As Whistler-Blackcomb prepares to open it’s doors for another season, staff are reminding guests of mountain safety, especially when going off-piste.

35 centimetres of snow fell in Whistler on Wednesday, and there is more expected. Currently there is also 86 centimetres of natural snow on the mountain itself, and a one metre overall base. Whistler Mountain will open six days ahead of schedule (on November 17th) while Blackcomb Mountain will open as scheduled on November 23rd.

Whistler Blackcomb Senior Manager of Communications Marc Riddel is asking people to ease into the season; “while it looks all nice and white and un-tracked powder off the marked runs. That’s the really unconsolidated snow. What I mean by unconsolidated snow is that the snow hasn’t had time to settle enough, so that there’s enough of a base in those areas. So we want people to be aware when they go off-piste that the snow pack is not the powder that you’re used to in February.”

Riddel says the amount of snow is no different from other years, but rather just the volume seen in a short period of time. The resort is encouraging guests to stay in-bounds and on the runs for the time being. They want the public to understand the hazards around them and currently tree wells are one of those hazards.

On the opening weekend last year a snowboarder died after being found unconscious and unresponsive near a gladed area on Blackcomb Mountain.

On opening day Creekside and Whistler Village gondolas will be open for uploading and downloading.

 

Filed under: Ski, Snow, Tree Well, Whistler, Whistler Blackcomb