- Boston.com has a nice collection of some entries into this year’s National Geographic International Photography contest. Be sure to check out the gallery, there is some amazing stuff:

- A skiier escapes an avalanche using a parachute [via Outside Blog]

- “This video has been making the rounds the last couple of days, but it’s definitely worth sharing. It features National Geographic photographer Paul Nicklen telling about an amazing experience he had while taking shots in Antarctica. Paul was actually in the water, getting shots of penguins and seals, when one of the lion seals, a 12-foot long predator, seemingly mistook him as one of its own kind, and proceeded to attempt teach him how to hunt, and even showing him how to feed.” [via The Adventure Blog]:

- Nice new BASE jumping vid from Steph Davis’ blog:

Swiss Valley from steph davis on Vimeo.

- A couple goodies from Wend Blog. The first is a wind surfing close call, the second is a nice collection of 10 crazy snowboarding aerials.

- Enjoying some of November’s pow in Whistler [via @anthonybonello]:

Davie Whyte Edit from Anthony Bonello on Vimeo.

- From the Adventure blog comes this gem. Helmet cam view of a 90 foot waterfall drop. Watch all the way through, because the dude’s reaction is great. “I broke my helmet, I’m bleeding, but that was f**** awesome!”:

Kayaking Metlako Falls – Headcam from Dave Hoffman on Vimeo.

- Some spectacular footage of BC’s Bute Inlet:

BUTE INLET WILDLIFE from Mike McKinlay on Vimeo.

- And this can’t be good:

Related Posts:
• Pics & Vids Of The Week 01/10/2009
• Pics & Vids Of The Week 28/01/2010
• Pics & Clips Of The Week 04/04/09

Tags: Base Jump,Bute Inlet,Helmet Cam,Kayaking,Lion Seal,National Geogprahic,Skiing,Snowboarding & Skiing,Steph Davis,Whistler,Wind Surfing
Categories: Pics & Vids of the Week
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Photo by TylerIngram

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!

Related Posts:
• Backcountry Skiing Access During The Olympics
• Cypress 2010 Commemorative Season Pass – Worth It?
• Whistler & Blackcomb Open This Week

Tags: Cypress,Grouse,Olympics,Seymour,Whistler
Categories: Snowboarding & Skiing
2 Comments »

The Annual Turkey Sale & Swap is coming back to Whistler this October 9 – 12.

“Whistler Blackcomb and the surrounding community are coming together once again to show our thanks to two of the things we are incredibly grateful for – snow and the mountain enthusiasts that dream all summer long about the day it starts to fall again.

Where:

The Legendary Turkey Sale, where you can shop for the top name brands in ski and snowboard equipment under one roof, at huge pre season savings!

If you do one thing to get ready for the upcoming season, make sure you stop into the Turkey Sale!”

Related Posts:
• Ski + Snowboard Turkey Sale & Gear Swap
• Whistler & Blackcomb Open This Week
• Fall 2009 MEC Gear Swap

Tags: Sale,Skiing,Snowboarding & Skiing,Whistler
Categories: Deals
3 Comments »

If the wildfires in Kelowna weren’t enough there are early reports of a fire breaking out on Blackcomb mountain after a lightning strike around 3pm today. Comments like this from people in Whistler are spreading around Twitter:

Holy crap, forest fire literally EXPLODING on the mountain west of Blackcomb. It was just a couple trees and 5 mins later a huge plume. (Via @Kabutar)

@Daveburch posted some pictures shortly after the fire broke out (including one of a water bomber in action)

Around 4pm CTV broke with this report:

Tourists are being evacuated from Blackcomb Mountain in Whistler, B.C., after a wildfire broke out on the popular mountain Thursday.

The fire is currently estimated at four hectares, and is located north of Crystal Ridge.

The Coastal Fire Centre advises that firefighters are currently attacking the fire from the ground, and water bombers are en route to help extinguish the blaze.

Officials believe the blaze was sparked by lightning on the afternoon of July 30, 2009.

None of the homes located lower on the mountain have been evacuated yet.

Flames from the blaze are visible from Whistler’s main village.

You can get a sense of where the fire is from looking at the Blackcomb webcam, which will also give you an updated shot every 15 minutes.

There is also a fire going in Pemberton (triggered by lightning 2 days ago), and I was alerted to these pictures via Amber Turnau’s blog:

Photo by dbsteers on Flickr.

Photo by dbsteers on Flickr.

Get an update on all BC wildfires here.

As of 4:30pm the Wildfire Management Branch report for the Blackcomb fire is:

blackcomb mountain (V31127)

Location: North of Crystal Ridge
See approximate location on a Mapquest map

Discovered: Thursday, July 30, 2009

Size: 4.0 ha (estimated)

Status: Active
• 0% contained
This fire is currently rank four, which is highly vigorous surface fire behaviour with torching.

Interface: This is not an interface fire.

No further details available at this time.

Cause: Lightning Lightning Caused

Resources
Airtankers are currently being deployed to this fire, and will assess resource needs on arrival.

Related Posts:
• July Recap
• Arguments Over Trail Closures Heating Up
• Sunday Links

Tags: Blackcomb,Fire,Forest Fire,Pemberton,Whistler,Wildfire
Categories: News
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The ultimate event in mountain biking, the 2009 Kokanee Crankworx, will be taking place in Whistler August 8 – 16. This event is an annual favorite for many, and with good reason. There are a host of events, from the trick showdown to the Canadian Cheeserolling Championship. Coinciding with Crankworx is the Deraylor Music Festival featuring a huge list of artists from K-Os to Current Swell.

Whistler BC’s Kokanee Crankworx. The most ground-breaking gravity fueled mountain bike festival in the history of all things badass. Nine action packed days featuring the sport’s most fearless and talented athletes. A war for freeride glory in the only coliseum qualified for such prestige – the air and stunt infused dirt of the world famous Whistler Mountain Bike Park.

In the six years since its inception Kokanee Crankworx has become one of Whistler’s biggest annual events and the proving ground, inspiring heroes like Basagoitia, Gracia, Watts, Lopes and Lacondeguy to throw it down nuclear bomb style. This year we amplified things with our Canadian Open Enduro – the ultimate all-mountain test. One sees the world’s top slopestyle athletes push the limits of aerial ingenuity, while the other challenges racers with high-speed, head-to-head combat through the Boneyard’s cruel core. Off-road electricity hardwired to the soul of mountain biking’s next generation of backflippin, tailwhippin, 720 huckin’ superstars.

Check out the website for more details, schedules and contests.


Kokanee Crankworx — © MyPlanet 360°

Related Posts:
• Kokanee Crankworx Freeride Mountain Bike Festival
• Mind Over Mountain Adventure Racing
• First Annual Canadian Cheese Rolling Festival

Tags: Crankworx,Kokanee,Mountain Biking,Whistler
Categories: Biking, Events
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