2014/2015 bc interior thread

[LeeLau]

http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/mtn/se...s/01-2015.aspx - glad you're ok. Teddy Bear is usually fun!

[Lamothe]

Skied rmr today . Huge
Temp crust in the alpine. Beauty day though.

[kootenayskier]

Wandered around at Kootenay Pass today. Crust up to the ridge tops, but skied ok.

[AlexC]

Anyone been to Rogers Pass recently. Might be up there tomorrow and I'm wondering what aspects and elevations are skiing Ok

[huck4bucks]

Leaving Tahoe this weekend for Red with a big group of guys. Looking for some beta. How are things looking?

[Heymski]

Obscure question for Sun Peaks mags...all two of you:

Whistler's site advertises a 50% discount to pass holders when they go to sun peaks. I read the fine print and it goes on to say that student passes are excluded from this deal. I looked at my WB pass and there is nothing on it indicating it is a student pass...does anyone know if sun peaks is able to tell the difference between a student pass and a regular one?

PS: how is it up there these days? Haven't been since I was still mastering my snowplow...

[kootenayskier]

Leaving Tahoe this weekend for Red with a big group of guys. Looking for some beta. How are things looking?

Almost all of the terrain has a decent early season base and is totally skiable, but warming after a big dump last week was followed by cooling this week, leaving everything pretty firm. Groomed and moderate open terrain is still fun, but all the advanced off piste skiing is very challenging, with lots of regrowth and fallen logs to negotiate. Snow is forecast for Friday onwards, which should improve things, but it could end up warm and wet. I've been getting out regularly, but most locals haven't been skiing, and the place is even quieter than usual.

[DanoT]

Obscure question for Sun Peaks mags...all two of you:

Whistler's site advertises a 50% discount to pass holders when they go to sun peaks. I read the fine print and it goes on to say that student passes are excluded from this deal. I looked at my WB pass and there is nothing on it indicating it is a student pass...does anyone know if sun peaks is able to tell the difference between a student pass and a regular one?

PS: how is it up there these days? Haven't been since I was still mastering my snowplow...

Your WB pass will get scanned at the Sun Peaks ticket window, so no a student WB pass will not get you the half price SP day ticket.

Since you didn't mention how many years or decades have transpired since your snowplow days it is impossible to comment on how it is these days. As far as current conditions, coverage is good but not great.

Since Sun Peaks has had 20+ years of summer grooming, pulling stumps, picking rocks, cutting weeds and planting grass, they can have a base than is 50cm thinner than other mountains and still have equal or better coverage.

The snow pack is very firm after a 35+cm dump last week followed the next day by a rain drizzle 3/4 of the way up the mountain. Bring your carving skis and staying on the groomers is the best advice for now.

[Heymski]

Since you didn't mention how many years or decades have transpired since your snowplow days it is impossible to comment on how it is these days. As far as current conditions, coverage is good but not great.

The snow pack is very firm after a 35+cm dump last week followed the next day by a rain drizzle 3/4 of the way up the mountain. Bring your carving skis and staying on the groomers is the best advice for now.

Great, thanks for the beta. Figured the new RFD system would be my downfall...in light of that, next best option for discount tix? We are coming in a 20+ person group, so group tickets could be an option.

My snowplow days date back about 15yrs ago, pre-mount morrisey!

[el hefe]

Ticked one off the list with all of this snow in the valley.



Just above town (coldstream/lavington) about 2 ft of settled snow with a supportive crust. Pretty fun skiing, 1600ft vert and steep up top. Would do it again for sure if the snow sticks around and we get anymore. Fun day given the crust up high around here.

[swissiphic]

Totally stoked for you and envious. Live in Terrace but visit Vernon often in the fall...always wondered if those perfectly pitched grassy slopes ever got enough snowpack for urban hits. What about couloirs on what's it called, rattlesnake point or park by kalamalka lake? how about that steep eastish aspect hill to the west of blue heron pub where that new subdivision went in with no houses? Hike up there in the summer, nicely inclined lines ready...waiting... Skied some great short steep hits off the top of Terrace Mountain a few years back...the stuff that faces Vernon. Good times.

Ticked one off the list with all of this snow in the valley.



Just above town (coldstream/lavington) about 2 ft of settled snow with a supportive crust. Pretty fun skiing, 1600ft vert and steep up top. Would do it again for sure if the snow sticks around and we get anymore. Fun day given the crust up high around here.

[mfozz]

Ticked one off the list with all of this snow in the valley.



Just above town (coldstream/lavington) about 2 ft of settled snow with a supportive crust. Pretty fun skiing, 1600ft vert and steep up top. Would do it again for sure if the snow sticks around and we get anymore. Fun day given the crust up high around here.

I know exactly where that is... Always wondered if anyone ever skied those slopes.

[grinch]

nice day on the dome today. still good skiing in sheltered areas. looked like some wind effect on 7 steps. only 3 people skied thru sapphire col. more slots than I'm used to seeing there but plenty of room there. lily side looked definitely wind pressed

[powdergangsters]

7 steps is wind effected. Some good pockets. Skied it sunday. Best snow so far has been in Balu. Mid elevation stuff has been good. Needs a refresh though easy shots are all shralped

[el hefe]

how about that steep eastish aspect hill to the west of blue heron pub where that new subdivision went in with no houses?

Haha, building a house there right now. There is a bit less snow by OK lake then in the Coldstream & East hill areas. But yeah, cool looking terrain. Currently living right under that little peak. The crust is pretty bad so I don't think you would want to get into anything too steep or technical.

Awesome that you skied terrace, did you sled up? Usually gets less snow then the East side of the lake (Silver Star) Could be some good skiing in the burnt out areas there this year.

[el hefe]

These trees looked fun with a bit more snow.

[swissiphic]

Don't recall the year I skied there but there was quite a bit of snow blown in to fill the terrain off the top...it was pre big burn...and, it was pretty late, like in may..probably an anomalous year. I drove the plowed i think Bear Creek mainline? and then just ski toured up the road to the summit. Really cool experience as the snow was great.

How about that microwave tower road up the tall mountain by Falkland...and all the steep burnt hills around falkland...more interesting stuff to ski with enough snow. Poking around the steep chutes off the top of the microwave road mountain, looked like serious big line terrain if it filled in...probably a sled access mission, i think it was a pretty long road to get up there.

Haha, building a house there right now. There is a bit less snow by OK lake then in the Coldstream & East hill areas. But yeah, cool looking terrain. Currently living right under that little peak. The crust is pretty bad so I don't think you would want to get into anything too steep or technical.

Awesome that you skied terrace, did you sled up? Usually gets less snow then the East side of the lake (Silver Star) Could be some good skiing in the burnt out areas there this year.

[el hefe]

Yeah, I know the lines right above Falkland you are talking about. That tops out around 1700mish. On a good snow year they would be pretty good, actually pretty gnarly.

Forgot the bear crk rd was plowed. Good call, my brother went sledding up there a couple of years ago, said it was really boney.

[Snow Spirit]

heff, i was wondering if anyone hit that slope. I skied in lake country, off the new section of highway.
https://vimeo.com/116717449

[el hefe]

Nice vid. Was this Monday or Tues?

[Snow Spirit]

Pretty late in the day Monday.

[el hefe]

Cool, your snow quality was much better then ours! Snowfall warning for the North Ok for the 24 hours. Could be worth a redo. We went from the corner of Buchannan and Grey Rds. There is really easy access there with no houses.

[Lamothe]

Yes! There was some stuff in kelowna I just wished it had snow. There was this line just above town on the way to big white I always looked at .

Well played

[Snow Spirit]

Quality was good, trail breaking was tough.

Good to know about the access. I was concerned about fences, which is why I chose the area i went. Did you have to deal with many? I parked just off the exit to Gatzke Rd. Topped out at just over 3300ft, and there was 65-70cm new at the top.

Lamothe is talking about Black Knight mountain. I saw a pair of tracks down the main line last season. I suspect it's filled in nice right now.

[el hefe]

Yeah Black mtn chute always looked cool. Only 2 fences, 1 at the bottom. And the other one was partially buried so you could just ski over it.