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Stoke photo to kick off the 24-25 thread. Opening day Whistler Nov 18 2007. RIP P11.
https://www.piquenewsmagazine.com/lo...nov-21-9816368
Blackcomb opening a day early. Vail bean counter at the mothership in CO is going to be pissed about this. Someone is going to get fired for making that call.
Ooooohhhhh, 1 day early, Vail really cutting loose this year!
nah WB is their crowning jewel, totally expected.
Showering the locals with extravagance. You just know somewhere in Vail this will be touted as some great perk that was bestowed us. Top line item in the 2025 earnings report power point "The Great Early Opening of 2024/25 season".Quote:
Originally Posted by t.odd
87 acres of skiing on Blackcomb for opening day plus 100 acres on Whistler for the opening weekend.
LET'S GOOOOOOO!!
Looking forward to some early morning Creekside stoke see yaz at the front.
Looks like people were getting some pretty solid sledding and skiing in the alpine today in the sea to sky. Hoping for a banger season, been a while.
Let's go early season edge card days!
Wouldn't you think they could offer a bit more with the base already over a meter? I don't even see any active snow guns on either the Rendezvous or Roundhouse cameras right now, so there must be enough snow there. Hopefully they are blasting away lower on the mountains.Quote:
Originally Posted by Snow Dog
I'll be up to use some free Edge card days the weekend of 12/7.
I believe there is a lot of ops work to do to get terrain open between grooming/road building, hazard assessment, signage etc. Then there's the hourly staffing planning, I'm sure they have it down to a science of when they scale up to open more of the mountain and bring on more staff. Also they know the visitor numbers enough that people will show up with whatever product is on offer, and probably a good chunk of early season is less profitable regional epic/edge folks.Quote:
Originally Posted by The AD
Means better early season in-bounds touring anyway.
Isn't the day before opening usually staff day? Are they getting screwed by the announcement that the opening is one day early, or do they get to ski on Whistler?
A friend that does Ski School said there is no staff ski day this year. So Vail's early day is just a kick in the nuts to staff. Yeah Vail.Quote:
Originally Posted by The AD
Some decent stoke in here from Jeff Thomas
130cms base at Pig Alley. 220+ in alpine. Winds high and from SE. Minus 4!!! We didn't have this much base till end of Feb last year
Ha. This isn't exactly a widely read msg board or forum. Def not posting this to r/ whistler. !!!Quote:
Originally Posted by Sylvan
Good to see staff having a day early preview. They'll be working their butts off over next week and deserve it. Hope the early season tib/ fibs don't happen but such is life
Love the reports from subalpine and alpine. Lots of sticky wet paste to build a base.
I see big lineups at the Blackcomb gondola this morning, so I guess today is staff day. Should be a good one!Quote:
Originally Posted by shirk
You mean it's just me who checks this site 25 times a day haha
So you're saying if I wasn't skiing rock skis in Feb last year then I shouldn't bring them out this weekend. How bad do I not want to ski old skis vs how bad do i want to put a rip in a fresh base grind...hmmmm
I'll find out and let you know! MwahahaQuote:
Originally Posted by oetk2
Seems my second hand info was wrong. Maybe Vail doesn't totally hate their staff.Quote:
Originally Posted by The AD
Yup friends who are instructors, guides and snow making getting some now!Quote:
Originally Posted by shirk
Just a reminder that the raw data for the weather stations can be viewed here:
https://secure.whistlerblackcomb.com...r/default.aspx
Currently a 130 cm base at Pig Alley and 83 cm at Catskinner.
Do you know what Vail's policy on this is? I can't imagine they officially allow it but does patrol generally turn a blind eye or designate zones where inbounds touring is allowed?Quote:
Originally Posted by gramboh
Let's see if the new Jersey chair can stay running all day today with no issues. whistlerpeak site shows it opened at 9:54 am.
if it's marked with ski area boundary poles, generally good to go. if it's permanently closed, its still closed.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jongle
Drop $2500 into MTN and when it pops 40% you'll get paid back your pass. Do it.
https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/va...-winter-trends
It probably makes sense financially, but on the other hand would require you to invest in Vail...
I was a WB shareholder. It did well and paid off seasons passes.
Long lineup to get up via Blackcomb gondola but that's to be expected. Once up top the 140cms base shows well. Temps were pleasant. Well below freezing even down to mid Station of Gondola
Groomed runs ran so well. Many of the holes and ditches that didn't get filled in till mid February of last year are already covered.
Coverage is also superb. Over 180cms towards the top part of Glacier Chair with a thin wind skin forming but 35+ cms of storm snow to play on. Didn't go further.
Probably the best start in over a decade. Thanks to Patrol and WbOPS for all their work too. Lots of control going in Spankys and Glacier. Lots of thoughtful infrastructure improvements. Some of us notice those things!Attachment 505411Attachment 505412Attachment 505413Attachment 505414Attachment 505415Attachment 505416Attachment 505417Attachment 505418
Looking good!
Anyone tour over to bcomb glacier? How’s that looking?
A bit of info from a washed up patroller:Quote:
Originally Posted by Jongle
In bounds touring is allowed via designated uphill routes only. You can't just start skinning or booting up anywhere you want, even early or late season when zones are out of bounds.
More info here:
https://whistlerblackcombterrainmap.com/
The idea is that this map will be updated throughout the day as zones open or close. It's not a perfect system but it works pretty good. You can usually expect a few hiccups early season as the kinks are worked out.
Setting random boot packs or skin tracks can really slow down terrain openings. A random skin track heading into avalanche terrain can completely stop avalanche control work and delay terrain and lift openings for hours. (To say nothing of perhaps getting blown up or buried in an avalanche set off from above.)
Avalanche control can start at any time, including in the afternoon. Stick to the designated uphill routes and everything just works better.
There's plenty of empty backcountry where you can skin anywhere you want if you find this too restrictive.
To add to this. If you ask Patrol they will let you know. Things change throughout the day. For example JC had a slow opening one day due to an unexploded bomb.Quote:
Originally Posted by Clownshoe
Nice shots, Lee. Looks damn good for November.
Excellent point Lee! You can always ask a patroller what the current status of uphill travel is. You can also come into one of the patrol buildings for an update.
Things do change throughout the day. Patrol is always aiming to open as much terrain as possible, but a change in weather, a chairlift or grooming problem, or an unexpected result on avalanche control can change plans in an instant.
This is why patrollers are generally a bit vague when you ask them for a specific time when something might open. If I tell you 15 minutes, and it's actually 2 hours (or never) I look kind of silly. If I say "I don't know" or "It'll probably open at some point", its a less satisfying but more truthful answer.
Please DO NOT call the dispatch office to ask about lift or terrain openings though. Emergencies only when calling dispatch please
Day 2. Got onto the gondola at 8.45am and walked on. Snowing lightly 1cms/hr throughout most of morning. Groomers are kn rippable corduroy shape. With no one around you can really let it fly
7th Heaven expressway open for access so we skinned to the top to poke around. Lots of SW wind gusting moderate to strong. Lots of snow to move around which is good but lots of wind also. Coupled with poor visibility expect characterbuilding snow quality up high.
Skied down to Crystal. No waffles! But snow levels are superb. Ditches covered. Trees covered. Things look good
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Zero lines on Blackcomb today, picked the right hill with the 6 year old in tow. Overheard multiple people saying best opening conditions in years, and to echo the points above the groomers are in better shape than the bulk of last year
I'm amazed it hasn't been a complete mob scene yet. The fact that U.S. Thanksgiving isn't till next Thursday may be a contributing factor. I can't believe it's still snowing! Weather looks to be dry next week, though.
really great opening weekend conditions, definitely had my expectations exceeded this afternoon
The carpooling reserved parking is an awesome move.
Harmony opening today.
Unless you have 2 in the car as opposed to 4.....Quote:
Originally Posted by Cocximus