It’s Snow Time!

I’ve been seeing a lot of Tweets like these and its getting me excited for winter:

@Mt_Seymour: We have 7cm of snow and counting! – Nov 6
@CypressMountain: Snowing all day! Opening as soon as we have enough snow! – Nov 10
@GrouseMountain: Today’s snowfall pics: http://tinyurl.com/yfyl6rd – Nov 10
@WhistlerBlckcmb: Wow, check out the forecast! Between 45-70cm expected by Monday! – Nov 12

So here’s a look at these 4 mountains, when they are opening, and what, if any, will be the impacts of the Olympics this winter season for them. Starting up the Sea to Sky and working east:

Whistler/ Blackcomb

Whistler Opening: Saturday, November 14
Current Snowbase: 95cm
Blackcomb Opening: Thursday, November 26
2010 Olympics Impact:

During the Olympic and Paralympic period, which begins January 25 for course set up, over 90 per cent of terrain will remain open. The only closed runs will be those in the area of the race course on Whistler Mountain along with the training runs on both mountains. During the Paralympics in March, over 90 per cent of the terrain will also be open with only the race course and training runs closed on Whistler Mountain.

Whistler Mountain Run Closures (January 25 to March 27)

Dave Murray Downhill, Wild Card, Jimmy’s Joker, Upper Franz’s

Whistler Mountain Run Closures (January 30 to March 27)

Bear Paw, Tokum, Crossroads

Whistler Mountain Run Closures – other

Bear Cub (February 1 to February 28), Raven/Ptarmigan (February 1 to March 21), Crabapple (February 1 to February 17)

Blackcomb Mountain Training Run Closures (January 29 to February 28)

Springboard (riding the Solar Coaster Express, which is open to the public all season, will provide phenomenal views of Olympians training on Springboard), Lower Cruiser

For a complete look at 2010 Olympic impacts, including parking, go here: http://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/olympics/index.htm

Cypress Mountain

Opening Day: Friday, November 13 (Easy-Rider Chair and Cross-Country Area)
Current Snowbase (Mid Mtn): 45cm
2010 Olympics Impact:

I posted earlier on what looks like will be a hugely impacted experience, you can review the impact summary here. But basically, parking seems like it will be chaos, the Eagle Chair will be off-limits the whole season, and there will be no public access from February 1 to March 8. Along with this, Cypress recently announced blocking access to Cypress Provincial Park during Feb 1 – Mar 8, and some trails for 4 months! (More info here: http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/cypress/). This obviously has a lot of back country goers quite mad.

Grouse Mountain

Opening Date: TBD Friday, November 13 (Paradise Bowl and Greenway Chair 4pm)
Current Snowbase: 50cm
2010 Olympic Impact:

This is an impact I can dig. During the Olympics, Feb 12 – 28, Grouse will be open 24 hours a day! I went on a midnight snowshoe trek last year and it was great. This is when insomnia is fun!

Mount Seymour

Opening Date: TBD Friday, November 20, 9:30am
Current Snowbase (summit): 45cm
2010 Olympics Impact: None

Enjoy the season!