Where to Ski And Snowboard - It’s a record says Whistler

It’s a record says Whistler

19th November 2009, by Chris Gill

Sun rises on another powder day ... [Emmanuel Mendes dos Santos / Coast photo / Whistler Blackcomb]

If you want winter right now, Canada has got it all! Whistler Blackcomb has just announced record-breaking November snowfall, and it’s still snowing …

Whistler Blackcomb is getting a runaway start to the season, with over half a metre of snow last night (Wednesday 18 November), two metres of snow in a week and four metres in total so far.

Opening day on Saturday 14 November saw skiers and boarders enjoy terrific powder runs on the upper Whistler mountain. A series of weather fronts since then has continued to feed in snow to western parts of Canada all week; the resort is now claiming double its average November snowfall.

Stephen Butt, Communications Coordinator and voice of the Snow Phone at Whistler Blackcomb said: ‘I’ve skied here for over 15 years and I’ve never seen this much snow so early in a season, it seems like every day’s snowfall is topping the last. We have already received one third of our average annual snowfall for the entire season and it’s only four days into the season, it’s unbelievable!

Resorts crews are working to open more terrain, the Creekside gondola and Garbanzo Express. These will join the Village gondola and three other lifts already open on Whistler Mountain. Blackcomb is scheduled to open next week (26 November).

There is, of course, a downside to all this snow: avalanche risk. The first warnings of the season have been given, and the mountain is on high alert while the blizzards continue.

The snow is expected to continue in Whistler and in other parts of western Canada over the coming weekend. It’s quite windy too, and with poor visibility up top. But accumulations are predicted as lower 5-15cm. It is expected to remain fairly cool too, with freezing temperatures hovering around 800-1400m.