Thursday Report for Dec 6, 2018

Beautiful week with lots of sunshine. The temperatures have been cold enough for the snowmaking to go full blast. Whistler now has the Peak Chair open with Mathews Traverse to the Saddle runs open. Also Expressway from the bottom of the Red Chair and Upper Olympic to the Mid Station of the Village Gondola are open. On Blackcomb Zig Zag, Mid Cruiser, Ross' Gold, Buzz Cut, Jersey Cream, and Green Line are now open. The skiing and riding is actually very good on the open runs. Cold Winter snow and manmade powder under the guns. I expect more runs to open by the weekend like Lower Olympic and under Magic Chair. That would give us almost a mile of vertical. Watch the Marketing Department go crazy with this.
I have been told the new Blackcomb Gondola is still on track to open on Dec 14. I think most of the cars are on now on the cable with maybe some of them being stored at the mid-station, as some of them disappeared today. I also have been told the upper section has been load tested and passed and one tower shortened as it was too high. This is what I have heard, so it may or may not be true. You know Whistler and its rumours.
I know everybody is worried about the snow base, but it is still early season, so don't panic yet. I have seen a lot worse at this time of year. If it doesn't snow by Christmas, then panic.
According to one forecast it is going to start snowing on Saturday right through Thursday, so lets hope they are right.
By the way I haven't bought gas for the snowblower so it is not me that has jinxed the start of the season.

On Sunday two of the Grey Angel's gang went for a ride. Iain and me.

It was a gorgeous view of Blackcomb from Rainbow Park.

Loading the Gondola cars onto the cable for the new Blackcomb Gondola.

Big slide in Whistler Bowl set off by Ski Patrol.

Good fracture line.

The suspension bridge on the Peak on Monday with most of the floor removed for the Winter.

Looking down into Burnt Stew Basin from Matthews Traverse. Rod and me went out there to get some nice powder. It is still out of bounds, but there were no rocks on the groomed road all the way back to the |Emerald Chair.

Bottom of the new Emerald Six.

Went Zip Trekking on Wednesday.

They were making snow on Lower Olympic. Taken from the tower at the bottom of the last Zip Line.

Zig Zag in great condition today.

Where did the bottom of the Solar Coaster and the top of Wizard Chairs go?

The mid station of the new Blackcomb Gondola, just below the above photo.Not sure how beginners will ski to it..