B2L2

Survived my opening ski day this season on Whistler yesterday and I'm so not ready for it yet (physically).  Fun to meet my ski buddies after 7 months but I'm now dead tired.  I know I should go up to local mountains to warm up first.  

Anyway, back to snow condition.  Whistler, whole mountain is 95% covered like a mid-season.  You could ski all the way down to village without seeing a rock anywhere close.  Everything above round house level, condition was nice, very nice.  Everything below is hard pack and could be icy on high traffic runs.

B2L2

Whistler @ Dec 18th

Mixed with every conditions.  Suppose to have 8-10 cm of new snow which we don't quite found anywhere except in the bowls up top.  Up there, you could nice ankle deep powder.  Once you get back to groomers, they are all very icy especially the heavy traffic ones.  However, the blue sky and nice sun compensated everything.

Cypress @ Dec 18th
My friend reported that it was very icy

B2L2

I used to ski there once a year while visiting Calgary (brothers there).  Not this winter though since I switch my ski plan to Lake Tahoe on Feb.

B2L2

read these two threads related to BigWhite first, maybe

http://www.loyaukee.com/forum/vi ... ghlight=Big%2BWhite
http://www.loyaukee.com/forum/vi ... ghlight=Big%2BWhite

If you are beginner or travel with a group with big variety of skills, I think BigWhite is still the most family friendly resort among the 3.

B2L2

Snow condition update for Whistler @ Jan 8th:

Hard pack on the upper half, started to get a bit slushy around mid-station.  We had a mix of everything : flurry, light rain, sun, fog, flat light, you name it.

This week, Whistler is pretty dry whole week until weekend.

Tonight, I will go up to Cypress for nite skiing.  Will report back.

B2L2

Snow condition update for Cypress @ Jan 11th nite:

Snow making magic.  If there were no snow gun at Cypress (snow gun only exists since Olympic), it would be a piece of ice last night.

It was pretty cold last night.  Those runs that covered by snow gun were okay condition.  But busy spots were all icy after snow got "pushed" away.  Those blue runs on the Eagle chair side had the best coverage.  On the Lion side, Horizon has no snow making and icy (Humpty Dumpty has no snow making but better condition).  Looks like Collins had many snow guns but I didn't go down there and wouldn't know the condition.  No luck anywhere up on the Sky chair where only ice to be found.

It was my first visit to Cypress this year.  Snow coverage could be better this time of the year.

B2L2

Friend mentioned to me last night about something new in Cypress:

"* On Wednesdays we will be hosting "Singles Night - Speed Dating" starting at 5 PM - no more lounging around in your pajamas on Wednesday evenings this season - plenty of specials, fun and prizes."

I don't have any details about it, so don't ask me.  

B2L2

Nobody went up after the snow fall???  Really?

I was up at Whistler on Saturday with the 5cm new snow.  Mountain was packed with people as expected.  It was so windy at certain direction (like Emerald chair) that really hurt my face.  They said it was 30-50km/h wind.  It was foggy and we didn't go up to peak even Peak chair was opened later in the morning.

Back to snow condition, good powder if you know where to find it.  Otherwise groom runs were packed with good snow with bare spots every 2 turns.

Sunday should be much better after the grooming and couple more cm of new falls.  Too bad I didn't have the chance to go again.

Friends went up to Cypress on Sunday.  Reported the chair line up was 15-20mins easy.  But they enjoyed a blue sky day.  Nice.

B2L2

Whistler @ Jan 29th

Survivor day, worst day this season although they had tons of snow.

Early morning, heavy rain at the lower half of mountain. Fog up + strong wind on the upper area (Peak chair closed, T-bar opened). Everyone was packed at the mid mountain for the 1-2 chair lifts. Snow was heavy, sticky and uneven.  

Only good thing was that most people can't withstand this weather combo and gone before lunch hour.  The mountain was so empty.  This means no more wait line for those who hardcore enough to stay, while the weather keep improving later the day.

B2L2

Seymour, a place that I never have visited.  

I'm going Revelstoke and Kicking Horse next week.  Will report back.