 Poster: A snowHead
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Have booked a family trip to Whistler 5-15 April. Need to make a decision which skis to bring with me (as I need to bring them home from the Alps in Feb). Obviously I could hire if conditions are unusual but the holiday is expensive enough (lift passes ~CDN$ 1000 EACH!) and I have free ski carriage so would prefer to avoid.
Key issue is whether I should expect the snow to be firm or not. We'll split our time between groomed and ungroomed runs. Obviously hope we get some snowfall during our stay. Failing that, will the thick snow pack and mild temperatures deliver reliable Spring conditions or could the groomers be hard and the ungroomed be firm moguls?
My only trip before was in January so not much of a guide!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Can you bring two pairs? Remove the anguish.
If only bringing one, I would bring the big plank.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@PowderAdict,
surely "base depth" is what is on the mountain?
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| abc wrote: |
Can you bring two pairs? Remove the anguish.
If only bringing one, I would bring the big plank. |
Yes - that is my thinking. I could bring another pair but we will be travelling with four pairs, four pairs of boots, etc etc - just gets a bit mental after a bit.
Think I'll take my R108s
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@jedster, Base depth is what we get in Europe, so for example Top - 2m, Mid - 90cm, Village - 40cm. Whistler never quoted those figures (as far as I can see), just how much had fallen.
Was “Base Depth” on that link, if so I missed it.
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You missed it on your own link - look to the right "238cm BASE DEPTH"
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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@jedster, you’re likely to get a wide range of conditions given the big vertical of Whistler.
In April, I think it’s less likely to get all day firm condition the whole mountain. Though it could have firm snow in some part of the mountain say, in the morning in the west facing slopes, and vice versa.
So it’s more a matter of what you like to ski rather than what you have to ski. Still, I think it will have more chance of soft to slushy than firm to icy.
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@abc, thanks, makes sense
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| jedster wrote: |
| You missed it on your own link - look to the right "238cm BASE DEPTH" |
Ok, that’s embarrassing 
But that isn’t a base depth in the European sense, it it the uncompressed snow depth in and isolated sheltered gully. They have had 612cm new snow fall, yet they are stating 238cm base, which is ridiculous, as snow compresses at least 10:1 probably more.
I really haven’t got it in for Whistler, it’s just that over the 4 years I went 2010-2015, I never experienced the snow conditions I was expecting from a resort quoting 10-15m of snow a season.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Mind you, I’ve only been to Whistler once.  It was in March. Condition were all over the place!
I’m however drawing my conclusion base on my years of skiing in Tahoe area, which shares similar weather pattern. In April, you could get powder or rain. Or even BOTH on the same day!
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@PowderAdict, where did you get the “ snow compresses at least 10:1 probably more”?
I thought it’s only 10:1 between snow and rain.
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You know it makes sense.
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| jedster wrote: |
| abc wrote: |
Can you bring two pairs? Remove the anguish.
If only bringing one, I would bring the big plank. |
Yes - that is my thinking. I could bring another pair but we will be travelling with four pairs, four pairs of boots, etc etc - just gets a bit mental after a bit.
Think I'll take my R108s |
R108 are pretty much the perfect tool for whistler , plenty of grip if you do get a hard freeze , but at that time of year afternoon slush will be loads of fun on those , historically November is the snowiest month followed be march , although this year winter was slow to start but basically hasn't stopped snowing since xmas so the alpine base should now be in great shape , I go in late march every year and always have great skiing , sometimes can get some weird temperature inversions that makes for interesting skiing, with sticky snow at dffiernt levels , , but the lift served inbounds alpine "off piste " will be great , so much better time to visit than January when thing close so early , top tip , use spicy rentals for a regular overnight wax and you'll be good to go 
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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@abc, Watch a piste machine preparing a slope with new snow on it, or step in new snow, and I’d be surprised if there was more than a 10th of the original fresh fallen depth left once compressed or pisted.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| PowderAdict wrote: |
I’d be surprised if there was more than a 10th of the original fresh fallen depth left once compressed or pisted. |
As snow melts to 1/10 of its height, "compressed" snow has to be more than that.
What the ratio is I know not.
Not to mention the snow in the collection area are not pisted. Any compression would only be by the weight of the new snow. So it can't be 1/10. My experience of staring out of my window to the fields beyond, it's more like 1/4.
In the area where people skied, it depends on how many people had skied there. But again, it has to be more than 1/10 as that's the most you can compress snow before it melts.
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Wed 29-01-20 15:42; edited 1 time in total
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| PowderAdict wrote: |
| jedster wrote: |
| You missed it on your own link - look to the right "238cm BASE DEPTH" |
Ok, that’s embarrassing
But that isn’t a base depth in the European sense, it it the uncompressed snow depth in and isolated sheltered gully. They have had 612cm new snow fall, yet they are stating 238cm base, which is ridiculous, as snow compresses at least 10:1 probably more.
I really haven’t got it in for Whistler, it’s just that over the 4 years I went 2010-2015, I never experienced the snow conditions I was expecting from a resort quoting 10-15m of snow a season. |
I'm quite sure you are right that that is the uncompressed (i.e., unpisted) depth off-piste. It will be the consolidated depth though. The metric is the same in Europe I think - they don't measure the thickness of snow on the piste after it has been bashed multiple times.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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| Dabber wrote: |
| jedster wrote: |
| abc wrote: |
Can you bring two pairs? Remove the anguish.
If only bringing one, I would bring the big plank. |
Yes - that is my thinking. I could bring another pair but we will be travelling with four pairs, four pairs of boots, etc etc - just gets a bit mental after a bit.
Think I'll take my R108s |
R108 are pretty much the perfect tool for whistler , plenty of grip if you do get a hard freeze , but at that time of year afternoon slush will be loads of fun on those , historically November is the snowiest month followed be march , although this year winter was slow to start but basically hasn't stopped snowing since xmas so the alpine base should now be in great shape , I go in late march every year and always have great skiing , sometimes can get some weird temperature inversions that makes for interesting skiing, with sticky snow at dffiernt levels , , but the lift served inbounds alpine "off piste " will be great , so much better time to visit than January when thing close so early , top tip , use spicy rentals for a regular overnight wax and you'll be good to go |
Thanks - yeah R108s are fine for holding an edge on a firm piste for a couple fo hours, it's just that if I was going to be spending loads of time on a hard piste I wouldn't want 28m radius and 108mm underfoot.
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@jedster, in my neck of woods, many mountains start using the thickness of snow on the piste near the end of the season. Because there's actually more snow on piste thanks to early season snow making. 
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| jedster wrote: |
Thanks - yeah R108s are fine for holding an edge on a firm piste for a couple fo hours, it's just that if I was going to be spending loads of time on a hard piste I wouldn't want 28m radius and 108mm underfoot. |
In April, you would have to look to find loads of hard piste in most mountains. Not just Whistler. 
That said, I've had such experience in Colorado once. But it's fairly unusual to have such long spell of cold weather in April
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| Quote: |
In April, you would have to look to find loads of hard piste in most mountains. Not just Whistler.
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In Europe, you'd expect the pistes to be hard until 10 or 11 depending on elevation. Actually true off piste too. After the sun has been on it - not so much.
But I never really feel the need for wide skis in spring snow - even when its soft, its dense enough that you don't need the float.
Have booked a day of heli - probably do that on the R108s if I have them
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| Quote: |
In April, you would have to look to find loads of hard piste in most mountains. Not just Whistler.
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In Europe, you'd expect the pistes to be hard until 10 or 11 depending on elevation. Actually true off piste too. After the sun has been on it - not so much.
But I never really feel the need for wide skis in spring snow - even when its soft, its dense enough that you don't need the float.
Have booked a day of heli - probably do that on the R108s if I have them
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| jedster wrote: |
| Quote: |
In April, you would have to look to find loads of hard piste in most mountains. Not just Whistler.
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In Europe, you'd expect the pistes to be hard until 10 or 11 depending on elevation. Actually true off piste too. After the sun has been on it - not so much.
But I never really feel the need for wide skis in spring snow - even when its soft, its dense enough that you don't need the float.
Have booked a day of heli - probably do that on the R108s if I have them |
That's actually my experience in Tahoe too. Hard in the morning and soft mid-day to slushy late afternoon.
But Whistler is very low in elevation and next to the ocean. So the chance of cold days on end will be fewer.
It depends on your personal preference on the kind of skis. For spring'ish skiing, I think something 90-100 would be most suitable to cover the varied condition. However, knowing the snow condition of Whistler (and all of west coast in general), I would err on the wider side. Snow there do turn into wet cement often enough!  A wide plank is far better in that kind of snow.
P.S.
Now that you got me thinking about it, I'd better look up some good hire shops there! (leaving for Whistler tomorrow! ). My ski, at 90mm underfoot, while worked brilliantly 9 out of 10 days 4 years ago, was not wide enough on the one afternoon of wet cement! I ended up having to quit early. 
Granted, that was in March, not February.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| Quote: |
But Whistler is very low in elevation and next to the ocean. So the chance of cold days on end will be fewer.
It depends on your personal preference on the kind of skis. For spring'ish skiing, I think something 90-100 would be most suitable to cover the varied condition. However, knowing the snow condition of Whistler (and all of west coast in general), I would err on the wider side. Snow there do turn into wet cement often enough! A wide plank is far better in that kind of snow.
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Makes complete sense - low and coastal was what I was thinking
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I'd be highly surprised if an R108 isn't near the best tool all of April. Of course you miss the rockered/twin tip tail so your joy at pebbledashing folk with spring roost may not be all it could be..
Of course you identify the real problem of quiver ownership - eventually we end up with all the tools we need for any condition. The problem being that it is then impossible to co-locate them all with us at all times.........
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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@abc, spicy rentals are great , also escape route new store in upper village (Blackcomb ) have a good choice of fatter skis , also the rental store under the fairmont had the new bent chetler 100 to rent which is a great ski to float in cement
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| Dave of the Marmottes wrote: |
| Of course you identify the real problem of quiver ownership - eventually we end up with all the tools we need for any condition. The problem being that it is then impossible to co-locate them all with us at all times......... |
Or in the case of spring skiing (or coastal snowpack), when the condition can change drastically midway through the day!
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You know it makes sense.
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Been to Whistler many times in April and it is always different. Surprise.
Some years you will get loads of snow so need wide underfoot, even on the piste one year 2ft over night.
Last year it was very cold so rock hard - very unusual.
2015 Very warm so all gone low down.
As abc said the mountains have huge vertical so just go where the skis you have work.
It is very likely to be slushy below mid-station level on Whistler in an afternoon. You can always down load if you want though easy enough to ski out.
Can't you fit Quiver Killers - take 2 pairs and one set of bindings ? Always hire myself as I am lazy and can always change them as often as I want.
Don't forget ski & book storage is available under the Carleton Lodge next to Main Whistler Gondola so saves carrying stuff round the resort.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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| Quote: |
Don't forget ski & book storage is available under the Carleton Lodge next to Main Whistler Gondola so saves carrying stuff round the resort. |
Or stay in Blackcomb slope-side, ski-in/out.
A bit of a schelp to go eat and apres. But I'm getting old... buy grocery on day 1 and cook 1/2 of the meals. Eat out the other half around Blackcomb village. Did that last trip 4 years ago. Liked it so much I book the same again.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Last time I was there in April, water skis would have been handy below mid station
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