With most Canadian ski resorts already closed and my appetite for sliding on snow not yet satiated my brain could only come up with only one solution, Road Trip. With Whistler being only an eight hour drive from the Kootenays and alpine temps hovering below zero all the pieces were in place for a much deserved extension of winter. The plan was for a mix of resort and ski touring days and the hopes that some fresh would fall to make things that much more enjoyable. Day one brought Whistler’s 173cm base up by an additional two thanks to the 1600 metre freezing levels. With only the upper mountain still open until operations cease on May 18th there were 4 lifts to choose from (not counting the Whistler Village Gondola). The Big Red Express, Emerald Express, T Bars and Peak Express lifts which provided approximately 900 vertical metres of great spring skiing. Coverage was in stark contrast to the lower mountain with very few exposed obstacles to be found on any of the open terrain. Day two was a ski touring day but that’s a story for tomorrow.
If you’re not ready to give up skiing just yet, Whistler’s got plenty of spring skiing to choose from and if you are, well, the bike park just happens to open today as well.
It sure felt like winter as you stepped off the Whistler Village Gondola.
The Lower elevation of the Big Red Express made for some great photos.
Snow continued to fall most of the day.
Not deep powder but enough to make some decent turns and leave others envious.
