Whistler - Spring Skiing

[Mike]

Arrived Whistler last Saturday supposedly for some Spring skiing, turned out it is more like Summer skiing.

Last couple of days, the temperature in the Village was 25 degree C, and about 6 degree C up at the top. Everyone was wearing tee shirts, some wearing shorts in the Village, mountain biking, golf, trekking are more popular than skiing at the moment.

There are only three lifts open - Excalibur Gondola, Excelerator Chair and Crystal Chair. So, not a lot! :(

As from 21st May, the operating hours of the lifts are going to be from 10am to 4pm.

As for the snow condition, what would you expect when the temperature is so high? :(

[skier]

Did any skiing today?

[Mike]

Did any skiing today?
Snow and rain do not mix well. It has been raining (not heavy) whole day, so I decided to go trekking instead.

I was going to upload a photo of the Village taken this morning, but experiencing problem with the HKSSA server.

[Ryann]

你可以用blog記錄你既whistler行程.
如果你upload相, 張相既size太大, 而你既寬頻又唔快, 就可能係upload期間time out.

[Mike]

如果你upload相, 張相既size太大, 而你既寬頻又唔快, 就可能係upload期間time out.

The photo is only 2MB, the error message I received was not a time-out error. I just tried again, the error message again was "server under maintenance / programming error."

[Mike]

Weather has improved today (Tuesday), cloudy and showers are forecast.

I think I will go for a game of golf instead of taking the risk of getting drenched up on the mountain. :rolleyes:

[skier]

The photo is only 2MB, the error message I received was not a time-out error. I just tried again, the error message again was "server under maintenance / programming error."


This is a test. This photo is Snowbird, and the file size is 700k 1600x1200

[skier]

I was trying to load another photo that is 2.9 MB in size, but failed after 50 seconds of loading.

Mike, why not just size down your photo.

[Mike]

I was trying to load another photo that is 2.9 MB in size, but failed after 50 seconds of loading.

Mike, why not just size down your photo.

I tried with the reduced size and got the following message after 30 seconds:

"香港滑雪論壇 的数据库遇到了问题。
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

请尝试进行如下操作:
在您的 Web 浏览器中点击刷新按钮，重新装载本页面。
打开 www.hkssa.net 首页，并尝试打开另一个页面。
点击后退按钮尝试其它链接。

论坛已经自动将此错误通知 www.hkssa.net 论坛的技术人员，但若此问题持续发生，您也可以直接联系他们。

给您带来不便我们十分抱歉。"

[Mike]

This is Whistler Village taken this morning, (photo reduced to under 1000k), it was quiet.

[knighttmfox]

so for the summer skiing in Whistler is it still good to go??? Thinking to attend some course, it's much more cheaper!!!

[Mike]

so for the summer skiing in Whistler is it still good to go??? Thinking to attend some course, it's much more cheaper!!!

Summer skiing - depends on how desperate you are. :smile_painful:
With all the hazzle and expenses for 3 hours of skiing per day, the choice is yours.

[knighttmfox]

Available skiing for 3 hours a day only????

[Mike]

Available skiing for 3 hours a day only????

http://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/mountain/hours/index.htm

[skier]

so for the summer skiing in Whistler is it still good to go??? Thinking to attend some course, it's much more cheaper!!!


Are you thinking of joining one of the summer ski camps?

When the snow is gone on the mountain, there are still skiing up on the Horstman Glacier

There are quite a few ski camps (operated by different groups) going on in the summer.
When the ski camps are going on, skiing for the general public is only open from 12 PM to 3 PM (June 16 to July 23)

http://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/todo/summer/glacier/index.htm

Unless you join one of the camps, do not go for general skiing starting from 12:00 PM

Ski camps start at 9:00 AM for about 3 hours in the morning. You need to start going up the mountain at around 8:00 AM by 2 chairlifts, a bus ride, and another chairlift to get to the Horsetman Glacier.

The snow is hard at 9:00 AM, but will turn soft in an hour or so when the sun shine on it. The staffs try to 'prevent' the snow from melting too quickly by sprinkling salt. But anyway the snow gets real soft and slushy by around noon.

So when the Glacier is open for public skiing, the snow is really slushy. No fun skiing on slushy snow.

[Mike]

Unless you join one of the camps, do not go for general skiing starting from 12:00 PM

Ski camps start at 9:00 AM for about 3 hours in the morning. You need to start going up the mountain at around 8:00 AM by 2 chairlifts, a bus ride, and another chairlift to get to the Horsetman Glacier.

The snow is hard at 9:00 AM, but will turn soft in an hour or so when the sun shine on it. The staffs try to 'prevent' the snow from melting too quickly by sprinkling salt. But anyway the snow gets real soft and slushy by around noon.

So when the Glacier is open for public skiing, the snow is really slushy. No fun skiing on slushy snow.

ie. Even you join one of the the Ski Camps and go up in the morning, you only get 2 hours of "acceptable" snow to ski on. Personally, I wouldn't be bothered.

[skier]

ie. Even you join one of the the Ski Camps and go up in the morning, you only get 2 hours of "acceptable" snow to ski on. Personally, I wouldn't be bothered.

Well, one joins the ski camps to learn something.

Sometimes even the Canadian National team trains there:msn_cool:

Even Aiko Uemura (上村 愛子) was there one summer

[Mike]

Well, one joins the ski camps to learn something.

Sometimes even the Canadian National team trains there:msn_cool:

Even Aiko Uemura (上村 愛子) was there one summer

Some people run the ski camps to make money is my way to look at it. If one wants to go skiing in the summer, go somewhere in the other hemisphere where there is decent snow for 8 hours everyday.

Quite often the Canadian Team have their training at Mt. Hood, the US National Team usually have their summer training in Portillo.

[skier]

Some people run the ski camps to make money is my way to look at it. If one wants to go skiing in the summer, go somewhere in the other hemisphere where there is decent snow for 8 hours everyday.

Quite often the Canadian Team have their training at Mt. Hood, the US National Team usually have their summer training in Portillo.


I joined a summer ski camp at Mt. Hood with my son about 30 years ago.:msn_cool:

[knighttmfox]

I joined a summer ski camp at Mt. Hood with my son about 30 years ago.:msn_cool:

so any feefback after joining the ski camp?! how many hours can ski on the "acceptable" snow!!

[skier]

so any feefback after joining the ski camp?! how many hours can ski on the "acceptable" snow!!

With Mt. Hood, I cannot remember -- I think it is similar to Whistler/Blackcomb -- half day also.

I have been to Whistler Summer ski camp for about 4 times and Blackcomb 2 times.

Yes, they used to have the Dave Murray Ski Camps on the Whistler glacier -- only the Dave Murray Ski camp with gates training -- but then they moved to Blackcomb about 20 years ago. While at Whistler, we had to walk about 15 minutes from the Roundhouse to the glacier.

At that time they had this 'deluxe' adult camp and stayed at the Delta Mountain Inn (now the Hilton) with tennis lessons in the afternoon. The instructors are all top notch including the Whistler Ski School Director.

BTW, Whistler and Blackcomb used to be separate, and owned by two different groups.