Whistler Stoke and Conditions - 2010/11

[endure]

another kickass day of bottomless. chose blackcomb and very glad of it thanks to glacier opening. lone pine was quite fun

[skieast]

Was on Whistler too. It was all-time, like November 2009 all-time! Blower untracked on every run. My stoke is at a level beyond my ability to portray through typing. Got 3rd set of tracks down Seppo's and spent most of the day in boot chutes/mcconkeys/gunbarrels. Sooo fucking deep! Sounds like we made the right choice with Whis, not a gong show in the least...

Big ditto here. Probably one of my best runs through Boomer then flying into Boot Chutes. For a brief moment I was a superstar.

And how nice is it when Harmony's closed and the T-Bar runs? Just the lonely traverse line into Boomer, and 6 great laps through Boomer/Boot Chutes , Gunbarrels. Imagine how great it will be when the 6/8 pack gets put in. (Not knowing any sarcasm smilies just assume it)

A question for the gurus out therer, why didn't patrol flip the uphill closed avie signs at Harmony/Encore Ridge after they opened the rest? I found it disconcerting to be skiing downhill past the closed signs on exiting Gunbarrels.

[Maximus Farcisimus]

Props to Patrol for getting 7th open for that 1/2 hour.

Too bad after doing control in Spankys they didn't pop it....."It's loading too quickly". I guess busy weekend skier compaction wouldn't help.

Any truth to the rumour of the eldest clan brother breaking 2 legs in a PC, getting charged 5 grand for the assistance?



Bring on the Monday Pow!!!

[PaulB]

As for requiring gear for BC access, I have no idea how they'd police this (very unlikely; they barely have the resources as it is).

Really don't think they would want to police it either, opens up a liability issue. Also far too many places to leave, the whole boundary structure would need to change.

People need to stop fucking with the good thing we have going.

For those of us who don't have a season's pass, the policing is done by guest services when we purchase a backcountry pass. No beacon/shovel/probe, no backcountry pass. They're using it as a way to stop people from scamming the cheap lift ticket, but I've often wondered if a good lawyer could turn it into some kind of liability if someone died in the BC after having been "approved" for BC access.

[Mark-R]

I heard the RCMP was clamping down on the poor man's chairlift (hiking to midstation) and confiscating your gear until you buy a lift ticket. There goes some cab business to Brio.

[powder11]

I heard the RCMP was clamping down on the poor man's chairlift (hiking to midstation) and confiscating your gear until you buy a lift ticket. There goes some cab business to Brio.

Seems like RCMP would have better things to do than hide in the bush looking for dirtbag ski bums. A few years ago, they were checking passes at random higher lifts because people were hiking up. Considering all the passes they've been pulling this season we'll probably start seeing that again soon.

[clarklewis]

is this shaping up to be the best quality season on record?
so much snow and much of it unusually low density. temperatures have stayed cool.
snowpack stability has been hit and miss, but many good windows for steep skiing.
i can't believe it keeps coming....

[endure]

any rumours on further alpine for tomorrow? could see it going either way with a bunch more snow and supposed gusts to 60k..

[chadeau]

Props to patrol for escorting me up Jersey and hooking me up with a snowmobile lift down to solar coaster for a download to the bottom for a torn knee. Vibes to the guy with the serious neck injury that came in just after me. It really put my injury in perspective.

During my download on Wizard I had a good laugh at how many people use the chair encloser for a hot box hahah.

[wren]

Yesterday was one of my better all time days. Our group were the 10th or so people down Garbo lift line and it was ridiculous. Over the head blower top to bottom. Did a Seppos lap (awesome), International trees and two retarded deep pillow runs down to Singing Pass. Made it over to Blackcomb to get a run down Glacier before closed and hit 7th trees. Whistler in the morning was all time. Today was decent but the wind was insane. Tomorrow looks to be super deep too if it keeps snowing like it is now. I doubt the alpine will open. Tuesday could be THE day (and I'll be at work.).

[Boonshackle]

During my download on Wizard I had a good laugh at how many people use the chair encloser for a hot box hahah.

Bubble chairs are for when the gondolas are busy.

[nickel]

Somewhat Dense snow today considering it's still snowing in the valley, but wow what a run we're having. Big big big shame on the doods hiking up from the goat path to ride the terrace and assorted stuff in that area. Some decent slides down to the goat path traverse from said idiots. I wish I could see someone doing it and field tackle them.

Here's to more white gold falling from the sky!

And as for cops having better stuff to do, they were hiding the other day at top of goatpath looking for dope smokers. they didn't look like they had tons to do.

[Snow Dog]

Seems like RCMP would have better things to do than hide in the bush looking for dirtbag ski bums. A few years ago, they were checking passes at random higher lifts because people were hiking up. Considering all the passes they've been pulling this season we'll probably start seeing that again soon.

Lift pass checks happen regularly -- whenever Doug wants to get out of the office. They also check for dirtbags using the ski school line. RCMP officers volunteer with patrol on their days off so it's not costing the Resort of Whistler or Squamish or Pemberton anything.

(And the skiing is definitely awesome this season.)

[rugbydave]

Yeah I love how they pay for the fuzz to ride the lifts for free. Just what we need, bacon and guns on the hill...

[rugbydave]

oh and wtf is pupy chow? Everyone has their own names for shit... right of apocalypse is She's Tight...

[Clownshoe]

For those who like to ski trees on Whis (looking at you Todd). Booyaa! It's on bitches!
Too much fun to stop and take any pics, so just take my word for it: best tree skiing in a decade.

On a completely different note: I'm definately not defending cops here, but how about a reality check:

RCMP members ski for free at WB. For the most part, here is their day.

8:00AM: Dispatch, Constable So and So checking in for the day.

4:00PM: Dispatch, constable So and so checking out for the day.


Once in a very rare while, they will get a call to attend something, like a fight or a fatality or some idiot smoking dope on a chairlift, but for the most part, they just ski around. They are on their day off, and try very hard to avoid doing cop stuff if they can help it.

They definately are not out setting up stings at the top of the Goat Path. But smoking dope is still illegal, so they have to say something if they happen to come by while you're puffing.

As usual, and has been mentioned on this board many times, if you can't be smart enough to scoot off into the trees for your puff session, then you're asking for trouble. Smoking on the chairlift, in the liftline, in a gondola or at the top of a bootpack is a great way to get busted.

And now back to the pow!

PS Avalanche control TR coming soon!

PPS RugbyDave. Puppy Chow is on the Blackcomb Patrol avalanche control plan. Right next to Apocalypse. (right or left? Can't remember off the top of my head) I'll post up a pic from the AC plan when I get home...

[powder11]

With all this snowfall, things are getting interesting in the CBC/Burn zone. Places that don't usually go are starting to fall into the sketchy skiing, billygoat category. A line that was close to being a scary accident for me two weeks ago, is now my new favorite go 2 line off the burn. So filled in! The sticky icky snow is prime for dropping off pretty much anything to shutting it down real quick, dropping off something else and then dropping off something else back down to normal terrain. Tomorrow is going to be insane!

[Maximus Farcisimus]

is this shaping up to be the best quality season on record?
so much snow and much of it unusually low density. temperatures have stayed cool.
snowpack stability has been hit and miss, but many good windows for steep skiing.
i can't believe it keeps coming....

fuck yeah Dr Tomahawk!!

I've only been here 17yrs but I think its surpassed 98-99
Looks like another cycle coming in Monday after a couple semi clear days.
Thank you Ullr.
How about Crystal this afternoon?

I'm building an Ark for the spring/summer flood.

[skibum_jr]

Crystal this afternoon was wicked, but the lineup was terrible

[shirk]

fuck yeah Dr Tomahawk!!

lol

So I am talking to some friends about skis and they mention a friend of a friend bought ski X. I say yeah I know that guy. They say "heard he tomahawked down some mountain".

From now on out it's Dr. Tomahawk as a new name for clark.

[LeeLau]

fuck yeah Dr Tomahawk!!

I've only been here 17yrs but I think its surpassed 98-99
Looks like another cycle coming in Monday after a couple semi clear days.
Thank you Ullr.

Got a bit wet today - could use lower freezing levels. 98 - 99 remember when they had to dig out Harmony? That was when the Horseshoes were basically gentle rollers and Waterfall would become a gentle bump. Not quite there yet imo. Have to reach Mt Washington levels - ie 600 cms+ base.

But its definitely acceptable snow levels and inbounds quality is decent.

[khyber.pass]

Whoa, do we seriously need to worry about smoking dope on the chair these days? Do we need to stage a stoner's revolt in Village Square, Egypt-style? It would be nice to live in a civilized country. Y'know, like the Dutch do.

So next time I use Stu Shack, you gotta worry about a pig sitting in there with cuffs? I mean, that thing was BUILT as a smoke shack.

Anyway, props to Blackcomb for rebuilding Excel's motor during a busy March powder cycle. It sounds like they'll need to do Solar's braking mechanism soon too.

Seems to me like Mr. Forsythe ought to be allocating capital reinvestment to existing mid mountain lifts rather than overdeveloping existing terrain with 6 packs for the weekend market... but we all know the rule here anyway: it's not about quality but quantity of chairs (even if you don't really run them *cough* Franz's *cough*).

[PulverSchwein]

looking to be pretty windy again tomorrow. Wonder if that alpine will finally pop?

[powder11]

we had a bit of a sunny break this afternoon and I heard some bombing, so maybe they got on it enough to go tomorrow, but high winds stop lifts. It was mind numbing how slow everthing was running today.

[clarklewis]

dr. tomahawk is pretty funny still, though i think i've redeemed myself since (tomahawked last season down most of the saxifrage north headwall in front of a bunch of guys i just met. came out unscathed, embarrassed, lucky to be in one piece).

looks like we'll be waiting until wednesday for the alpine wind to settle.