January 4-5, 2010 Whistler

The situation seemed ideal: the holiday has just ended and the crowds should be leaving, a warm front was approaching the Cascades, a small powder event was forecast for Whistler along with a building high pressure system, plus 2 for 1 lift ticket coupons.  The road from Vancouver to Whistler is completed, and the drive is comfortable even in at night in the rain.  We parked the campervan in Lot 4.  Monday we woke to 6cm of new snow, and it continued to snow until our quads went on strike.  The mountain was quiet and the coverage was excellent.  Powder and packed powder conditions were standard.  We cycled Blackcomb top to bottom and shared most slopes with only one or two other folks.

We noticed numerous work crews beginning the final preparations for the Olympics.  Lots 1-4 are now paved and lighted, and the lots above Base II at Blackcomb are no longer accessible.  The Medal Ceremonies area is directly across the street from Lot 4.  There is an Olympic ticket booth at The Medal Ceremony area that opened on Tuesday, January 5 (www.turns-all-year.com/skiing_snowboardi...topic=15072.msg63041). We picked up some extra Men’s Slalom tickets for visitors coming from NC. The Whistler Creekside area has a new high speed quad just for the events and the bleachers are already installed.  

On Tuesday, we cruised at Whistler.  They began loading the gondola at 8:15. We shared the gondola with 4 guys in their mid 70’s who made us look young.  These guys hiked Whistler to the peak and skied it before any lifts even existed on the mountain.  I asked about their days of skinning up mountains and one mentioned that he used to tour with Hans Moser (founder of CMH).  He also was the ski school director on Mt. Hood in the old days.  Damn, that gondola ride was way too short.  These guys had way too many stories.  Once off the gondola, they were off and warming up for a race reunion they had coming up at Squaw Valley next week.  Let’s hope we all reach our mid 70’s with their enthusiasm and energy.  We carved the groomers from the Roundhouse to the valley floor before the few other tourists and locals arrived.  Once the sun broke through the clouds on the upper lifts, we took the Peak chair in brisk mid-winter conditions. We then cruised from the top of Peak to Creek to Lower Franz to Creekside – perfect corduroy for 5000vf.  Two days of powder and packed powder, uncrowded slopes, half price lift tickets and two Olympic Men’s Slalom tickets; all in all it was a very good trip.  ;D

Sounds fun, Zap. Were you legal in lot 4? Anybody give you a hard time for overnighting there?

Sounds fun, Zap. Were you legal in lot 4? Anybody give you a hard time for overnighting there?

No problem staying in Lot 4 as long as you were on the outside edge near the Singing Pass overnight area.  Not sure when Lot 4 will no longer be accessible for overnight parking.

I've always been under the impression that while available for overnight parking, it's supposedly against the rules to sleep in your vehicle. Wrong?

I've always been under the impression that while available for overnight parking, it's supposedly against the rules to sleep in your vehicle. Wrong?

Not sure about sleeping in cars but there are usually a few of us there in small campers/vans.

On Tuesday, we cruised at Whistler.  They began loading the gondola at 8:15. We shared the gondola with 4 guys in their mid 70’s who made us look young.  These guys hiked Whistler to the peak and skied it before any lifts even existed on the mountain.  I asked about their days of skinning up mountains and one mentioned that he used to tour with Hans Moser (founder of CMH).  He also was the ski school director on Mt. Hood in the old days. 

Rene Farwig?  He was ski school director at Mt Hood Meadows in the 1970s. He was also an Olympic competitor in 1956, according to Google.

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Edited to correct ridiculous typo. Sheesh!

Rene Farwig?  He was ski school director at Mt Hood Meadows in the 1970s. He was also an Olympic competitor in 1956, according to Google.

I read the various articles via Google and could not find a photo to validate that it was Rene.  There were some interesting articles about the Bolivian Olympic skier. 

Get in on the Whistler experience, Jan 16-23
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