 Poster: A snowHead
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Don't get me wrong - I used to be a SCGB member for a few years and admittedly I did use to enjoy their weekly Snow Overview updates, resort reviews etc. That's before I got completely addicted to this site ...
We're off to Whistler in 3 weeks and as you can imagine I've been religiously following every snow report / update available.
What I'm trying to reconcile is why the SCGB Leader is currently reporting Great conditions - wax up your skis! when every other blog suggests that conditions are at best OK if not a bit icy in places with a major dump needed. Has anyone else experienced this with other resorts? Why not report it as is?
Am I being unfair?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Best conditions on the upper slopes.
Can't see there is really a role for the cozy "not quite independent" resort reporter these days. Anywhere major has a number of blogs and snowfall data you can tap into if you care. If it's just groomers you'll be skiing, snow conditions are kinda irrelevant beyond the you'll be through to bare rock or it's man made or severe refreeze only. Watching the BBC ski report this week (data supplied by SKGB) it seems Excellent is the rating for OK and Good is the rating for pretty mediocre.
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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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Every time I went there it rained.
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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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Cynic, me too, but more often than not it was snow higher up and sometimes even sun higher up!
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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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franga, if you are thinking of skiing with an SCGB rep then indeed the conditions are excellent. It has been snowing pretty much non-stop for the last week or so, and whilst daily values lie around a massive 2cm the accumulations are adding up. Intrepid skiers will find powder.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Cynic wrote: |
| Every time I went there it rained. |
Well that's fairly unlucky (as you keep reminding us), but Whistler wouldn't have a rep of being one of the best resorts in N. America if this was really always the case...
Conditions are fairly (to use a WB propaganda word) "variable" at the moment. It has been pretty warm recently so everything lower down was slushy and had some light rain on, still warm so it mostly hasn't frozen solid again yet. However there is a pretty decent base so no real issues, and the snow forecase for this week should help sort that out, though still quite warm so where the freezing level will be, who knows.
Off piste is also variable. The front side of the peak was not bad (surprise, shale slope, etc), but the west side and slightly lower (doom and gloom, VD trees) was not good at all - soft in places and refrozen in others.
Out towards/past Picolo there was even some fresh tracks to be had, it was quite nice. So nice in fact I got carried away and forgot to look where I was going (must be that funny coloured Electric lens parlor recommended!  ) and launched an unexpected jump/cornice and broke myself 
It would be fair to say that it could do with snowing a bit, but this is really to freshen things up, especially off-piste, rather than depth of coverage itself, though there are a few rocks showing in places off piste. Last year was pretty epic so perhaps everyone is a bit spoiled with an only a bit less than average year. 
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just back from Whistler and Stuarth has it spot on. Our first 4 days were sunny, clear blue skies and perfect visibility. But that brought a freeze/thaw cycle and the south(ish) facing aspects were not great. Most especially 7th Heaven which we only got to once thesun had disappeared on the second half of our time there. Very flat light above the treeline and distinctly underwhelming snow (ice) conditions.
On any day there was good snow (off piste) to be found, if you looked for it.
The groomers were never a problem
Coverage is good but not great ( in Whistler terms which is a lot better than most)
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I've noticed this with some of the North American resorts (because of the time-lag) and the European resorts where there is no leader. In those cases you get trite phrases like "Great conditions - wax up your skis!" which is code for "We got this from the tourist office, not a leader". Certainly at the moment I'm getting two a day for Whistler from SCGB - one that is the tourist office stuff that I ignore, then one with a named club leader in it which is more honest (though as we all know, tending to the upbeat).
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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: |
Last year was pretty epic so perhaps everyone is a bit spoiled with an only a bit less than average year.
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Great comment / post (thanks stuarth and malcolm1). This would be our 3rd time in WB but have never left it till March. I remember the epic start to the 2006 season with great fondness - powder everywhere even at low levels.
We're there for 3 weeks with our 2 kids in tow so I expect spending most of our time on the groomers which sounds like they're in pretty decent shape.
Phew.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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We are in Whistler at the moment.
Just had three bluebird days which has been great as we have have done the Max4 guiding lessons.
Conditions are still excellent on piste above mid station but a little icy lower although not bad.
The forecast is for snow pretty much for the next few days so my non existent powder skills may be found wanting.
Cheapest beer is the Crystal lounge if you can fight your way through the boarders and kids, best après straight off the slopes is the Longhorn but the prices will make your eyes water.
We were in Soldeu in Jan and it's a real shock the difference in price out here but we love the place so hey ho.
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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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Hi Steve.S,
Thanks for the update - are prices that bad, must be the ER as I don't remember The Longhorn being overly expensive last time we were there (2 years ago)?
Quick question - are you allowed to eat your own food / picnic on any of the mountain restaurants or are the Intrawest police out in full force?
Thanks and enjoy rest of your hols.
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Take that umbrella.
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You know it makes sense.
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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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franga,
The longhorn is about £7.00 dearer on a a jug of lager than the Crystal hence the forest of snowboards in the entrance to the Crystal but it is straight off the the slopes and the music is pretty good.
They do have deals some nights so it is worth checking with your server.
We were in the Roundhouse today and there were people taking in their own food but it was busy so they may have just got away with it.
Fantastic today after yesterday's snow and another storm has just come in so looking good for the next couple of days.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| franga wrote: |
Hi Steve.S,
Thanks for the update - are prices that bad, must be the ER as I don't remember The Longhorn being overly expensive last time we were there (2 years ago)?
Quick question - are you allowed to eat your own food / picnic on any of the mountain restaurants or are the Intrawest police out in full force?
Thanks and enjoy rest of your hols. |
No problem with le pic nic. I quite often heat food in the lodges in the microwaves provided. Free water too.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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My recollection is that there is no issue with self catering at the bigger eateries on mountain and very often you will see backpacks left hanging on the hooks available with peoples lunches in them. The smaller places I think would like to restrict seating to the paying clientele and I have a recollection that the Chic Pea has a sign to that effect. Whether anyone pays any attention to it is another matter. Frankly I doubt it. Also, in the good weather when we were there the outside areas were all being used so there was plenty seating available anyway. I have never seen anyone from the on mountain staff policing that....on the other hand I have seen loads of people tucking into their home made lunch. When in ski school very often our instructors brought their own food and used the microwaves etc available
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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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There are deals to be had if you look around.........for example Earls in the Village (above one of the Starbucks) has a different promotion every night on something. Our favourite was Wings Wednesday, being half price wings ($6 per serving) and beer at $5.99 from 3 pm on Wednesday.
If you want to go to the cinema, Tuesday is a good night to go as that is the cheap day ($7.50 I recall, certainly for the early evening showtimes)
The big places at the bottom of the lifts are not, I would guess, those most likely to be doing deals
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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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**snorkel alert**
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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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It's not raining again!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Thanks guys - much appreciated.
Looking forward to our 3 weeks in March.
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FAQ
), but the GBP has dropped a fair way - though not so massively in the last 2 years
