Thought I'd make a thread for sharing the local conditions similar to the Vancouver thread here.
Dec. 14th - Castle Opening Day. This is my first time here and the hill has a very laid back vibe to it. Conditions were decent for early season. Huckleberry and sundance had mixtures on powder, chuky powder, crust thru out the run. Lots of little branches sticking out.
Red chair didn't open until afternoon and it was very rocky in places. had to stick around trees for best conditions.
The bad: chairs are sloooooow, and they sway a lot.
The Ugly: T-bar pub run out of draft and pizza before noon. My food never came :blowup:
Dec.15th - Fernie
Great conditions - untouched powder can be found in currie/cedar/siberia. Epic conditions up on top of mountain. untouched pow and sparse trees.
Good mixture of soft snow and groomers across the board. Many tree areas in lower elevations are closed off to conserve base. Tons of branches are sticking out. The last sections of groomers before base is riddled with tiny rocks. Slightly annoying.
I think it definitely has the best conditions compared to (LL, SSV, KH, Castle) can't comment on Revy but I'll be there next weekend.
Castle looks set for a heavy dump on saturday night and sunday morning. Does anyone have any idea what the base is like there? If they get 20cm or so will it be enough?
thinking of going to Nakiska on Saturday, has anyone been out there recently? Forecast says that its getting warm through the day, or is that just Kananaskis and not the hill?
The forecast says snow so hopefully its not too icy
thinking of going to Nakiska on Saturday, has anyone been out there recently? Forecast says that its getting warm through the day, or is that just Kananaskis and not the hill?
I had friends there last Sunday (5 days ago) and they said it was icy, but they're not regular boarders. They're calling for a high of about 1 on Saturday, so if it is frozen in the morning, it might thaw out a bit by early afternoon. I was at Nakiska in mid-April last year and had a good time. I'll be there Sunday for an event no matter what the conditions are like!
Do you really need a beacon for the Dive (do they check you)? kinda sux that the best area on the hill is roped off.... Saying that I'll probably be buying one next year for going back country.
From what I hear, yes you HAVE to have the gear to go in there. They either check or if you're caught without you're fucked...
I sort of think it seems like a marketing ploy, as Fernie and Louise have some pretty crazy in bounds terrain that you don't need gear for. Maybe it's just to keep tourists out?
Thanks Poutanen... Odd to not have bumped into you for the last month or so, seems we were at the same hill for most of the start of the season :icon_scratch:
That's all I can think too, the Dive's not even scary looking. after riding just about every chute KHMR has, going back to the sunshine groomers is just a dire thought :huh:
That's all I can think too, the Dive's not even scary looking. after riding just about every chute KHMR has, going back to the sunshine groomers is just a dire thought :huh:
Yeah I'm surprised I didn't bump into more forum members this year. Oh well they're big hills we ride! Easy to get yourself lost somewhere!
I've found some great stuff on Louise this year... Not that any of it is news to anybody who's been riding here for years, but a little hike here or there, a cut through the bush, etc. and there is great stuff. Board killing rocks in most places though too...
You ever done the Curry Headwall at Fernie? It's gated terrain but I didn't see any requirement for avalanche gear. The terrain leads back into the Curry bowl and you could ride it again and again off the polar peak chair if it was open all day. Would likely be a 10 min hike to get up to the good stuff...
We're doing ours at Louise next March. Likely stay at the Fairmont and the wedding itself will be at the hill. We're planning on taking the gondola up and doing a wiwaxy 500 lap in our tux and dress... :yahoo:
I'll be at Sunshine on Sunday for sure if anyone else is going. It's looking to be a good weekend for sure, last weekend was awesome there, pow days in April...i didn't see that coming from the way the season was going.
I don't have a job... Anymore. Non the less I found some cash and ill be there on Sunday ripping some fresh, if the forcast doesn't change... Torpedo wanna pm me your #? So I can reach u at sunshine.
I'm heading up this weekend, Looks like sunday is going to be the best day but I have a night out planned in Calgary on saturday and I might be hanging like a mofo. I'll definitely be in sunshine on either saturday or sunday though. Might rent some avy gear if there's anyone to go into the dive with?
I've blown off saturday night plans so will be riding the afternoon on saturday and all day sunday at Sunshine. What Avi gear do I need for the dive as I'm going to hire it tomorrow morning. This is kit list at the Calgary outdoor centre:
What is a beacon going to do if you dont know how to use it? Or when in panic you forget, miss or screw up a step? i wouldn't play in BC before i get some avalanche training. Just because there is a gate to it doesn't mean its safe.
It's more important your buddy knows how it works than you (assuming it is you that is in trouble). At the top of Wawa lift at Sunshine is a test place, so you can practice.
I've used a beacon before but not a probe - but from what I gather the side country at sunshine is on par with the Kicking Horse chutes and hikes off T2 & T3.
Is that twin peaks hike off the top of wawa? We built a little booster there a month or so back, it was fun.
yep that's the one I meant.. i couldnt get enough speed to ride out of it and had to walk out the flat bit but it's only a 5 minute walk out. If the snow is good that's a great spot for a kicker.
Lots of good snow to be had at SSV today. Nothing new overnight but the wind seemed to freshen up most of the south facing areas and the lack of people meant it all lasted longer.
If the weekend forecast holds up Sunday could be a good one.
I'll be down sunshine tomorrow for first lift - wearing a yellow and black hoody with a blue sandbox lid if anyone wants to say hello. Riding my old DWD keenan.
Yellow arcteryx jacket, black pants, and black helmet. Riding a white NS proto ct. Not sure where I will head first thing. If the snow report is good, probably goats eye, down the back side or hike up to the top.
I should have taken more pics today... Was the second best snow day I think I've seen at Nakiska. About 6-8" of snow when we arrived in the parking lot, a little heavy near the bottom, but mostly light fluffy stuff up top. Had some GREAT runs today! :yahoo:
Finally met up with Seriouscat and his storm trooper look. :thumbsup:
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