March 2009 (Whistler Heli - Calpow Peak/Powder Mountain zone, descents into Callaghan Valley plus Rainbow Mountain)
The 6-week drought finally relented allowing winter to roar back to life for a strong March finish. Desperate to make up for lost time; our modus operandi was to catch as many chair-zero's and untracked lines as possible. For a time it seemed as if Thursday/Friday had become the new Saturday/Sunday. Worries that we wouldn't be able to ride-out our Crystal and WB pre-paids this season were quickly put to rest. Hats off to Lupo and the Crystal crew for taking a couple young padwans under your wing and teaching us the ways of the snow-samurai! As I'm sure Agata can attest, those were some all-time best chuting, slashing, dropping and yes, poaching days on the hill...period. And rest assured, your 'secrets' are safe with us.
Conditions up in BC fared notably worse this season - it seems the storm track this winter has been focused primarily on Vancouver and southward. I found many of Whistler's chute entrances considerably bonier than I recall them being in years past, with the unexpected and propitious consequence of scaring many away (never before seen so many back away in fear from the entrance to West Cirque!). Nevertheless, the 45cm day on Peak was nuts...but, holy hell I've never seen such crowds before either! The secret's out folks. Stay home or go somewhere else please.
Like junkies desperate for the next fix, we decided on a whim to up the ante and reserved our seats on Whistler Heli's new Bell 407. What can I say; the habit certainly isn't cheap, but 11 runs ranging from 2.5k - 4k(?) ft under ideal snow and weather conditions will leave you wondering why you bother riding lifts at all. Not a bad way to wrap up this mixed-bag of a winter we've endured I say. Not bad at all.
Click here to view.
Conditions up in BC fared notably worse this season - it seems the storm track this winter has been focused primarily on Vancouver and southward. I found many of Whistler's chute entrances considerably bonier than I recall them being in years past, with the unexpected and propitious consequence of scaring many away (never before seen so many back away in fear from the entrance to West Cirque!). Nevertheless, the 45cm day on Peak was nuts...but, holy hell I've never seen such crowds before either! The secret's out folks. Stay home or go somewhere else please.
Like junkies desperate for the next fix, we decided on a whim to up the ante and reserved our seats on Whistler Heli's new Bell 407. What can I say; the habit certainly isn't cheap, but 11 runs ranging from 2.5k - 4k(?) ft under ideal snow and weather conditions will leave you wondering why you bother riding lifts at all. Not a bad way to wrap up this mixed-bag of a winter we've endured I say. Not bad at all.
Click here to view.
