This is how I have been describing the 2009/10 ski season so far. Almost any season is an improvement on the start of the previous season where it really started after 50 days for me – in late February. However, this season, it has been snow from the start. The mountain opened two weeks early on Saturday (November 14th) and the opening weekend has seen almost a full blanket of snow in the alpine – no rock skis required.
To date (this morning!), we’ve had 335 cm already this season. The snow is still falling as I write this! Another 125 to 150 cm is in the forecast for the remainder of the week. At this rate, we could break the 2006/07 snowfall record of 416 cm for November. The 2006/07 season saw more than 14 metres of snow fall. Epic.
The photo above is near dawn on the first day of the season, November 14, 2009. This image is part of a series that I’m doing this season. There is a camera on my balcony taking a photo every hour. A time-lapse movie will be the result. Below is the first one of the season – the opening three days.
It is true, there is more to do here in the summer than in the winter. I’ve only hiked a handful of times, but if I hiked one trail per day in the summer, it would take me several summers.
Today I did the Cheakamus Lake hike. It was a short 2.5 hour hike from the parking lot beyond the garbage dump and the Athlete’s Village. It’s a relatively short and flat hike on a wide and well marked trail. It can be done by most in a morning or afternoon.
From this area, there are several hikes that can take you to Black Tusk, Garibaldi Lake and several other places. If one skis off the backside of Whistler Mountain on Oboe, Flute or Piccolo summits, or if one loses their way on Khyber (an unmarked off-piste tree run) they would end up here. I’m hoping there is a trail to Singing Pass which can take us to Whistler Mountain and to the Village.
More information about the Cheakamus Lake Area can be found at the BC Parks Website.
Here are the images from the day. Click on the larger image to advance to the next one.
Are you reading this on your iPhone? If so, there’s more photos if you click here.
I haven’t posted in a while, but that’s because I’ve been busy with a few other things. While I’ve been busy, I haven’t been on the mountains. However, it’s summer now and I finally went on Whistler and Blackcomb mountains yesterday and today. Even without snow (somewhat) it’s still an awesome place. My time away has been fun, but I’m glad to be back.
Here’s a winter/summer comparison of Whistler peak…
My images from the last two days on the mountain are below. Click on the larger image to advance to the next one.
Some of my friends say that strangers are friends we have not yet met – I think they’re correct. A trip from Whistler to Vancouver that was delayed by five hours after meeting up a Craigslist rideshare and making a few detours along the way. 250+ images later, the result is above; entitled, Parking Lot Yoga.
Kiersten's last run on the Couloir Extreme this season
As the weather in the spring changes, people are starting to leave for the season or pack their skis in favour of their bikes, golf clubs and shorts. It’s a bit of a sad time – but many will be back – I’m sure of that.
Since the conditions aren’t the best because of the high temperatures, sunshine during the day and low temperatures at night causes some hard packed (read: icy) conditions, I decided to venture on the mountain with my SLR – which I’ve only done one or two times before this.
As I was taking photos of places I’ve been before but without my SLR, I met Kiersten. She asked me if I was going to go down the Couloir Extreme. I wasn’t planning on doing it as it was closed because of icy conditions. She mentioned that it was her last day on the mountain. I though for the season – but she said possibly forever because she said she was moving back to Holland after five years in Vancouver.
My heart sank a little; but I know that this place can’t keep anyone away for very long. I told her that I bet she’ll be back.
The last days on the mountain for several people plus some recent images on flickr. Click on the larger image to advance to the next one.
It’s difficult to sum up the last five months in one word, but I can do it in three – eat, sleep, ski. That’s basically what I’ve been focused on for the past five months since I arrived in Whistler – that’s why I haven’t posted to this blog, my food blog nor flickr. I took today off to recuperate and give my body a break and thus I have the time to post.
Over the five months, I’ve achieved most of the goals I set for myself – as crazy as some of the were – like ski 100 days in a season; ski an entire month (February) and become a certified ski instructor. I’m a few days shy of 100, but will have achieved that in the next week or so. The season will go another three to six weeks, so there are many days left to ski.
Within my ski days, I’ve learned much more that I could have ever imagined. My skiing has been deconstructed and been put back together again – with the help of some great instructors. I ski better, more confidently and have more fun. I can’t wait to take more lessons next season!
Skiing for 28 days in a row in February was a physical challenge, but it was also fun. I could have gone 39 days in a row, but my bus from Vancouver had mechanical problems and didn’t arrive in Whistler until the end of the ski day. In all, I skied 38 days out of 39 before I went on a road trip with a friend. The photos in the link are incomplete because I haven’t had time to post them.
However, after spending five months here, I realize that there is much more to the mountain experience than skiing. There was the breathtaking view of the mountains, some of the best sunrises and sunsets I’ve witnessed and being able to see stars on a clear night. There was also the endless stream of friends, visitors and the people that I met who share the same passion for this place.
In some ways this winter, it was like being in school again. As the warmer weather approaches, so does the end of the ski season. Several people that I’ve met this season will be returning home or traveling to some other city by the end of the month. Some lasting friendships have been formed and I know some of them will return – that’s something to count on.
Day 51: the best day of the season so far was on February 25 (day 51)
I skied my 60th day of the season yesterday – more days than the last four seasons combined. Living in a ski town certainly helps. I’m well on my way to skiing 100 days this season. Even after taking a vacation from my vacation, and if the weather cooperates, I will reach my goal by the end of April – right around the Telus Ski and Snowboard Festival – more reasons to celebrate.
Fifty days slipped by rather easily as winter really began on February 22nd (day 48). It was a good month; however, the snowfall is much less than the last three seasons which would be considered epic seasons. The best day that I’ve had, probably over the last four seasons was on February 25 (day 51) where it snowed over 30 cm. This combined with my powder skis made for a very enjoyable day!
I also managed to somehow ski 28 days in February and 29 days in a row. The streak was broken when the bus from Vancouver was delayed. February was all about skiing, eating and sleeping – and not much else.
In the 60 days I also took five lessons which dramatically improved the way I ski. I took lessons before, but my days on the mountain were always limited to practise what I learned. I also think the quality of the instruction at Whistler Blackcomb made a difference. This was the first time I took lessons here and the style was much different than other resorts in North America. This combined with the positive attitude of the people that work here is probably why WB is consistently ranked as one of the best ski resort in the world.
Today, day 61, is also my birthday, I think I’ll celebrate by going skiing! :^)
My flickr set of my days on the mountain so far. Click on the larger image to advance to the next one.
I seem to be eating a lot more regular green salads with baby greens, spinach and similar greens; like the one above. Previously, I used to eat a lot of kale salads. However, living away from a large city presents some challenges with more uncommon vegetables and fruit. When I lived in a larger city, I would eat kale almost daily because it was readily available. When it is available, it is usually expensive, poor quality or both. Sadly, I haven’t eaten kale in over three weeks.
One of my favorite kale salads is a creamy kale salad, made with few ingredients, but the combination makes it taste amazing. Most people that I served it to, didn’t even realise they were eating raw kale. I think many had never eaten kale before I served it to them.
Pictured below, a creamy kale salad.
Recipe
Creamy Kale Salad
Ingredients
One bunch lacinato kale (dinosaur kale)
One ripe avocado
One tomato; cut into small chunks or cubes
Handful of sliced green onions
Lemon juice (from half a lemon)
Cayenne pepper
Sea salt
Directions
Shred kale, dice avocado and place in a large bowl
Add lemon juice, cayenne pepper and sea salt to kale and avocado.
Combine above mixture with bare hands by massaging all ingredients together.
Add the tomato and green onions to the mixture; combine it with a large spoon.
For variety, I sometimes add other things like wild leeks, peppers, hemp seeds and dulse.
This salad is rich and filling enough to be a meal on its own.
On this day when the greeting card, florists and confectionery companies (and society in general) tell us we should be together and happy – many of us are probably alone. However, when my friends tell me they are lonely – I usually tell them to go outside – there are six billion people out there. However, the video (above) showed me that I’m wrong – we don’t need to go outside because we are never alone.
Even though I live more than 3000 km from where I did three months ago; I still phone, text, email, skype, facebook, blog, twitter, yelp, IM or [insert your technology of choice] with my friends from my former hometown more than daily. It’s like I never left.
When I’m skiing, (I do this almost daily) I meet and speak to someone new on an hourly basis. They are a captive audience for about 10 to 20 minutes when we ride the gondola, chairlift or t-bar. People in ski resorts are generally very happy and glad to be there (regardless of the weather) and most are glad to talk. Sometimes I’m their captive audience. Occasionally, we end up skiing a run or two and even end up at the pub for après.
Personal interaction is so much better than any technology could try to emulate. I’m not sure what these technologies are achieving; but it make me yearn to be alone.
Instead of going outside to avoid being loney – maybe we need to go outside to be together.
The first month of the year is done and the winner is the smoothie. I managed to consume more than one per day. Close behind was salad and then oranges was a distant third.
All I seemed to be doing in January was skiing, eating and sleeping – three very important events. I noticed that started craving(?) and eating pasta again because I felt hungrier than normal – probably attributed to the amount of skiing that I did.
The breakdown of what I ate:
39 smoothies (24 chocolate, 12 fruit, 3 green )
32 servings* of salad (mostly kale salads)
16 oranges
12 grapefruit
10 servings of pasta
6 bags of chips (2 bags of tortilla chips)
5 bowls of popcorn
4 visits to Corner Tandoori for Inidian
2 bowls of noodle and soup
2 burritos from Red Burrito
2 subs
2 energy bars
1 visit to a Malaysian/Thai restaurant
1 pizza
1 piece of birthday cake (Anf’s)
lots of trail mix
…and surprisingly, no french fries!
Included in all of this also included countless bananas, strawberries, avocados and almonds.
The thing I enjoyed most was the chocolate smoothies and the least enjoyable thing was the barbecue and dill flavoured chips. Close behind was the iceberg/romaine lettuce salad at Boston Pizza. But at least the salad might have had some nutrition in it.
* When I say servings, it is generally two or more because I tend to eat more than most people. Unless I am in a restaurant, I will generally eat more than one serving of whatever I’m eating. The 32 servings was probably consumed in 16 or less meals.
Here’s the flickr set of what I ate in January. To see all of the photos at once, click through to the set by clicking here. Otherwise you can click on the large image below to advance to the next image.
Uncategorized | Garry November 17, 2009 | 
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