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Telluride got snow, but in comparison to Silverton and Wolf Creek we received flurries and they got snow. Silverton 28 inches (again) and telluride under 10. But this small storm of seven inches did no stop people from getting after it as yelps and screams could be heard everywhere from Millions to Stonehenge. It did not stop the opening of Revelation or the skiing in Bear Creek.  The storm, however did stop two days worth of flights arriving and departing from telluride. These cancellations  have caused me to be stuck in my hometown during a snowstorm. How sad. I know, right.  Tomorrow will will be cold. cold, cold. With a high of 11 during the day. So Telluridians and tourists alike ski with your neck gators, hand warmers, and  Balaclavas.

No better day then skiing pow then going to a hot tub!

p.s Anyone notice the G.N.A.R tribute in the video?

This is a pretty awesome video of an ‘unknown’ skier taking Temptation top to bottom in less than 4 minutes. Very impressive indeed! The snow looks really good on this day and Gawker8750 definitely rips it up! Nice job man. I like the Wagners he’s on too, very cool. Shot on a chest mounted GoPro.

Today was COLD! Felt like skiing back in Vermont. I still don’t have feeling in a few toes writing this. The single digit temps definitely kept people indoors today, offering … Read More

Just North of Pemberton lies some of the best backcountry skiing in the world. One of these amazing places is the Cayoosh. With amazing views of opposite peaks, the Matier glacier,  and the Moraines. The Cayoosh boasts some of the most picturesque views in the area.   The powder there is generally drier than Whistler snow, due to a partial rain-shadow, and  higher elevation off the Duffy. We went up there last week to do some split boarding, and to my surprise, I found out that it is only accessible by skins. There is an impenetrable wall of trees that can only be crossed with skins, so sledding is out of the question.  The entrance is  a short distance past the Joffre parking lot. You park on the opposite side of the road, and then head west across the road on a very well marked trail.

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December 30th brought more high pressure to whistler Blackcomb.  The temperature was around -18 degrees in the alpine with low winds and blue skies. Most of the snow is skied out, but some deep pockets are still around if you search in the Backcountry.  I spent the day with Johnny Bluecorn shredding a lesser known couloir down to decker lake, and then side stepping to disease ridge where we found some nice airs and deep turns.  Hope you all enjoy the video and we will see back in whistler for 2011
-Shane Carmichael

Shane Carmichael reporting again from whistler:   The backcountry access opened today with blue skies and the skiing was great.  The snow was deep and was wind hammered on certain aspects. Cold temperatures kept some guests close to the lodge, and a small few ventured out into the cold.  Massive avalanches from the earlier storms were very apparent in the Blackcomb backcountry, as shown in the video.

But more sun is forecasted for tomorrow, so more backcountry skiing to come!

Blake Jorgenson shows us what Early Season is all about at Whistler Blackcomb. This video is really well done because it includes a mixture of photos, interviews, and GoPro video footage. I completely agree with Rory’s statement regarding “everyone and the early season stoke,” and I think this early season excitement can not be portrayed anywhere better than at UBC. The nubes on campus spread the buzz about “whistler weekends.” Girls and girlfriends can be heard discussing where on the mountain they are going to eat (not ski), and there is talk of winter everywhere on campus. But to the nubes when March arrives this buzz will be transfered to summer excitement and the “Whistler weekends” will be a thing of the past…. And as for us, well we ski.  No matter what, where, and when, we always keep the stoke.

I can’t wait to see Blake’s slideshow for the Deep Winter Photo Competition, and I must say I am somewhat nervous because I will be competing against him on photographer Andrew Strain’s team.

December 28th, was another great day at Whistler Blackcomb.  All alpine lifts (except the showcase t-bar) opened today for the first time in a while.  I’m sure the lift lines at peak chair we’re just atrocious but the glacier express wait was minimal and the pow was deep.  The alpine was fun but the thick cloud layer made it hard to see, causing Dominic Melanson and myself to spend part of the day in the deep trees again.  Since the 200 plus centimeters of snow, blackcomb glacier has not yet opened.  The forecast is for sunny skies tomorrow, this could make for a backcountry skiers dreams or nightmares with the high avalanche advisory.  Numerous class 2 and three avalanches have been triggered in the last few day, including the poop chutes slide, that i caught on tape for the beginning of the video.

Thank you Shane Carmichael

2009 Rossignol Squad 130 Lange or Rossi, Lange or Rossi? Well folks they are pretty much the exact same boot, minus the colors and graphic. I have personally been riding … Read More

Waking up at six in the morning and driving for an hour to put on a pair of wet ski boots on christmas morning might seem strange to some people, but when the snow gods have dumped 168cms of fresh pow on whistler in the last 48hrs, it only seems natural to a ski-bum.  The snow was deep and the lift lines were short.  Jersey Cream express opened at 10:30 delivering powder junkies to some terrain that was actually steep enough to ski in the deep snow.  Those that didn’t have christmas commitments, got to enjoy the powder on crystal chair during the afternoon (a commitment in its own).  We are all still waiting for WB to crack the alpine.  Crossing my fingers that they wait till monday cause my Christmas commitments are cracking down on me for Boxing Day.

-Shane Carmichael

Editors note: F*@k YEAH Shane Charmichael!