Thursday Report for Dec 18, 2014

What a change a week makes. The high alpine is in great shape as we only got rain to the top on one day the previous week. There is more snow up there then most years at this time. Most rocks are covered so there is great skiing.
On Saturday they opened 7th Heaven and the Peak Chairs to huge crowds. It must have been a record for that day in history. Blackcomb scrambled and found staff to open the Glacier Express to take the load off of other lifts. When you have sunshine, powder, alpine opening, and  no snow on the Vancouver and Seattle mountains you then get crowds. Snow was fabulous with powder most places. On Sunday they opened the Harmony 6 and took the out of bounds signs off of the Symphony Amphitheater. We of course had already lapped it many times by then, making many fresh tracks.
Today we had a bit of everything as far as weather but cold enough to not rain. One worrisome note is that the Horstman Glacier is really losing its base. You now ride elevated snow pushed from the sides of the glacier from the bottom to the top on the Showcase T-Bar. The Summers are really getting to warm to sustain the glaciers I think.
There is some white stuff in the valley right now so we might or might not have a green Christmas. Just need a bit more on the lower slopes and we are set. The forecast is for lots of snow everyday for a while which is great news. Just hope it is cold enough to get snow to the valley.
Just a few more lifts to go and we are fully open as far as lifts. Crystal Chair and Symphony are opening tomorrow and Fitz and Garbonzo on Saturday. Also Blackcomb Glacier might be tomorrow.
The next Thursday Report will be on Christmas as I get to host Christmas and New Years day this year. Lucky me as these days are usually a little quieter.

Merry Christmas to everyone!

Saturday was Santa Day. A lot of Santa's got to ski for free.

Look at the wild sky. I think aliens are involved.

Horstman Glacier ready for us to attack it.

Tatlayoko Lake windsurfing friends Wendy and Rich were here last week from Prince George.

Whistler Mountain from Blackcomb.

Wendy and Rich ready to take on Lakeside Bowl on Saturday.

Just a little 40 minute lineup at 7th Heaven on Saturday.

The Playground on Blackcomb.

Wendy below the gun tower in Symphony on Saturday.

Decided to change my home town on my name tag. Whistler and Vancouver were too boring. Let see if guests ask me about this.