Question: Whistler/Blackcomb current ski conditions

[stargaza]

Hi! I am new here and this is my first post!

I have been skiing for over 15 years and it is my most favorite thing to do on this earth! We are taking a trip with friends to Whistler/Blackcomb next Saturday, and I am primarily a Michigan skier (the occasional trip out west) and I am totally freaked out by all the avalanche deaths recently. I know two people died an in avalanche skiing out of bounds at whistler last week-but many others have died at other resorts skiing in-bounds.

Also, I am super concerned about the lack of snow right now at Whistler-there seems to have been no fresh stuff over the past week and a half at all!

Anyone recently been there that can comment on the conditions, etc...as well as soothe my mind about the avalanche danger??

Thanks-I am really enjoying this forum!

-jessica

 

[Christy]

Welcome!

I don't think you have anything to be concerned about in-bounds. First, the fact that is hasn't been snowing or raining, and the fact that temps have been stable here in the PNW, make it especially unlikely. Here in WA state we have much the same weather and while we too had frequent avalanche closures of our ski areas and mountain passes, that's all done. Second, the Whistler deaths were out of bounds (also they were 2 weeks ago, not last week). Quite a few people die every year skiing (or snowmobiling or snowshoeing) out of bounds, in areas that are not managed for avalanches, but it is extremely rare to be caught in an avalanche in bounds (yes it happened at JH this year but it was huge news because it's so rare, and it was during record setting snow which is not the case for you this weekend!). They take avalanche management VERY seriously. Can you imagine the lawsuits if they didn't? They'd be out of business.

You're much more likely to die doing a thousand things in your daily life than you are skiing in bounds at Whistler from an avalanche.

But as for the no new snow...that is disappointing I agree! I am looking at our weekend forecast and it is too warm, dry and sunny. Boo.

Post a trip report when you return! I haven't been up yet this year but will be there in a couple weeks.

 

[stargaza]

thank you.

Yes so sorry, 2 weeks ago. It has me so so jittery though since I do not ski out west often! Thanks for soothing my mind a bit. I noticed that about 10% of whistler's upper peak area's were closed b/c of the avalanche danger and those are in-bounds...so that made me nervous as well.

I will report back with hopefully some photos when we return. Let's pray/hope for a dump of snow while we are there!

 

[Christy]

I just looked at the website and what a shame, Harmony and Symphony Express chairs are closed. They give access to some beautiful alpine areas. I was surprised to see how much is closed! I imagine they are playing better safe than sorry. So that should make you feel safer, too...Are you staying a for the long weekend or the whole week?

 

[PNWSkier]

:Cry::Cry: Tell me about it! We are leaving tomorrow for a week there and there is no snow forecasted. I'm not surprised. Only 1 of our last 5 ski vacations have involved fresh powder. We are just bad luck I guess.

 

[altagirl]

I just looked at the website and what a shame, Harmony and Symphony Express chairs are closed. They give access to some beautiful alpine areas. I was surprised to see how much is closed! I imagine they are playing better safe than sorry. So that should make you feel safer, too...Are you staying a for the long weekend or the whole week?

Yeah - I've been reading about that on TGR - the high alpine stuff is apparently not doing well this year with the snowpack - it sounded like they would be keeping a lot of stuff closed for a long time.

Which is unfortunate, but I definitely agree - take it as a good sign. They are being proactive and doing what it takes to keep you safe, even if that means dissappointing a LOT of customers who want to ski those areas.

 

[stargaza]

yeah we leave next saturday for 7 days of skiing and two travel days...so let's hope we get some snow by then. I know next week it already looks like sun and no snow. I am super bummed about so much being closed at whistler-but at least, as of now, I can still ski the blackcomb glacier-thank goodness b/c I have been looking most forward to that!

 

[Christy]

Only 1 of our last 5 ski vacations have involved fresh powder.

This whole ski vacation business is such a crapshoot, isn't it? We talk about doing a European ski vacation and I then think of all the World Cup races there that are cancelled due to warm temps, or of all the English folks I've met that say they come to Whistler now because snow in the Alps is so unreliable...

it sounded like they would be keeping a lot of stuff closed for a long time.

Bummer!!!

 

[RachelV]

Hey, I'm at Whistler now actually, and yeah, there's a lot closed. The Harmony chair opened briefly today, but not sure if they're going to be keeping it open. The glacier on Blackcomb is closed and has been closed for 3 weeks according to the mountain info people. It's also WAAAAARRRRRRM. 8-10C at the base, so in the 40's F. It feels like spring skiing.

I was talking to someone on the lift today who said they're expecting some snow late this week, so maybe they'll be some fresh stuff for you when you get here. But in the meantime, you have nothing to worry about in terms of avalanche danger since they've just closed everything that's even the slightest bit risky. It's a bummer when you're out here, but I guess you really can't be too careful this year.

We watched them bomb a lot of the high alpine stuff on Whistler from a helicopter yesterday, which was really neat. Nothing was sliding. The helicopter was hovering, you'd see smoke come off the mountain where they hit it, then a second or two later you'd head the blast. Pretty cool.

 

[stargaza]

Uggg they closed the blackcomb glacier????? That was the #1 thing I wanted to ski!!! I am so so bummed. Maybe they will re-open it next week? Since it isn't really supposed to snow this week ( a little on Friday I heard) then we have a great chance that it might dump while we are there.

Fingers crossed.

 

[PNWSkier]

Today was our first day skiing out here and it was ICY!!!! You could see the ice peeking through in many places and I could uncover the ice by brushing away the little bit of snow on top. It reminded me of good old fashioned East Coast skiing and the sounds that my skis made brought me back! Yes, they need more snow but an email sent a week or so back to Whistler passholders said that snowpack is irreversible and in many places there is no chance of stabilization. From what I could see there was not a lack of snow on Symphony Amphitheatre just close b/c of avalanche danger with ski patrol making sure noone crossed lines.

The best quote of the day was at the top of the Whistler Gondola. On the snow report board it said "If you value your life stay inbounds!"

But the flip side is that it is super sunny and warm. The visibility is unlimited!

 

[climber.girl1]

i just got back from a day of skiing at Jackson Hole... Nice and icy!

While being super bummed since that was my first time to JHMR and the lift tix were tres $$$$$$ (), we did our best to enjoy the steep groomers and took lots and lots and lots of photos. The views were stunning and the sun was delightful.

Decide beforehand that you're going to make the most of it. I spent a lot of time working on my edging/carving technique - something I don't do enough of since I'm always (except with the current avy danger!!!) seeking out the powder and other off-piste conditions.

If I have time later, I'll post some pics. In the meantime, have FUN and don't stop praying for snow.

 

[stargaza]

So it looks like a great chance of snow while we are there-at least 70% of a lot of snow on wed....

problem is I ski on 2008 K2 ONE LUV's. They are NOT ice biting ski's.

So do I still bring them or do I skip it and just rent....?

 

[pinto]

We are going to Whistler in a month or so ... the last trip we planned there was in 2005, which was the worst season they had ever had, apparently. (It rained for 2 weeks in January and then never snowed again until April, or something like that.) Much of the mountain was closed (luckily it's a huge mountain), you had to download to get to the bottom, the snow remaining was boilerplate ...

So now, everything is closed due to snowpack issues ... well ... I hereby promise not to pre-plan a trip to Whistler; I will only go on the spur of the moment, since for some reason the Whistler/Blackcomb snow gods do not like me! :-)

 

[RachelV]

Uggg they closed the blackcomb glacier????? That was the #1 thing I wanted to ski!!! I am so so bummed. Maybe they will re-open it next week? Since it isn't really supposed to snow this week ( a little on Friday I heard) then we have a great chance that it might dump while we are there.

Fingers crossed.

I doubt it. I was talking to some patrollers while I was there and they were saying it hasn't opened yet this season and there's nothing happening to indicate it will open soon. The snowpack is really nuts this year. It's just not safe, especially if it dumps.

I was bummed too, but there's still a ton to ski there. All the steeps around couloir extreme are open, and they did a ton of control work to get a lot of the stuff off the harmony chair open.

 

[Christy]

they did a ton of control work to get a lot of the stuff off the harmony chair open.

Yay!

 

[PNWSkier]

problem is I ski on 2008 K2 ONE LUV's. They are NOT ice biting ski's.

So do I still bring them or do I skip it and just rent....?

I see a lot of people with K2s and a lot of One Luvs. If you play it right and follow the sun you should be fine. You could always demo if you find that you want something else.


Pinto- It hasn't been a total loss. It has been warm and sunny and gorgeous and there is snow. We are having fun. Plus DH won a Sirius radio and 6mo subscription here this week so the ride home should be fun!

 

[pinto]

Pinto- It hasn't been a total loss. It has been warm and sunny and gorgeous and there is snow. We are having fun. Plus DH won a Sirius radio and 6mo subscription here this week so the ride home should be fun!

Actually, I'm not too concerned. When we went in 2005, we had a great time. The weather was beautiful, and we were with friends, and all that. This time, as long as it doesn't rain, I'm fine with it.

Congrats on the radio!

 

[PNWSkier]

Talked to a patroller today and they are hoping to open Symphony Bowl on Saturday. They will have limited access to it via one particular run with ropes on either side. They are waiting for an avalanche expert to sign off on it and with a little more bombing it should be ready soon. Too bad we are leaving tomorrow!

It seemed better today and with a shift in weather patterns the top of the mountain is ok. The lower half is a little icy but it is looking better.

 

[SwissMiss]

Our lack of new snow here in the PNW has me VERY upset! Last year really spoiled us!!
I will be heading up to Whis next week and have my heart set on skiing some freshies!!