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Inversion now. -13 at the peak but -20 at the base.
I can certainly understand closing most of the mountains yesterday. Probably a no-win scenario for WB. If they close entirely people will bitch, if they just open a couple lifts (like they did) people will also bitch.
Most, if not all the resorts in Alberta and the B.C. Interior will shut down a lift if the wind chill at the lift gets to -30*C or colder, The last couple of days Castle, Whitewater, Banff Sunshine and possible a few others shut down all lifts, the rest only had a few lower mountain lifts running.Quote:
Originally Posted by gramboh
At the risk of incurring the wrath of the hordes tomorrow, I think the forecast scared quite a few people out of riding today. Pretty much ski-on glacier chair, 5 minutes max on 7th. As long as you didn't go below like 1500m temps weren't all that bad.
Saturday turned out to be a great day out as it warmed up in the alpine with zero wind and no lines. Still some soft pockets to find around Peak although reverse winds on Thurs/Fri messed some slopes up.
Rode inbounds(ish) pow basically all weekend. Not full top to bottom lines but very enjoyable. Still a lot left behind in the Double Rubble/ surfs up area too.
I also think closing was the right idea. If you had to do rope rescues from a busted chair it would be a bad time for everyone...
Yeah Castle Mountain deals with enough of these closures that they have a detailed Cold Weather Policy on their website: https://www.skicastle.ca/extremeweather/ . Sounds pretty reasonable to me: -25C close chairs if it's windy, -30C close chairs regardless of wind, -35C close everything. Obviously the gondolas at Whistler add an extra dynamic to consider (still need a time-intensive evacuation, but enclosed from the wind and should stay warmer) but they seem to follow a similar plan.
Models have been all over the place this year. Tomorrow uncertain. Friday NAM calling for snow but not many others. WTF. How am i supposed to ditch work early if they cant figure their shit out. :fmicon:
I was just reading that it's unlikely the Showcase t-bar will open at all this season. Apparently with the low snow year coupled with general shrinking of the glacier, the towers are too high to get enough extension on the t-bars. Although with Lee's recent photo showing an open crevasse near the top of the Blackcomb Glacier it didn't look like it would be opening anytime soon, anyway. I guess that means not many tracks back there. Is the easiest way in traversing over from the top of Seventh?
Man, that would suck. Losing the Horstman Tbar has already wrecked the flow of Blackcomb. Losing Showcase and access to the glacier would be brutal. Once it closes for long, Vail will probably shut it down for good.Quote:
Originally Posted by The AD
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Yeah, it seems to me the solution might be to put in a chairlift where the Horstman t-bar used to be, but have the top terminal higher on the ridge. Then the Showcase t-bar could be removed and access to the top of Blackcomb Glacier would be via the new chair.
Devil’s advocate thought on the loss of the Blackcomb t-bars (from a guy who mainly skis Whistler)
Having some in bounds terrain as hike only access is a good thing. It keeps an almost pow stash for people willing to hike. Flute is a perfect example. If there was a lift to the top of Flute then all the jabronis would track it out instantly. Instead, having a 20 minute boot pack means you can usually get some decent turns for longer after a snowfall.
Yes, totally agree. Even a short hike thins the herd considerably.Quote:
Originally Posted by Clownshoe
Don't disagree. I just love skiing off Showcase. I'll still hike for it when I'm there in March. Still feel they need a chair to replace Horstman. Having to take 7th to access some of the best terrain that feeds to Glacier/Jersey really sucks.Quote:
Originally Posted by Clownshoe
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If they make it hike to, surely we can open up Xmas and Showcase chutes right?
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/fa..._blackcomb.pdfQuote:
Originally Posted by phatty
Glad to see that. Looks like they plan to replace Showcase before Horstman if it is still accurate.Quote:
Originally Posted by t.odd
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wait...why would the showcase replacement be a gondola?!
I love these master planning maps. The Whistler one with all the possible lifts is pretty wild.
The people's advocate!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by Clownshoe
With the glaciers melting out I would bet they revised the master plan to better account for hiking rather than skiing. When was the last update to their Master Plan? The map there is 2013?
blue skying!!! though wouldn't mind a couple on the western side...Quote:
Originally Posted by Clownshoe
18cms at treeline. Wind was SE last night so expect 25+ on N facing slopes. Snowing 1 - 2cms /hour. Snow quality acceptableAttachment 483360Attachment 483361Attachment 483362
Singing Pass is good to ski out
Attachment 483484
Pretty decent skiing today. First time I've been able to get up in a while and the refresh last night was nice. Zero lines on Peak all day. Whistler bowl entrance character building but some nice pockets to be found.
Crazy how it’s a boot pack to get up to Surprise area this season, between the glacier receding and low snow year.
How are things with the warm temps? Considering using one of my Edge days tomorrow but not sure it'll be decent or not.
I imagine today is very solid, was spring like everywhere yesterday, and cooled off to below 0.
Tomorrow might be ok if we get the precip and the temps cooperate, but unless you are desperate i would give it a miss.
Thanks, will pass
Status Report:
The Lower Dave is skiing really well
Attachment 484132
First time ever skiing in the Whistler area last week. Four side country runs off of Blackcomb. Some stunning, terrain you all have there. Not sure if I could ever get used to those kinds of crowds, though.
In other news, wasn’t sure where to put this news …. First I’ve heard about it.
https://www.castanet.net/news/BC/468...uihalla-summit
I have skied the Coquihalla a fair bit, but not out in that area.
tasty!
very cool!
Headed to Whistler Blackcomb on Thursday for 5 days and need to pack light which means one pair of skis. Meeting up with a few friends of various abilities. My choices are line Blade, Nordica 104 free or k2 mindbender 108Ti. Thoughts on this coming weekends and first of next weeks forecast? Looks like a few inches possible and I’ve never been to Whistler
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If you got some waterskis i'd bring them...Quote:
Originally Posted by cooltsi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBiv...l=ScottGaffneyQuote:
Originally Posted by nortonwhis
Is it that bad up there?Quote:
Originally Posted by nortonwhis
NfmAttachment 484146Quote:
Originally Posted by oetk2
Had a pretty good day out ripping the resort yesterday. 7th groomers were fun with about 8-10cm of fresh but with a pronounced crust underneath. Places that don't get skied hard were still decent. lower mountain was really nice slush.
Sunday onwards, GFS is calling for 120mm of rain with freezing levels hovering around 2600m hence the waterskis comment.
ETA. The higher backcountry lines around the resort are probably pretty good right now.
Too cold, too hot. Seems like just right must be next.
Yuk. I did 2 hrs in the rain at Seymour on Sunday while the little ones lessons were going on. Was hoping it was cold enough up there compared to the cityQuote:
Originally Posted by LeeLau