Now that Doglotion is based out of Squamish, BC, we spend just as much time staring at Squamish forecasts as we do Whistler. And look what we have here... snow! Up to 75 cm's! It's not really supposed to snow here, being on the Coast and all, but we're saying bring it on! Super Couloir and Syberian Express, Cloudburst, and Tantalus will be gettin' primed for shredding. 

The big day is almost here, Friday December 12th. What big day? Don't even pretend you don't know. Whistler Blackcomb's Peak to Peak Gondola is opening on Friday, and if the rumours are true, it's going to be quite the spectacle. We'll leave it at that. Cough....Red Bull athletes... Cough.

I'm personally hoping for some sweet pyrotechnic action and fighter jets from the Courtney Comox air base, but we'll see what we get.  And see we will indeed... if you can't make it to town on Friday, there's a live webcast comin' at ya, 10:30am PST on www.whistlerblackcomb.com. In the meantime here's a quick teaser video...

It's go time on the Duffey! Well, uh, sorta. Eager for the resort to open but itching too bad to wait, we went for a little jaunt on the weekend and found just the powder bounty we were looking for. The debate was on in the truck, trying to figure where the most snow would be sitting, and where we could avoid an endless see of alder and shrubs. 

The snow has started to fly at Whistler Blackcomb with over 40 cm (16 inches) of snow falling just in the last few days and more expected in the forecast. With the countdown on to opening day, November 27, this is exciting news! And with the new PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola opening on Dec. 12, we can't wait for the season to officially kick off.

Good news: my cheap flip video camera can double as reverse helmet cam

Bad news: The last day of Whistler for 2008 was cold, icy and uneventful.

Good times cat skiing at Backcountry Snowcats, January 6 & 7, 2008. 

Bit of a late post, but better late than never. At the start of this epic storm cycle we've been having, a huge posse of us (9 I think) headed up the Duff, I mean Duffey Lake Road, for some deeeeep backcountry shredding. A few hour skin up one of our favourite spots led to a wide open, juicy, chute. Slid a bit up top, then opened up for some fast, wide open turns.

Here's a quick and super random video from the day. Doesn't do it any justice, but pretend you're getting the faceshots...

For lunch break we went to check out the new Lodge we'd heard about in the area, only to have the surprise of the weekend. Knocking twice on the door, nobody answered. After a 3rd attempt, a grumpy dude opened the door and quite bluntly explained that it was a private hut. Then tried to make chit chat about what lines we were skiing to change the subject.

RIIIIGHT. A private hut, on public land, cold chillin' right on the lake shore of a ski touring spot that's accessed from the road within an hour. Make that 5 minutes on a sled. Pretty sure it's a memorial hut for someone we have many friends in common with, but hey, guess it's a selfish memorial? Anywho, love to see how long that lasts in an obvious location at a popular ski touring spot that just got published in a travel guide, and soon a ski touring book.

Words fail me. 

Just when I thought it would never come, my first weekend 6 months after shoulder delivered a cold sunny day with my best friends and light powder.

Jamie telling Calvin and Hobbes how it's going to be.

Of course there was some ice, some rocks and not all the lifts were running. Now my calves, quads and back are screaming. But I can't wipe the grin off my face with steel wool! It's on now, the alpine is open the base is settled and it's all cold smoke from here.