With only an 85cm base (thanks in part to snow making) on Whistler Blackcomb, and spotty coverage in the backcountry, we might as well go – biking?

Typically we have about 500cm of snow by now and winter is well under way, but this year I'm still riding my mountain bike. Trails around Pemberton are snow free on the south facing slopes. There is a tiny bit of snow at the first paraglide launch, but you could easily ride all the way up Happy/Waco/Nimby to the launch and have your pick of totally deserted trails to choose from.

Pretty much everything in the lower Mackenzie FSR area is snow free for both hiking and biking. You can drive up the Mackenzie FSR all the way to the gate between first + second paraglide launches with 4WD and really good tires, as it's a bit icy in spots. After the gate it's extremely icy – I definitely wouldn't want my truck up there past that point.

I wish I had snowy pow pictures to post, but (sigh) here are a few snaps of the area from the last few days. This first one is a little ways up the Nimby.

Driving down the Mackenzie the other day.. It was foggy and smoky from a few brush fires but made for some really beautiful photos. I took this through the truck windshield.

This is near the Moosejaw connector – looks like we're going back in time to summer/fall again.

There's not much snow in the forecast for this week, so it might be a good time to do double sports duty with the bike and the skis.