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With freezing levels dropping to sea level this weekend, one didn’t need to travel far from Vancouver to find good snow on Sunday. The north shore ski areas reported 16” overnight. Avalanche danger was high, so we kept to the mellow tree lines on Hollyburn adjacent to the Cypress ski area...

I don’t blame you, RA. I had no plans to ski WB before moving here. Like you said, it’s quite expensive, and there are so many other options that deliver a better value, IMO. That said, the terrain is top notch and worthy of the hype. To get a sense of the place on a budget, buy a backcountry...

Here are my rankings for my home hill, Whistler Blackcomb: 5. Symphony - Some of my best runs at W/B have been off Flute. This is one of the prettier parts of the ski area, but like Harmony—it’s also very popular (i.e. crowded). 4. Crystal - This lift has some of the best tree skiing in all of...

I haven’t been to Mt Cain yet, though hopefully I’ll make it happen someday! I’ll surely post a report if I do. As you noted, it’s a bit of a haul from the city—well over 6 hours, similar to the drive to Revelstoke. Among the other barriers to getting there is the FSR which I hear can be pretty...

I kind of wanted something chill—especially given it was a holiday weekend both north and south of the border. Manning was exactly that. No red snakes. No leaving at the ass crack of dawn to beat the lineups. No stress. And while those Alpental snow totals are impressive, I’m less inclined to...

No bar, unfortunately. This is one area Manning could improve and potentially make some extra money in the process. There was lots of tailgating, however. You could ski right to your car. People had portable gas fire pits, chairs and canopies. Who needs a bar then, eh?!

When I lived in NY, Plattekill was my go to mountain for holiday weekends and powder days. Not only was the skiing great, but it offered an escape from the overcrowding that plagues most ski areas around the holidays or whenever a highly publicized storm rolls through. Though Plattekill was...

It’s tempting! Only 3 1/2 hours away

I wish I could share some beta, but I haven’t explored the arm yet. One of these days! There are some big lines heading out that way—that’s for sure. Shuksan is a beast! On a clear day, it’s easily one of the most majestic views of any N American ski area I’ve been to. I’m looking forward to...

Nice report! Baker is the jam! Every time I show up to the backcountry lot, I get a huge smile on my face. The vibe of the place is infectious. It’s the perfect antidote for when I’m sick of Disneyland (Whistler). There’s nothing quite like Baker.

Nice report! One of these days, I’ll have to pay Stevens a visit. I laughed at the “add 1 hour” rule. That same rule applies when returning to Vancouver from Whistler. The traffic around North Van is awful. Are you making it up to Baker this trip?

Thanks RA! Baker’s a gem.

The majority of the Whistler old-timers I talk to on the lifts haven’t noticed a huge change since Vail took over. Whistler sort of is what it is at this point—love it or hate it. For example, when I ask about the crowds, they say it has been crowded for a long time before Vail took over...

First off, I freakin’ love Mt Baker. The place has such a great vibe and some amazing skiing. If you’re in the region, it’s worth a visit. Snow depths are currently at 114”, which is much better than north of the border this season. With fresh snow and clearing skies, our day in the Mt Baker...

Amen

When I moved to BC two years ago, it was an opportunity to reconnect with some of the things I loved about growing up at the doorstep of the Adirondacks—things like camping, hiking and scrambling. It was also a time to try things that were incompatible with the city life I adopted as an adult...

Totally agree. The point remains that overcrowding, paid parking, and ancillary charges are not a unique feature of one mega pass vs the other, regardless of the combination of causes.

IKON resorts aren’t really any better, IMO. Pick your poison. For example, Crystal has received a ton of flack over their crowds and paid parking (hell, even Steven’s Pass and Whistler offer free parking). The cottonwood canyon resorts seem like a mess compared to year’s past.

December has been a rough month in SW BC. We had a stretch of brutally cold weather—uncomfortable for skiing but good for snow conditions. However, that also meant little to no precip, as much of the moisture headed south of the border. When the storm door finally opened again, temps soared in...

Whistler Blackcomb has been surprisingly transparent with their communication on IG this season. While not as brutally honest as the MRG example, they didn’t sugar coat the rough conditions we had over the holiday break. They’ve also been sharing regular terrain and lift updates—explaining their...