Reports began coming in from friends and the web that Whistler Mountain was opening a week early and after summer spent scratching a couple days at Hood, and requisite Mt. Baker pond skimming, this was not to be missed. With warming temps plaguing the few open Washington resorts, the decision was easy. Packing my bags, I made a few phone calls, blew off my previous plans and left B-ham way to early in the morning and arrived at Whistler hours before the lifts opened. Better than hours after. The snow was deep, light and plentiful. Dodging the mild lift lines was accomplished via uploading at the gondola mid-station: I was able to ride virtually all day without standing in any lines. Not bad for an opener anywhere, let alone the site of the next Winter Olympics. The whole resort had solid coverage and even afforded super long burn out pow runs all the way down to base. Pretty damn good for a Nov 18th day one.

The Blackcomb side of the resort opens on the 23rd and if the extended forecast turns out anything like its supposed to, its going to be a powder week in the BC mountains. Wax up those sticks and grab your snorkel.