Whistler B.C. Conditions Report: 48cm of New Snow

Whistler is getting more snow this week, bringing back powder and good snow to the mountain. The last few snowy days in Whistler have delivered 48cm of fresh snow. This means that it is pretty difficult to find some hardpack snow right now on the upper mountain. This fresh snow is on top a fairly variable crust or hardpack layer but in most places this layer is not a factor. The new snow over the last days have compacted to create less of a crust layer underneath at the resort. This means that the snow feels soft throughout most of the turn while skiing.

pencil chute — Skiing a chute off of Glacier T-Bar. Steep sections were a bit more hardpack as the new snow sloughed or slid off.

This Saturday was busy at the resort, with the lots pretty much full by mid-morning. We went up Blackcomb as Whistler had a bit longer lines with Peak chair not being open the previous day. With a few cm of new snow overnight the mountain looked good with lots of fresh tracks still around. We went up to the glacier and milked a few laps up there and on Spankey’s. Earlier in the day there was pretty good visibility with clouds rolling in by the afternoon.

Playing on a wind feature off of Glacier.

Looking at the rest of this week we can see some more snow showers and clouds. By Wednesday and Thursday a heavier system willing be coming back into the area. In the backcountry the avalanche forecast is considerable at and above tree line. Yesterday at tree line things were very touchy north of Whistler with many small pockets releasing on the old facet and crust layer. Enjoy the fresh snow out there and have fun!