is forecasted for tonight.

Day 43 - slow is the new fast

Monday Monday.  Snow report is saying that 14cm of snow fell in the last 24 hours but the measured snow base was only five cm higher than the other day, and is now resting at 278cm.  After yesterday's perfect storm and no alpine access for the weekenders, Patrol was able to open everything on Whistler and Blackcomb today except for the Glacier Chair.  I would imagine there were some happy people who got a couple fresh laps off of Peak Chair or Harmony.

I reported back to Destination and was assigned to level fours.  I was happy my Supervisor gave me a high level class and I ended up with a class of three girls.  It was a super chill day shredding around looking for fresh powder.  We weren't allowed in the trees or up Peak Chair so we were kind of limited.  Luckily I know a few places in the easier zones where fresh powder can usually be found.  The temps must have cooled down overnight because the snow was super soft and super fun.

Day 42 - 58cm overnight ARMAGEDDON

Technically today shouldn't count as a day since I never went up a chairlift or gondola today.  I reported to work at Club after 58cm (22 inches!!) of snow fell on Whistler overnight leaving a snow base of 280cm.  Winds were gusting up to 155kph at the Horstman Hut and gusting close to 100 at the Rendezvous/Roundhouse areas.  Fresh tracks was cancelled this morning as Patrol couldn't clear avalanche in time.  In fact, it was a very late opening for both mountains due to avalanche risk.  Blackcomb gondola finally started spinning at 9:10am and Whistler gondola only had the bottom line running and that started around 9:30am.

The queues at every lift station were crazy.  Blackcomb/Whistler gondi lift lines ran all the down the Village past Citta's.  Creekside gondola lift line went over the bridges into the parking lot.  Wizard Chair was just as crazy.  Base II lineup went past staff housing and over the bridge.

I wasn't needed at Club and I wasn't getting in line so I never went up.  Snow was a bit heavy but nicer in the trees.  Winds were crazy but eased off in the afternoon when the sun even came out a bit. Insane day for Whistler Blackcomb.

Day 41 - friendly favors

Today was my day off but I was asked by some friends of mine to help a couple girls with their snowboarding skills.  Spent about three hours at the Olympic area getting the girls to side slip and eventually turn.  After that I had some lunch at the CLC then peaced out back to Squamish for a nice afternoon nap on the couch.

Storm front headed for this week with record snow fall amounts.  Only a few centimeters fell last night bringing the snow base to 230cm as of 7:30pm.  Snow Forecast calls for 16" tonight, another 20" all day and night Sunday, 5" on Monday, 13" Tuesday, another foot on Wednesday, and finally another 6" on Thursday.  We will see if that all comes to fruition.

Day 40 - breakfast and powder

I requested today off as it was forecasted to snow and I wanted to freeride with some friends.  We received 22cm overnight and the snow base is now at 232cm.  I made plans to ride with Bea and Jeremy.  They aren't early morning shredders and I didn't need to wake up earlier than a work day on a day off so I didn't mind sleeping in and having a lazy morning.  Bea and Jeremy made a nice breakfast for us and we headed to the Village around 10am.

The lift lines were still pretty long at that time.  We decided to head up Blackcomb.  It was super windy with clouds sweeping through quickly changing light and conditions.  We headed up Jersey Cream and found lots of soft snow down Bark Sandwich.  Up Solar and more soft snow near GMC race center as we headed towards Crystal Chair.  Had a great time on Ridge Runner and through Arthur's Choice.  I kind of wished I got in line early to make some fresh tracks but the snow was nice enough where I didn't care too much.  More snow in the forecast for the next five days.

Day 39 - Phoenix, Jazzy, Jo, Emerick, Nela

Only 7cm fell overnight and the great snow we had yesterday warmed up to elephant snot.  It snowed all day today and the winds were so high they never opened the Alpine.  I was given level ones, not just level ones, but Junior level ones ... which means the kids were between the ages of 5-7yrs.  Your worst nightmare if you have to teach a class.

Luckily, the kids I had today were all pretty good.  And by good I mean they were all mature for their age and didn't need any special attention, no whining, no crying.  In fact, they were all keen to snowboard as well.  The day wasn't as bad as I anticipated.  It didn't even rain/snow while we were at the CLC all day.  It stayed dried until about 2pm, when we were all outside for the last 45minutes and got completely soaked!

Day 38 - proper pow day

20cm fell on Whistler this morning and this afternoon!!  Snow base back up to 202cm!!   Loads more snow forecasted to fall through the week into Sunday morning.

Early morning didn't indicate such an epic day.  It was raining in the Village, and only 1cm fell overnight.  Freezing levels were forecasted to be quite high.  We all thought it was going to be a very wet (rainy) day.  I was assigned to level fours and I wasn't happy with the thought of riding in the wet snow/rain but whatever.  I had a full class of six.

We unloaded the village gondola at the Roundhouse at 9:30am and walked into a full on blizzard!  It was snowing and it was snowing hard.  Nice snow to the bottom of Emerald Chair.  We spent a couple hours in the snow before heading in for lunch.

After lunch, we found super deep powder on my secret green stashes.  The snow was light.  The snow was up to our knees.  To be fair, I think most of it was windblown into that area but after reading how much it snowed during the day, I'm not sure if it was all windblown.  In any care, it was a full on proper pow day and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Day 37 - cream of mushroom

It's busy but not so busy in Whistler Kids.  Adventure Camp has over 200 skiers but Destination isn't as busy.  We had about 35 kids in snowboarding and I was assigned to level 3.  I got the second class card, meaning a full class of six level threes went up before I did with two "leftover" late comers in the same level.  We took a rip from the Roundhouse and I quickly realized I had a bit of a speed split, with one kid being level four.  Lunch was early so I was able to put the level four kid into the right group, and since the other level class also moved one to level four, I was able to put my three into her group.  Basically leaving me without a class at noon.  I was happy to leave.  Conditions were anything special.  In fact, conditions were actually spring like with soft slushy snow from top to bottom.