Big news: there is a bunch of snow in the mountains. Not a dusting, not a smattering… In some places it’s knee deep!
And after spending three quarters of my life here in Whistler I can’t say I’m surprised. It’s November 2nd and Halloween is almost always a turning point for winter in Whistler. I’m not sure if it’s just a meteorological coincidence or if all the fireworks and costumed all-night dance parties somehow appease Ullr, but the days after Halloween often bring us snow where there wasn’t any before. And that gets people stoked.
This year it was 35 cm (13 inches) of fresh on the ski hills. A beautiful white sight for sore eyes, no one is really complaining about mountain bike season lasting until November but you could feel the winter stoke levels rise this morning as the sun broke through to reveal a blanket of pillowy white up top.
“I was pretty stoked when I woke up that is for sure,” says professional snowboarder Beau Bishop, of the reported 35 cm of winter that landed on Whistler and Blackcomb over the weekend. “I try not to get too excited but it seems nice and cold up there, the snow guns are going and it’s looking pretty sexy.”
LEFT:Fresh snow and sun. Winter is coming. DAVE LAKEY PHOTO. RIGHT: But we love storms too. MITCHELL WINTON/COAST PHOTO.
As one of Whistler’s many working professional snowboarders, a big snow year only makes Beau’s job easier. While he and Ride Snowboards teammate Trevan Salmon were able to film parts of their Turn and Burn webseries locally last season, they also travelled to northern BC, Newfoundland and Alaska.
“It’s fun to travel but there is no place like home either,” Beau explains. “I love watching the snowline creep down the mountain but it can be tough seeing that and knowing you can’t go up. “ To help solve those issues Beau is leaving town to visit family and attend his cousin’s wedding in the Dominican Republic. “I plan to be home just in time for opening day, unless they open early. Which is fine with me too.”
LEFT: The road to the top. Epic views and fresh snow. DAVE LAKEY PHOTOS.
That snowline was sitting around mid-station of the Whistler Village Gondola this morning when Dave Lakey headed up for work. A longtime local and groomer/snowcat driver, Dave seen his share of early season snow and says it never gets old, but these days he is mostly excited about sharing the stoke with people seeing it for the first time.
“I’m working on the top of the mountain getting snow fences ready with Sam and Ryan, who are new to town, ” Dave says. “We were riding up the hill with the most ridiculous grins on our faces and I asked if they would rather have the day off today. They both said, ‘no way.’ There is no where they would rather be. I love that kind of excitement.”
Who doesn’t? Snow is here, the mountains are dressing in their winter finest. Praise Ullr.
Sam and Ryan get their first taste of Whistler pow in a sweet wind drift. DAVE LAKEY PHOTO.
Keep an eye on the alpine snow with Whistler’s mountain top webcam and get ready for winter at Whistler.com.
