D.B. Cooper
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- Jul 22, 2020
Really cool! Habrich almost looks like it's giving you the finger. Is that the gondola where some idiot keeps cutting the haul rope?
British Columbia Conditions
- Thread starter takeahike46er
- Start date
takeahike46er
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- Joined
- Sep 21, 2020
That’s the one. The haul rope was cut twice.
takeahike46er
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- Sep 21, 2020
Last weekend, I did a tour outside Whistler—just after a storm rolled through. The snow was quite light in density, especially for this time of year.
This is normally a pretty popular spot. Not sure where all the people were. Perhaps doing yard work?
An atmospheric river is hitting the region this weekend. While the alpine could pick up some decent accumulations, it will be a sloppy mess at lower to middle elevations. I’ll skip the skin track, take a lift, and stay high.
This is normally a pretty popular spot. Not sure where all the people were. Perhaps doing yard work?
An atmospheric river is hitting the region this weekend. While the alpine could pick up some decent accumulations, it will be a sloppy mess at lower to middle elevations. I’ll skip the skin track, take a lift, and stay high.
takeahike46er
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- Sep 21, 2020
There were some decent turns at W/B over the long weekend. Crowds were a little nutty at times, but such is Whistler on a holiday weekend. Still winter conditions above mid—and will be for the foreseeable future.
Diamond Bowl
Fraggle Rock
Ripping first tracks on Dakine after the Glacier Chair opened for the first time post storm was a highlight.
Diamond Bowl
Fraggle Rock
Ripping first tracks on Dakine after the Glacier Chair opened for the first time post storm was a highlight.
takeahike46er
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- Joined
- Sep 21, 2020
I had low expectations for opening weekend at Whistler. With no other ski areas open in the region due to a lack of snow, I expected big crowds and marginal skiing.
Emerald with Mount Currie in the distance
It turned out to be not as bad as I feared. The crowds were manageable most of the day with folks in no rush to get up the hill. And while the snowpack was extremely shallow for this time of year, there was just enough coverage to make skiing outside the boundary worthwhile, and the natural snow was soft.
The low angle terrain accessed by Emerald is ideal for low tide conditions
I always enjoy early season at Whistler. The open terrain is always limited due to staffing and early season operations; however, the amount of skiable terrain is much larger than what’s on the snow report—and with far less competition. You just have to have the appropriate gear and assume all risks incurred once you cross the boundary.
Wild Card was outside the boundary but totally skiable for this former eastern skier
Uphill travel over to Harmony and Whistler Peak was permitted, so I did a quick lap where I had my best turns of the day in T-bar bowl. The snow from earlier in the week was still soft, so the juice was definitely worth the squeeze.
The Harmony zone from my uphill route up Pika’s
Watch out for sharks
Emerald with Mount Currie in the distance
It turned out to be not as bad as I feared. The crowds were manageable most of the day with folks in no rush to get up the hill. And while the snowpack was extremely shallow for this time of year, there was just enough coverage to make skiing outside the boundary worthwhile, and the natural snow was soft.
The low angle terrain accessed by Emerald is ideal for low tide conditions
I always enjoy early season at Whistler. The open terrain is always limited due to staffing and early season operations; however, the amount of skiable terrain is much larger than what’s on the snow report—and with far less competition. You just have to have the appropriate gear and assume all risks incurred once you cross the boundary.
Wild Card was outside the boundary but totally skiable for this former eastern skier
Uphill travel over to Harmony and Whistler Peak was permitted, so I did a quick lap where I had my best turns of the day in T-bar bowl. The snow from earlier in the week was still soft, so the juice was definitely worth the squeeze.
The Harmony zone from my uphill route up Pika’s
Watch out for sharks
takeahike46er
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- Sep 21, 2020
Winter has finally arrived. It was a stunningly beautiful weekend in Whistler with clear, blue skies following Friday’s storm.
Blackcomb Peak
Lower Body Bag Bowl
Lower Body Bag with Whistler in the distance
Conditions have vastly improved in the past week or so. Most glades could use a couple more storms, and there are some early season hazards still lurking in the alpine, but all-in-all I’m feeling much more optimistic about the season than I was a couple weeks ago.
Flute with Blackcomb across the valley
Lesser Flute
Blackcomb Peak
Lower Body Bag Bowl
Lower Body Bag with Whistler in the distance
Conditions have vastly improved in the past week or so. Most glades could use a couple more storms, and there are some early season hazards still lurking in the alpine, but all-in-all I’m feeling much more optimistic about the season than I was a couple weeks ago.
Flute with Blackcomb across the valley
Lesser Flute
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takeahike46er
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- Sep 21, 2020
It was a gorgeous weekend to celebrate the final days of the season at Blackcomb. The weather was perfect, and the spirits were high. But lurking beneath all the good vibes, I felt like I was witnessing the end of an era.
Saudan Couloir
It was recently announced that summer training camps at Blackcomb were cancelled this year. Given the Showcase t-bar barely opened this season due to the Horstman glacier losing so much mass, I’m not optimistic the training camps will ever resume. It’s quite possible this is the last season for Showcase as well.
The top of Showcase at the far left
The Blackcomb glacier isn’t fairing any better either. Access to the glacier continues to deteriorate as the ice retreats rock walls and the bowl steepens. Vail will eventually have to spend some major capital blasting to keep this high alpine terrain in play for the masses.
Blackcomb Glacier with The Spearhead above
Whistler will stay open into May. However, I think I’m done with lift accessed skiing for the season. I’m just glad I got one more Showcase lap before it’s gone.
Whistler Peak
Saudan Couloir
It was recently announced that summer training camps at Blackcomb were cancelled this year. Given the Showcase t-bar barely opened this season due to the Horstman glacier losing so much mass, I’m not optimistic the training camps will ever resume. It’s quite possible this is the last season for Showcase as well.
The top of Showcase at the far left
The Blackcomb glacier isn’t fairing any better either. Access to the glacier continues to deteriorate as the ice retreats rock walls and the bowl steepens. Vail will eventually have to spend some major capital blasting to keep this high alpine terrain in play for the masses.
Blackcomb Glacier with The Spearhead above
Whistler will stay open into May. However, I think I’m done with lift accessed skiing for the season. I’m just glad I got one more Showcase lap before it’s gone.
Whistler Peak
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takeahike46er
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- Sep 21, 2020
