Skiing and Snowboarding - Page 5

freeweed · #81 Posted **Jan 7, 2008, 1:11 AM**

Man, anyone else make it to Sunshine today? Fantastic!

0773|=\ · #82 Posted **Jan 7, 2008, 6:20 AM**

Went to Marmot yesterday. Definitely not the same as last year (unbelievable amount of snow last year!), but it was alright. Up in the Knob Bowls there was a lot of unpacked snow blown in. Eagle East also had plenty of pow. I was just surprised that most of the main runs still had rocks and ice everywhere. January seems a little late to be having those kind of conditions.

Ayreonaut · #83 Posted **Jan 7, 2008, 7:43 AM**

Went through Golden today, and we were told that Quartz (sledding area) got 3 feet of fresh powder yesterday, I'm not sure if it's the same for Kicking Horse. There is a ton of snow in Revy and Sicamous.

Calgarian · #84 Posted **Jan 8, 2008, 11:50 PM**

I think I might go out to sunshine this weekend, hopefully they will have lots of fresh powder everywhere.

freeweed · #85 Posted **Jan 9, 2008, 4:54 AM**

So all this avalanche activity has finally piqued my interest, partly because one incident occurred on a slope of St. Piran that I've scrambled up, but mostly because I'm hearing that one actually occurred within the boundaries of the park.

Anyone familiar with this place (Big White)? Was it on one of those borderline runs that is so double-black that it almost should be a restricted area, or was this just a really unlucky accident?

I'm not exactly panicing yet, but this past Sunday I heard cannons going off all day at Sunshine, and combined with the recent deaths.. it's making me start to think. What are the actual chances of a "normal" run actually seeing an avalanche these days?

Edit: thanks JC.

Calgarian · #86 Posted **Jan 9, 2008, 5:16 AM**

The Avalanche occurred at Big White.

ExcaliburKid · #87 Posted **Jan 9, 2008, 4:45 PM**

I think resorts take ALOT of precautions when it comes to avalanche danger. Anyone who has ever been to Fernie on a big pow' day can testify to this. with cannons booming almost non-stop from morning til noon, and sometimes beyond. I think the incident at Big White was entirely a freak mishap, and the majority of the avalanche deaths we see are from skiers/boarders who are hiking into the back country where conditions are not regulated. There are even signs posted along a number of runs that caution people about the possible danger of avalanches.

Calgarian · #88 Posted **Jan 9, 2008, 6:12 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ExcaliburKid

I think resorts take ALOT of precautions when it comes to avalanche danger. Anyone who has ever been to Fernie on a big pow' day can testify to this. with cannons booming almost non-stop from morning til noon, and sometimes beyond. I think the incident at Big White was entirely a freak mishap, and the majority of the avalanche deaths we see are from skiers/boarders who are hiking into the back country where conditions are not regulated. There are even signs posted along a number of runs that caution people about the possible danger of avalanches.

The biggest reason is that most of the big skiing mountains had rain in November that froze, so most of their snowpack is over a big sheet of ice.

ExcaliburKid · #89 Posted **Jan 9, 2008, 6:38 PM**

^Thats a good point too

Calgarian · #90 Posted **Jan 11, 2008, 5:06 AM**

Hopefully Whitefish is good when I'm down there in 2 weeks, no Avalanches. (crosses fingers)

Champion3 · #91 Posted **Jan 11, 2008, 7:37 PM**

I'll be at Fernie tomorrow and Whitefish for the first week of Februrary.

ExcaliburKid · #92 Posted **Jan 11, 2008, 9:09 PM**

^That makes 2 of us. (Fernie anyway)

Calgarian · #93 Posted **Jan 15, 2008, 3:56 PM**

I might go to louise this weekend, I hope it's better than the last time I went.

ExcaliburKid · #94 Posted **Jan 15, 2008, 4:12 PM**

So just to fill you all in, I highly recommend a trip to Fernie this year. The snow was amazing, and there's ALOT! Short lift lines, and powder stashes to be had all weekend. You couldnt avoid the fresh.

Champion3 · #95 Posted **Jan 15, 2008, 6:05 PM**

Short lift lines? That's not what I encountered on Saturday!

ExcaliburKid · #96 Posted **Jan 15, 2008, 6:52 PM**

^Thats true, Saturday was a little crazy in the morning

Doug · #97 Posted **Jan 15, 2008, 6:58 PM**

There was an avalanche just out of bounds at Whitefish on Sunday (near Fiberglass Hill).

The avalanche at Big White was in the Cliff area. In the mid 90's, an avalanche destroyed the original surface lift that serviced that part of the resort.

MichaelS · #98 Posted **Jan 15, 2008, 7:14 PM**

Louise was pretty bad last Saturday. Not much fresh snow anywhere. Lots of moguls, or else icy spots by the end of the day on the groomed runs. Unless they got some new snow this week, I would suggest somewhere else.

MichaelS · #99 Posted **Jan 15, 2008, 7:17 PM**

Just out of curiosity, what does everyone ski on?

I started the season with my Volante Machetes (192), but after 4 great seasons on them had to retire them at the end of my Whitefish trip over new years because the cap was separating from the base. I demo'd a pair of Atomic Nomad Deep Reds (171) on Saturday, and loved them so much I bought them the next day. I was a little hesitant to go so much shorter (I am 6'2", 180 lbs and a pretty aggressive skier) but I was amazed how quick and responsive the Atomic's were. They were much lighter than my Volantes (smaller ski's, plus not made of stainless steel). The only downside is they couldn't bust through the crud as easily as my Volantes.

Calgarian · #**100** Posted **Jan 15, 2008, 7:39 PM**

I have an Elan 160 Snowboard.