This year's annual New Years pow fest was planned in one of the more remote Coast range cabins with dreams of the rumored steeps and deeps. I had a fair amount of anxiety leading right up to this trip with the lack of snow in the coast range on Dec 26. If it didnt snow we had enough beer to start a serious alcohol problem. As the chopper started heading up the final valley to our destination it all came together. It appeared as though all the snow had blown into this place! 

With an extended break, and lower fuel costs, I spent the holidays driving back and forth across the province.  The first stop was Revelstoke, where I remembered epic laps of the North Bowl from last season containing hits of every size and shape.  This year, with the sun shining and sky blue, I was discouraged to find the early season snow that had fallen on Mt. Mackenzie had been frozen and blown into wind swept hardpack.  The temperature hovered around a balmy minus 30, and toes froze and shattered against my concrete boot shells, prompting Rambo like self inflicted surgery for several days following to relieve the unrelenting pressure and puss.  A pleasing image to be sure, and not the way to start a ski holiday.  The clear skies did allow for future dreams of future lines, and I'm still of the mind that Revelstoke is a fantastic mountain with more than enough terrain to scare the toes off of anyone.  

Just before the Christmas break Danielle, Mike and Kurt joined me on the annual Rogers Pass pow trip. 

Sad way to start off 2009. Likely by now everyone has heard about the 2 unfortunate deaths from separate avalanches on Whistler Blackcomb a couple days ago. Both were in areas that are currently out of bounds because of snow and safety conditions, but are normally open this time of year. I suppose people are skiing more and more areas as snow cover improves, not anticipating avalanches of that caliber on such familiar terrain. 

Crazy tragic winter lately. Beyond the in resort Jackson Hole avalanche that didn't result in any fatalities, there has been plenty more...

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/europe/la-na-avalanche-dea...

Well it's been a couple weeks now. But opening day at Mt. Baker was epic.

And just think they have almost 3 times as much snow now. I'm going back for sure.

A massive avalanche came through the Coulior restaurant this morning.  Remarkably, everyone is going to be fine, only relatively minor injuries.  Jackson Hole Mountain Resort is closed at this time.

Snowcast #3, the Peak to Peak Gondola episode, is here. Check it out...

Merry Christmas! This is about as white as it gets in Sea to Sky country, exactly what a skier wants for Christmas. North Vancouver just got spewed on, with 68cm in the last 24 hrs at Mt Seymour, Mt Baker enjoyed 34 inches (aka more than 68cm) since Wednesday morning, and heck, even Whistler finally has some new snow and up to 60cm in the forecast for the coming days.

If this isn't inspiration for Gaper Day it should at least make you appreciate fat skis.