Choices, Choices - WB vs BW

[PulverSchwein]

I face a true dilemma around 5pm every Friday: Do I hit Whistler/Blackcomb or do I boogie out to Big White? Every weekend it's the same: day trip it for lots of coastal snow-kickass terrain-bad crowds at WB or hit my buddies crash pad for some light Interior pow-milder terrain-minimal crowds-$$savings of Big White. Sometimes I'm tempted into wandering North for the weekly WB gong show auditions. Most times, I head East for this:

a nice view of her backside from outer Gem Lake ridge


so many cool lines back here



almost no one backcountry skis out here, no real need to work hard for turns. The Gem Lake front side offers up powder turns all day long in the woods with ridiculously easy access, lap after lap (Darren riding, John on two planks)





gapish pulver steeze, check



As usual, I'm pretty happy with my choice this past weekend, love that place!

[Snow Dog]

Nice pictures.

I would pick light snow and no crowds over glop and crowds every single time. But that's just me.

[bigtrubs]

Go to Baker! You can't forget Baker!!!

[PulverSchwein]

Baker's a sexy choice on weekends but usually the first one scratched off my list of alternatives. Totally worthy as a hill and snow making super-factory but she's gets played out so damn fast. I only ever really want to hit it on quiet, deep, midweek days. Umm, yeah boss not feeling so well today, cough cough!! That'd be different if I ever acquire the BC skillz to get away from the crowds and really get the most out of what Baker has to offer.

[wicked_sick]

Big White is definately worth it. Once you get over to the Gem Lake side you can have powder turns and trees ALL DAY without seeing another person. There are a ton of unmarked trails and good obstacles just out of bounds as well.

[Snow Dog]

...and good obstacles just out of bounds as well.

I prefer to miss the obstacles.

[famous]

Where is the Gem Lake area? I live closer to Sicamous so i either bc up there or go to Silver Star, but this looks like its worth the trip to Big White.

[Snow Dog]

Gem Lake is a bottom to top chair at Big White. It's the left-most chair in the picture:

Big map here

[PulverSchwein]

Gem Lake is sort of the entire left flank of Big White towards the North. I think they ran the lift up back in the 90s but it was bushwhacked for many years before that. 2500 vert laps where pow lines in the trees just keep appearing as things widen out. The basin in the back is beauty with nice lift assisted access and fairly easy saddle exits.

No AC gets done back there so you'd best talk with patrol and assess the snow pack well before venturing back there. I used to hit it occasionally with my buds until this place smartened me up to how dangerous that was without the BC gear etc. Like I said, I get all I want out of the front side anyways.

[seatosky]

I love Big White. Haven't been there in a few years and I'm itching to go back sometime soon. Do you usually stay up there, PS? Any tips on cheap lodging?

[powder11]

everyone in greater vancouver from now on shall forgo the horrible lift lines at W/B and descend upon Big White in droves. nice pics!

[PulverSchwein]

everyone in greater vancouver from now on shall forgo the horrible lift lines at W/B and descend upon Big White in droves. nice pics!

Yeah.....ummm....that was not the intent of this thread. The intent was merely for me to exult in how great my weekend was. Thank you, move along now Vancouver people. You all know you have to live in the valley to make it worthwhile, and no day tripping like that great world renowned mountain up the sea to sky highway. You gotta stay to play at BW. Yeah that's it, WB rocks, keep going there!!

Seatosky: my friend lives in Kelowna so I crash there and we ski. works out cheaper than WB even with the gas. Kind of a two BW days for every one WB day ratio.