Got of to a slower start than normal.  Myself and Rich headed out and we met his family who are here for a few days.  Myself, Rich, Nick and Chris (Rich's brothers) headed straight on up Peak chair.  We then headed down Whistler Bowl and onto the face.  There were patches of really nice powder, but there were also some really hard lumps of snow in there.  That coupled with poor visibility made it quite a difficult ride down.

We then headed on back up Peak Chair to do the other side, and headed down Peak to Creek.  IT was only now that I remembered to switch on the GPS. Taking the Khyber trail and then joining onto Highway 86, we dropped of at the base of the bagel bowl and into the little valley run that I liked the last time I was here.  It was really cool, but Rich's brothers struggled a little with the tight conditions and trees.  We popped out on to the Peak to Creek for real before heading down too far.  This was really painful as it was full of moguls and was quite icy.

At the bottom we headed back up the Creekside Gondola and when we were on Big Red the other Chris (pool at the Cinnamon Bear Bar) phoned and we all met up at the bottom of the Harmony Chair.  We headed down Burnt Stew trail and kept to the right as Chris knew this really nice wind lip drop that we just had to do.  There were a lot of different lines off the lip and we all had a few goes.  I personally didn't go too large, but do need to work my way up.

After that we decided to hike the Flute bowl as the conditions were actually quite good out of where it had all been previously tracked out.  To do this we headed on first down to the Symphony chair.  At the top Chis took a photo of Rich and his brothers and he headed on down to the bottom of the flute hike.  30 minutes later we were at the top and looking to drop into the Flute North.  Nice little drop in with loads of powder to be had.  There were areas of previous snow debris and if you ran them then the snow wasn't too good.

We got to the bottom of the Symphony chair to discover that the chair had closed already.  We either had to wait for Piste Patrol and be taken down with them in a group or hike out up to the Harmony Chair.  We chose the hike out as there was to be about an half hour wait for Piste patrol.  Was a shame we had to hike, as it took a little off of the experience.

We made the last Emerald chair and headed to the Round house for a quick drink.

For the last run out Chris took us down to some of the BMX tracks.  Really interesting but scary for the first time you do them.  We then boomed it down to the village and for a quick beer in Cinnamon Bear Bar.  Job done.

Start Time: 31/10/2009 11:09:22
End Time: 31/01/2009 16:28:40
Duration: 05:19:18
Total Distance (approx): 40.1km

Visibility: Overcast with low cloud patches, occasional bright periods
Snow: 1cm
Piste Condition: Light powder on top of hard groomed, with patches of ice
Wind: Moderate dropping to light
Temperature: -0 at the base to -9 at the top.
Crowding: Moderate
Lift Lines: Varied from moderate to heavy

Visibility: Overcast with low cloud patches
Snow: trace
Piste Condition: Heavy snow with icy patches
Wind: Moderate
Temperature: -3 at the base to -9 at the top.
Crowding: Light.
Lift Lines: Light.

Headed up and out on my own today with the intention of getting some runs in on Whistler mountain before heading over to Blackcomb for some park riding.  However, with all the best intentions it doesn't always happen that way.  I was just to physically tired today to do too much, and with the heavy going conditions and extremely limited visibility it was tough going that took a lot of energy.

I had wanted to head on over to Symphony to enjoy some tree runs, but it wasn't the best.  I just couldn't find any decent lines through the trees and decided to give up on that one.  Headed on over the saddle and down to big red and up for an early and long lunch.

I then flipped a coin and as it was heads I headed on over the Peak2Peak to at least give Blackcomb a go.  I headed for the Crystal chair.  Man I forgot that that chair is so slow!  I took the ridge runner route and wanted to try and find some tree runs here.  Again I was disapointed as it was all done and moguled.  So when I got down again I headed up the Glacier Explress and up on over the back.  Again the conditions were not so good, but better than the last time I was over there.  The run out was good though, enjoyed that.

Headed on up to the Terrain garden for a couple goes, however most of the jumps had not been made and all that there was there to hit were the rails.  So, still did it a couple times.  Got the urge to go shopping so decided to head back over the Peak2Peak and ride down there to the base of Creekside.

Not a good day for the conditions and not a good day for the motivation and energy levels.  There is always tomorrow

Start Time: 29/10/2009 10:04:01
End Time: 26/01/2009 15:14:52
Duration: 05:10:51
Total Distance (approx): 74.8km

Visibility: Overcast with low cloud patches
Snow: trace
Piste Condition: Heavy snow with icy patches
Wind: Moderate
Temperature: -4 at the base to -9 at the top.
Crowding: Light.
Lift Lines: Light.

Visibility: Overcast, with extremely poor visibility
Snow: trace
Piste Condition: Heavy and chopped with patches of ice
Wind: Moderate to strong gusts
Temperature: -4 at the base to -8 at the top.
Crowding: Light.
Lift Lines: Light.

Got up whistler this morning to some cold conditions, but not as cold as yesterday.  The weather however was the problem for the day.  There was loads of low cloud and terrible visibility around.  I started off just simply getting around the resort, trying to not get injured in the poor conditions.  I made a decision to head on over to Symphony and ride some tree runs.  However the conditions were so cold and wet with the falling snow that my goggles and helmet were freezing.  This made it near impossible to see anything, which then coupled with a white out made it so that I could only carefully and slowly make my way down "Burn Stew" trail and over to Symphony.  At the top there was another rider who also had the same tough conditions and he decided to follow me down.  Once I got to the trees they were really good riding to be had in there.

The guy who followed me also got on the chair with me and we got chatting.  His name was Neil and he was from Redding.  He told me that I looked like I knew what I was doing and where I was going so in these conditions he decided to follow me.  We spent the rest of the day riding together as in such poor conditions it is good policy to have someone watching your back and you watching their back.  We did symphony again, however this time we went too far right from the top and ended up in some difficult terrain that wasn't greatley enjoyable, but still better able to see what I'm doing!

We ended up the day heading up Harmony, down the Saddle, into Fitz's, down to big red, over towards Garbonzo and straight down into the village where we had a beer to end the day!

Start Time: 27/10/2009 09:50:36
End Time: 26/01/2009 15:08:20
Duration: 05:17:44
Total Distance (approx): 72.7km

Today was a 4 layer day, as it was damn cold this morning.  -17 to be exact, without wind chill...Ouch!  I plumped up to Whistler early this morning and proceeded to get around the mountain.  I immediately headed on up the Peak chair, with the hope of getting down the Peak to Creek.  Unfortunately it was closed so I headed on over to the Symphony bowl.  I then headed on up Harmony chair and hit in a few other runs and headed on down to Big Red.  At the top of big red I was really cold so headed on in to the Round House for a hot chocolate.

I met Edd and Adam in the round house, and after a coffee and also a hot chocolate, I headed on out with Adam.  I rode with Adam for most of the rest of the day, and at his request I gave him a few pointers on how to improve his riding.  We headed on over the Harmony ridge and did a few runs over there before heading back to Emerald and hitting a few runs down Dave Murry Downhill.

Adam had to head off to meet his fiancée who works in the roundhouse and I headed on back up the Peak chair.  This time the upper Peak to Creek run was open, so I headed on down that.  Not much of the Peak was open but it was a really good view as the sun was setting.  Headed on back up Big Red for another rid down before calling it a day.

Start Time: 26/10/2009 08:51:28
End Time: 26/01/2009 15:13:00
Duration: 06:21:32
Total Distance (approx): 84.2km

Visibility: Snowing, overcast
Snow: 3-7cm
Piste Condition: Light powder on top of hard pack
Wind: Moderate.
Temperature: -7 at the base to -13 at the top.
Crowding: Light.
Lift Lines: Moderate.

Early up on the mountain once again today.  Headed on back up Whistler and was supposed to meet Chris (one of the guys fromm the Pool competition night at Cinnamon Bear).  Whilst I waited by the light board, I met Adam (another house mate) who volunteers on Saturdays and one of his colleagues and had a chat.  As Chris didn't show up at the allocated time I thought that I'd get a run down to Emerald in.  On the way back up I noticed that the Peak chair was open, for the first time in the season.  So scurried on over and joined the queue.

I managed to get on quite an early chair and had a good look at the slopes on the way up.  Looked like loads of powder, but not enough to cover the rocks.  At the top I decided to head down "the face" as it appeared to be the only way open.  After a couple steep drops I was on the open piste.  There was some nice powder there to be had, but after quite a few days being backed by the sun it was quite heavy.  On the way down, you could tell that people were going a bit nuts, as on the way I passed 4 skiiers who were receiving medical attention.  All within 1/2 hour of the lift being opened!

Decided to hit it again before it all got too tracked out, as it appeared that the entire mountain was here on the Peak chair.  On this run it was more of the same, more baked heavy powder and more skiiers being helped off the slopes.  Strange how it was all skiiers!  Once at the bottom the queue for the lift was too great and the slope conpletley trecked that I decided to leave it to everyone else and charged my way to red chair.

On the way to Big Red, I could tell that all the sun was really turning the slope into an ice field.  On one slope especially there was a huge section of blue ice.  Had to be careful when hitting this, and just straight lined it and put in a turn way down the slope when there was something for the board to grip.

Got to the top of Big Red and noticed that on the light board that Symphony Chair was open.  This is a new chair for me, as the last time I was here in 2005/6 it wasn't built.  It has opened up a lot of terrain and a lot of runs through the trees.  I only did one run through as I arranged with Chris as a back-up to meet at 12:00 by the light board.  Will have to head back here and really give it a good thrashing with the board.

Unfortunatley Chris didn't make it so I went for lunch and then headed on over to Blackcomb via the Peak2Peak.  I headed on over to the Glacier bowl to see how it was.  I was increadibly dissapointed at the conditions up there.  Compared to the last season I was here there is so little snow and vastly less terrain available to ride as a result.  It was also really choppy as it had been trecked by everyone.  However I really enjoyed the run-out as it was fast and fun.

Not wanting to go to the glacier again I decided to spend some time in the Terrain Garden.  Certainly getting the straight airs in there, along with the rails and boxes, but need to do more.  Just need to work on the confidence levels and put some real dedicated time into the park.  After a couple ride arounds and the out via Sunset Boulevard, I met Jess and Nicky.  They too were hitting the terrain garden so I rode with then for a couple 'go rounds'.  The lifts were closing so we did a final hike half way up and put in a last few jumps and rails.  The intention was to rid down to the base but I managed to lose them on the way (I charged off ahead!).

Day end.  Glad tomorrow is my day off as my knee really started to ache quite badly once I was off the slopes.  I guess the heavy conditions and me trying to be a bit more agressive in my riding took it's tole.  Still, no pain no gain...right?

Start Time: 24/10/2009 08:25:54
End Time: 24/01/2009 15:29:06
Duration: 07:03:12
Total Distance (approx): 87.4km

Late start to day.  There was too much apres last night.  Also took ages for Rich to get his finger out and get going.  Was a day of meeting a lot of different people, and also a day for just chilling. 

Didn't really do much today other than be quite lazy on the slope, and just ride.

Start Time: 23/10/2009 11:15:08
End Time: 23/01/2009 16:03:44
Duration: 04:48:36
Total Distance (approx): 54.3km

Visibility: Sunny with cloudy periods
Snow: 0cm
Piste Condition: Groomed with large ice patches
Wind: Light.
Temperature: -4 at the base to -8 at the top.
Crowding: Light.
Lift Lines: Light.

Headed on up the slopes just a little later today than normal, but was still up the slopes by 09:40.  I headed on out with Rich, another of the house mates and we hit the slopes.  Later we met up with Jess (English lass from Newcastle) and one of her friends Tyler (Canadian from Ottowa).  We just simply headed around the mountain hitting some jibbs and hitting some speed.  Nice cool and chilled day!

Start Time: 22/10/2009 10:22:28
End Time: 22/01/2009 16:09:51
Duration: 05:47:23
Total Distance (approx): 70.5km

Visibility: Sunny with cloudy periods
Snow: 0cm
Piste Condition: Groomed with ice patches
Wind: Light.
Temperature: -1 at the base to +8 at the top.
Crowding: Light.
Lift Lines: Light.

Visibility: Sunny with cloudy periods
Snow: 0cm
Piste Condition: Groomed with ice patches
Wind: Light.
Temperature: +0 at the base to +7 at the top.
Crowding: Light.
Lift Lines: Light.

Early start once again.  Headed on up Whistler once more.  There was a bit of cloud cover today.  Hopefully that is a good sign and that the snow is a coming!

Today the snow was really good in the morning as everything was nicely groomed.  Thus the riding this morning was all about getting around as fast as possible, and just enjoying myself.  I again covered a lot of the mountain before heading in for an early lunch at 11:30.

After lunch I headed on out and decided to put in a lot more switch riding.  It's coming along but it's still not great.

See below for interactive GPS map:

Start Time: 20/10/2009 08:21:25
End Time: 20/01/2009 14:22:20
Duration: 06:00:55
Total Distance (approx): 85.3km

Visibility: Sunny with light cloud
Snow: 0cm
Piste Condition: Groomed with ice patches
Wind: Light.
Temperature: +0 at the base to +7 at the top.
Crowding: Light.
Lift Lines: Light.

Early, early start again today.  Was close to getting the first gondola up Whistler mountain.  The weather is so warm at the moment, but the conditions of the groomed piste in the mornings is fantastic.  I decided that today was going to be a 'blow the cobwebs' out day, and also try and get back some of my confidence.  I think I achieved both today to some degree.

My mission today was to go everywhere and just enjoy myself.  I think I covered a lot of terrain today, and I'll find out when I get the GPS out.  I rode everything from Harmony, the Saddle, Big Red, Emerald, Garbonzo, and every run in-between.

I had lunch early as the piste was getting a bit busy and also as the temperature increased so did the choppy of the slopes. After a quick lunch I thought that I'd do more of the same.  Eventually got one of the last t-bars, harmony chairs, then one of the last Emerald chairs, and then flipped a coin to see which mountain base I would ride on down to.  Ended up at the bottom of Creekside after a long, but good, days riding.  Well happy with today.

See below for interactive GPS map:

Visibility: Sunny.
Snow: 0cm
Piste Condition: Groomed.
Wind: Light.
Temperature: +0 at the base to +9 at the top.
Crowding: Light.
Lift Lines: Light to moderate.

Visibility: Sunny
Snow: 0cm
Piste Condition: Groomed.
Wind: Light.
Temperature: +0 at the base to +0 at the top.
Crowding: Heavy.
Lift Lines: Heavy.

On Whistler again today, and up the mountain really quite early on my own.  As it was a weekend I expected it to be quite busy and it was, especially as it is a US long weekend holiday.  Got the GPS out again (to upload later).  I started out with some switch riding to get back into the groove.  Headed on down towards the Garbonzo lift, which is a nice easy green/blue set of runs.  I need to work a lot more on my switch as it simply is not good enough.

After a few runs I noticed that the Harmony chair was running.  So after a run or two I headed on up the T-bars and on over to harmony.  Whilst in the lift line I met Edd and Will, so I rode with them from the top onwards.  It was Will's last day before having to head home.  So we wanted to explore and cruz around the mountain.  We went all over the mountain, and hit a few good trails.

Edd and Will left around about 2pm, which left me to run around on my own for a few runs.  Nothing too special about that.  See GPS map below:

Visibility: Sunny
Snow: 0cm
Piste Condition: Groomed.
Wind: Light.
Temperature: +0 at the base to +9 at the top.
Crowding: Heavy.
Lift Lines: Heavy.

I didn't go up the mountain today.  Being the 'old man' that I am, and with nursing a few long term injuries, I needed to rest up the ankle and knee.

Visibility: Sunny.
Snow: 0cm
Piste Condition: Groomed.
Wind: Light.
Temperature: 0 at the base to +9 at the top.
Crowding: Light.
Lift Lines: Light.

With the weather being so warm up top with all the sunshine, it's an early start again today.  Headed on out with Edd and Will and we headed on up Whistler mountain.  Today was going to be a day in the park.  We laid down a few lines down towards Emerald befoer starting to hit the park.  The first medium kicker has a nide drop off and it felt quite comfortable straight away.  Furthr down there was a spine, which is not my favourite but I gave it a go anyway.  Not brilliant (not enough confidence) but still hitting it.  After that there are a nother couple of medium jumps.  The first one, after 3 tries and hitting the knuckle each time, I finally worked out my speed and for the rest of the day was landing good and sweek straight airs.  After that there is a jump that at the moment is too big for me as I havent got the confidence up there yet.  Instead I rode the up rail next to it.  Quite a nice rail.  After that there are only a couple more jumps/rails, all of which I either avoided or used them as little kickers.

All in all quite a good park day.  I also took out the GPS logger today. See below:

Visibility: Sunny
Snow: 0cm
Piste Condition: Groomed.
Wind: Light.
Temperature: 0 at the base to +8 at the top.
Crowding: Light.
Lift Lines: Light.

Visibility: Sunny.
Snow: 0cm
Piste Condition: Groomed
Wind: Light.
Temperature: +1 at the base to +5 at the top.
Crowding: Light.
Lift Lines: Light.

Visibility: Cloudy.
Snow: 0cm
Piste Condition: Variable.
Wind: Light.
Temperature: +3 at the base to -4 at the top.
Crowding: Light.
Lift Lines: Light.

Rain in the morning, with a very high freezing level.  Getting colder during the day and a very light dusting of snow.

Today started early, especially as I was tired and went to be early.  I headed on out with a couple of guys from the house and one of their brothers who is here for the week.  So myself, Seth (who is my room mate), Edd and his brother Will headed on out to Creekside.  Seth and Edd are skiiers by the way, so it was 2*2 sticks and 2*1 plank!

We hit a few runs out an about.  I could tell that I was not in very good shape and was quite apprehensive.  Don't need another injury!  It was also the first time out with me new stick the K2 0 (zero).  So I wasn't sure if the set-up was good or not.  Ended up that the set-up was near spot on, and I only have to adjust the stance width a little.

A lot of both Whistler and Blackcomb mountains are not open due to the extremely high avalanche risks.  So it did feel a little cramped on the mountain.  I couldn't go to all my 'old haunts'.  The good thing is that the new "Peek 2 Peek" gondola is open.  This new gondola links Whistler and Blackcomb mountains in an 11 minute, and smooth ride.  I was quite impressed.  Especially at just how high you are from the ground at the half way!

So, we made our way over to Blackcomb mountain.  We were heading over to Seventh Heaven, when we stopped and had a go though the slalom timing gate.  I had a terrible run.  Just haven't got my 'snow legs' yet and slid out half way!  Oh well.  So we headed on over to Seventh Heaven.  As always, this area gets hit by the winds, and is very rocky.  There isn't actually that much snow around.  Loads of moguls.  Not a snowboarders choice.  Did have some interesting tree runs however.

After that we decided to head on down "Sunset Boulevard" and then go hit the terrain garden.  We did that a few times.  Was good to pop some air and hit a few rails and boxes.  I 'thing' I might have it correctly in my head and body this time that I should be brining my knees UP to my body, rather than my body DOWN to my knees.  Certainly was getting much more 'pop', especially for a first day, but that is probably also down to my new board.

After a few runs we had lunch in Rendevous.

After lunch we hit the terrain garden again a couple times before again heading over to Whistler mountain on the Peek2Peek.  From there he did the Olympic run, and I was starting to feel a lot more comfortable again, and has starting to feel like my 'old' snowboarder self.  I was however starting to get tired.  So on the next run we headed down to Creekside.  My right knee was killing me by then.  Wasn't helped by the variable snow conditions.  Dry at the top, then ice, then heavy, sticky and slushy near the bottom.  Was glad to finish the day without any further aches and pains.

Couple beers in Dusty's and then headed home.  All in all, a very good first day.  Little disappointed that it is obvious that I am not as fit as I couple be, and that most of the upper mountains are shut, but still a good day!

Visibility: Cloudy early, brightening up in the afternoon.  Periods of freezing cloud.
Snow: 0cm
Piste Condition: Variable.
Wind: Light to moderate.
Temperature: +3 at the base to 0 at the top.
Crowding: Light.
Lift Lines: Light.

On my first full day in Whistler, I had already decided that I wasn't going to go snowboarding.  Instead I wanted to get everything organised and have a good look around town.  So I switched the GPS on and took a wander.  Got my lift pass in Creekside, then popped to the HUB and got a 10 day bus pass (they did not have any month passes!) before heading over to Whistler village.

As I wandered around it was quite clear that very little if anything has changed!  See the GPS track here:

I got it!

I managed to get on the 17:00 bus to Whistler.  Sitting on the bus now, and amazingly still have a connection to the Internet!  All I want now is for the rest of the trip to be uneventful!

Thanks to John, he gave me a lift down to London on Friday night.  We stayed in the Premier Inn at London Heathrow.  Had breakfast this morning and that was the true start of the trip.

Things got off to a surprisingly good start.  I got through security at the airport in no time at all.  Result.  So I spent the time browsing a little and then watching movies on my phone.  Everything was very uneventful until I boarded the flight.  No longer were we ready to set off we were delayed by 1 hour due to freezing fog, the flight facilities were awful.  No private screen, but the really old style of a central screen at the front.  This was keyed wrong, the picture was too big for the screen and the colours were pale and awful.  Needless to say I broke out the mobile phone and watched more movies on it (all in Airplane mode, obviously!).

The flight was again uneventful, apart from there was some major turbulence until we got to Iceland. Then again as we got close to Vancouver.

Arrived in Vancouver to find it was raining, and the baggage carousel was taking for ever.  My original bus time was the 15:00, so with the hour delay in flight plus the delay in getting my baggage I missed the 16:00...or so I thought!

Turns out that the "Permieter Bus" has gone out of business   it went out of business some two months ago!  So, I'll have to claim that money back from the bank, as I paid by credit card.

I've managed to book by another company called SkyLynx, but it was apparently fully booked for the 17:00 bus.  Going to try my luck and ask the driver if there is room.  Otherwise it's the 19:00! *ugh*  So, I thought that I would get this blog entry in whilst I could on the free internet!