Dec 5-6,2011 Whistler/Blackcomb $40 tickets,Eagles

After listening to the Whistler Snow Report proclaiming the “largest skiable terrain in the world, I knew we had to go.”    Each year we attend the Warren Miller movie and get the coupon code in the movie program. With the coupon we bought 2 senior lift tickets for a total of $80 including all taxes.  $40 per ticket is a great deal for all the terrain available and groomed.  The weather was similar to what we have been experiencing with a minor inversion. The ski areas were very quiet.  At times, we were the only skiers on a groomed run at Blackcomb. The grooming was excellent during the morning.  As more folks skied the slopes they became scrapped. It reminded me of the old days back East when the trails were scrapped and all the shavings accumulated on the trail edges where skiing was pleasant. Blackcomb operated all their lifts except Glacier Express, t bars and 7th Heaven. Those lifts will open Friday, December 9.  Coverage was good all the way to the Blackcomb base area.  Whistler operated all lifts except Symphony, Garbanzo and the t bars.  There is good coverage on Whistler to the base village. Creekside is open but they recommend downloading the Creekside gondola which we did.  The coverage is very close to opening at Creekside this weekend.  Paid parking has arrived at Whistler village. It’s $8 for skier parking and $4 after 4pm.  You can still park free at Blackcomb Base II in lots 6, 7 and 8.  We pulled into lot 7 just before the lifts opened and walked 20 feet where we put on our skis. A pleasant surprise. The alpine was clear and pleasant with the inversion but still cold on the shaded chair rides.  The upper alpine is skiable on a firm skier packed snowpack.  The boulders are easily identified and I would be cautious about any untracked terrain within easy lift access.  Two days of sunny weather and cruising groomers on high speed lifts was just what our ski legs needed. We’re  both sore and I need more boot work.

On our way back to Seattle, we took a brief detour at Brakendale near Squamish to see the bald eagles along the river. Plenty of parking near the river with a great trail for eagle viewing.  The greatest numbers of eagles are present in December and January.

The drive up via the truck crossing was quick but Cloverdale has added numerous traffic lights that just are not “in synch.”  From the intersection of hwy 15 and hwy 1 to the bridge over the Fraser River, the traffic is very slow due to the major construction project with the addition of a new bridge over the Fraser.  We experienced the traffic slow down when we returned from Whistler.  Be prepared if you’re travelling this route.