 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi guys,
I'm looking at taking a month off to ski. Whistler area seems like a good place from what I have heard, but I need to give advanced warning in when I'm going (and get cracking and book it!)
I was aiming to leave on the 27th of Feb for 4 weeks. Does this seem like a good time time to go?? I don't know anything about their school holidays/weather/snowfall etc etc
Any info would be great thanks guys!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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http://bestsnow.net/ is a really good resource to try to optimize your chances of getting good snow when you can't wait until last minute
Here is what Tony Crocker says (go to link above and pick Pacific Northwest for better formatting)
Whistler Roundhouse, B.C. 6,000 2,000-7,200 416 Peak chair must close in storms for wind or avalanche. Limited lift capacity to two of five major bowls and upper mountain. Better surface conditions than Blackcomb in warm weather to early June with more north-facing terrain. February/March for better coverage and visibility on bowls and glaciers and a longer ski day.
Blackcomb, B.C. 5,002 2,140-7,420 364 Seventh Heaven and Glacier Express have better weather protection and greater lift capacity than Whistler Peak. Blackcomb operates 700 vertical feet of glacier on T-bars in the summer. February/March for better coverage and visibility on bowls and glaciers and a longer ski day.
Whistler Base, B.C. 2,200 2,000-7,200 190 Lower Franz's run to the Creekside base can have better spring conditions than the more heavily trafficked runs to Whistler Village. December/January for better surface conditions and less rain near base.
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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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Thx for the link 
There's quite a bit of technical stuff which went over my head there, but I'm reading that as all good stuff for march???
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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billy_boy_2010,
It's great in March!
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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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I've had the worst conditions ever in Whistler in March (2005 I think); the mountain were opening up the bike park!!
On the other hand, generally speaking I'd say March is a very good time to go; generally the snowbase has built up so everywhere is ski-able, the days are longer so the mountain is open longer, it often snows a lot in March (though being warmer is more prone to be heavy or rain, esp. lower down), and it is a bit quieter than feb.
I'll go up there this week to check out the conditions (just for you of course  )
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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We have been at Easter for last few years and it has been great - plenty of snow with huge depth on the piste. Whistler closes late April but only because they don't get enough people going and want to get the biking ready- they keep Blackcomb open later.
So March will be fine. Whistler is going to be busy at Easter when ever that falls but should be ok rest of time - obviously it is busier at weekends as locals like stuarth drive up.
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I'd go with March in Whistler for the quieter trails and more chance of milder weather to ski in, but still likely to have a few good dumps of snow.
At the end of May last season there was still good skiing at higher altitudes so March should be great all over the mountains. With La Nina forecast again you shouldn't have the issues like in 2005, but you never know what the snow gods will throw at us.
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Forgot to mention - check out these guys for accommodation...
http://seasonit.co.uk/
Not sure on their availability but they are ideal for solo people who want to share a chalet with an instant group of friends to ski/socialise with.
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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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I went in March, poured with rain to mid station, top closed for days on end would never go back. Just luck really. I hope you have it
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| billy_boy_2010 wrote: |
Thx for the link
There's quite a bit of technical stuff which went over my head there, but I'm reading that as all good stuff for march??? |
My summary of it would be Feb/March are best for the top of the Mountain while lower mountain surface conditions may be better in Dec/Jan as it is less likely to rain at that time.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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anytime is a good time for Whistler... relax and enjoy you lucky...
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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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it only snowed 65cm there last night
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stuarth,
March 2005 was when it finally started snowing again after the January Pineapple Express washed out half the mountain. The last two weeks were excellent.
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You know it makes sense.
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I visited Whistler for the first time last yr in Jan and returned back in March ( greedy I know but it was so good) it was a bit warmer in march and rained rather than snowed in the village mostly, but it dumped down up the mountain more in march. As they say over there.... it was awesome, just wished I hadn't blown the savings, as it is Austria again this yr ! Enjoy
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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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We've been going to Whistler in March and April for 20 years. IMO best time of the season to go. You can get powder days with cold winter air or spring skiing on bumps during sunny afternoons, with everything in between - full range of conditions.
2005 was unlike any season in the last 35+. Even then we turned up at the end of March just in time for the huge dumps that were heralded as the Return of Winter. Dumb luck.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| stuarth wrote: |
| it only snowed 65cm there last night |
Shhhh!
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