January 18, 2004
Lifts/Runs
Lifts Open: 10/10
Runs open: 104/107
Snowfall
24 Hour: 0cm (0in)
48 Hour: 0cm (0in)
7 Day: 0cm (0in)
Year to date: 429cm (169in)
Snow Pack: 195cm (77in)
Photos and text by Gerry George
Well we are still in a spring like weather pattern. The entire week was incredibly warm with mostly grey skies and corn snow like conditions at the bottom of the mountain. It didn't help matters much when it poured for most of the day on Thursday.
 Still, despite the weather, conditions aren't as terrible as I originally expected. The temperature has cooled a bit and on Sunday, when I decided to brave the conditions, I was pretty surprised to find that the snow off of White Pass was still pretty fun to ski. It definitely isn't what I would describe as epic but if you don't mind skiing hard pack it was tolerable.
Which brings me to the Theory of Relativity. While Einstein may have related it to Time and Space, you can apply it ski conditions using this slight twist to the theory. The further you travel through space and time, the better the snow conditions are relative to where you left.
I tested this theory by sampling a group of individuals from various locations who all traveled farther through time and space than I did to get here.
 I originally thought the conditions were terrible but living here, I have seen when the conditions have been epic. Wess, whom I skied with for most of the day, is from Sparwood and while he also has seen better, he appeared to be enjoying the conditions more than I. I assumed this as he is constantly giggling as he skis.
Now as we move further from the Elk Valley, the couple from Kalispell were just having a blast on what they described as excellent conditions. I questioned their enthusiasm at first but then recall what it is like to ski at Big Mountain and the calculations fell logically into place.
The fellow from Britain, while hurting from over indulgence from his first day on the mountain yesterday, was having a blast in the soft snow and said it was way better than the hardpack over in Europe right now. Didn't I mention at the beginning that the conditions were hardpack? See relativity in action.
 So there you have it. A ski report and science lesson all at the same time. What more can you ask for.
Don't forget about the world cup moguls and aerials next weekend in good ole Fernie. There is some weather in forecast that is looking white so hopefully we won't see the torrential rains that waterlogged the aerial competition last year.
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