- Joined
- Nov 12, 2015
- Posts
- 55
(sorry no pics).
We typically ski Squaw with kids on teams etc. so hard to get away to another mountain. Astute and careful negotiations at the household allowed me to get away for a two day steeps clinics with EC this past Monday and Tues with a ski buddy (the low Canadian dollar and the fact that I could use points to stay in the village also helped).
This was my first time at WB and I was blown away by the terrain (large, expansive, and a lot of advanced/expert level features). Most of my skiing has been in California so the low (zero) visibility was a HUGE issue for me. Cost of EC two day clinic is very reasonable and I used my Squaw pass to get a 50% discount off the lift ticket. Food on mountain and in the village was quite reasonable (esp. after the conversion). Lots and lots of European and Aussie/Kiwi accents to be heard (almost felt like being in Europe).
We flew out Sun from SF to Vancouver and took a shuttle from there to WB late in the day. When we arrived it was quite dreary and raining (base is very low so quite different conditions up high).
Day 1
Meet near the base gondola at 8:30, load-up and go to the top of Whistler. About 12 people, and three EC guides. A quick warm-up run and then a "ski-off" top determine groups. Conditions were manky down below but about 6-12 inches of cut up, up top. "Ski-off" was on a black un-groomed run. Prior to ski-off they asked people if they wanted to stay with friends etc. so they could accommodate that. The pitch/conditions worked well as you could easily tell the different skil/ability levels on that pitch. I stayed with my buddy and we initially had 4-5 folks in our group (typical group size was 3-4). Each group went off. We did some of the bowls at Whistler and worked on technique some. One person in our group was struggling a bit so EC (at lunch, politely), reassigned them - they ended up getting a private. They sell a specific product and are very serious about ensuring that they deliver that experience. Another guy in the group dropped off (not feeling well?, hang-over? not sure). So from there on it was 3 of us.
Focus was on medium (ish) radius turns to ski the large bowls (bit of a change for me as I was more used to making short, quick turns at Squaw). Guide said to use make larger turns and "tail smearing" to control line and speed. Visibility was really bad (or at least that's what I thought till I saw the next day). So rest of day was spent covering different lines, jumping off a cornice and bowl skiing. The usual obligatory video was also taken (same bad habits, still there). Lots of mileage. Little bit of apre and good conversation with the other groups as well at lunch and apre.
Day 2
(I was on my skis first day, the older enforcers, today called for lots of wind and lots of snow so ended up picking up a demo - super 7 I think). Early meet up. On tap - Blackcomb. Couple of warm up runs after we reach the top. Its howling like crazy and puking snow with zero visibility. Stuck behind the guide as I could not see anything. After a couple of runs we went up Spanky's Ladder and did one of the bowls down and around. Next run again up Spanky's, the hike was now totally wind scoured and icy. Buddy struggles and slips off and stops just above the rock band! Buddy asks guide what to do. Guide: climb back up or make your way down and we'll see you at the bottom of the lift. We leave buddy - now only two left in the group.
More zero visbility skiing. I had heard about white-out induced vertigo before - now I experienced it - freaked me out. Find buddy, do Spankys one more time. Guide cuts new boot pack (steeper but better snow). Take a narrow traverse to get to a "run" - Bad Attitude (?). "Guide: watch for rock outcrop jutting out after the corner on the traverse" - buddy does not, slips off and is stopped by a tree. We wait for 15 mins for buddy, in howling winds on a very steep slope. Guide goes back..
Buddy: what happens if I take my skis off and walk? Guide: you will die. Buddy keeps skis on and guide cuts out a new traverse for him. (snow was quite deep).
We lick our wounds (mostly mental, esp. buddy) and make it back out the long traverse. Btw I also had my first experience of a small "slide" - freaky, especially under the zero visibility conditions as it took me a while to figure out what was going on. Patrol closes behind us saying some of the snow is "popping".
Overall, great experience. Guides are really good with right amount of instruction and in pushing you outside your comfort zone. I would like to do it again it again (hopefully in conditions where I can see).
We typically ski Squaw with kids on teams etc. so hard to get away to another mountain. Astute and careful negotiations at the household allowed me to get away for a two day steeps clinics with EC this past Monday and Tues with a ski buddy (the low Canadian dollar and the fact that I could use points to stay in the village also helped).
This was my first time at WB and I was blown away by the terrain (large, expansive, and a lot of advanced/expert level features). Most of my skiing has been in California so the low (zero) visibility was a HUGE issue for me. Cost of EC two day clinic is very reasonable and I used my Squaw pass to get a 50% discount off the lift ticket. Food on mountain and in the village was quite reasonable (esp. after the conversion). Lots and lots of European and Aussie/Kiwi accents to be heard (almost felt like being in Europe).
We flew out Sun from SF to Vancouver and took a shuttle from there to WB late in the day. When we arrived it was quite dreary and raining (base is very low so quite different conditions up high).
Day 1
Meet near the base gondola at 8:30, load-up and go to the top of Whistler. About 12 people, and three EC guides. A quick warm-up run and then a "ski-off" top determine groups. Conditions were manky down below but about 6-12 inches of cut up, up top. "Ski-off" was on a black un-groomed run. Prior to ski-off they asked people if they wanted to stay with friends etc. so they could accommodate that. The pitch/conditions worked well as you could easily tell the different skil/ability levels on that pitch. I stayed with my buddy and we initially had 4-5 folks in our group (typical group size was 3-4). Each group went off. We did some of the bowls at Whistler and worked on technique some. One person in our group was struggling a bit so EC (at lunch, politely), reassigned them - they ended up getting a private. They sell a specific product and are very serious about ensuring that they deliver that experience. Another guy in the group dropped off (not feeling well?, hang-over? not sure). So from there on it was 3 of us.
Focus was on medium (ish) radius turns to ski the large bowls (bit of a change for me as I was more used to making short, quick turns at Squaw). Guide said to use make larger turns and "tail smearing" to control line and speed. Visibility was really bad (or at least that's what I thought till I saw the next day). So rest of day was spent covering different lines, jumping off a cornice and bowl skiing. The usual obligatory video was also taken (same bad habits, still there). Lots of mileage. Little bit of apre and good conversation with the other groups as well at lunch and apre.
Day 2
(I was on my skis first day, the older enforcers, today called for lots of wind and lots of snow so ended up picking up a demo - super 7 I think). Early meet up. On tap - Blackcomb. Couple of warm up runs after we reach the top. Its howling like crazy and puking snow with zero visibility. Stuck behind the guide as I could not see anything. After a couple of runs we went up Spanky's Ladder and did one of the bowls down and around. Next run again up Spanky's, the hike was now totally wind scoured and icy. Buddy struggles and slips off and stops just above the rock band! Buddy asks guide what to do. Guide: climb back up or make your way down and we'll see you at the bottom of the lift. We leave buddy - now only two left in the group.
More zero visbility skiing. I had heard about white-out induced vertigo before - now I experienced it - freaked me out. Find buddy, do Spankys one more time. Guide cuts new boot pack (steeper but better snow). Take a narrow traverse to get to a "run" - Bad Attitude (?). "Guide: watch for rock outcrop jutting out after the corner on the traverse" - buddy does not, slips off and is stopped by a tree. We wait for 15 mins for buddy, in howling winds on a very steep slope. Guide goes back..
Buddy: what happens if I take my skis off and walk? Guide: you will die. Buddy keeps skis on and guide cuts out a new traverse for him. (snow was quite deep).
We lick our wounds (mostly mental, esp. buddy) and make it back out the long traverse. Btw I also had my first experience of a small "slide" - freaky, especially under the zero visibility conditions as it took me a while to figure out what was going on. Patrol closes behind us saying some of the snow is "popping".
Overall, great experience. Guides are really good with right amount of instruction and in pushing you outside your comfort zone. I would like to do it again it again (hopefully in conditions where I can see).
