February 14, 2005
Lifts/Runs
Lifts Open: 9/10
Runs open: 104/107
Snowfall
24 Hour: 16cm (6in)
48 Hour: 25cm (10in)
7 Day: 25cm (10in)
Year to date: 432cm (170in)
Snow Pack: 189cm (74in)
Text by Kirk Oulette
February has been great for the so called 'Weekend Warrior'. Last weekend 54cm of the white fluffy stuff pounded the Lizard Range. However from local testaments we thought it was more. Maybe because a good powder day always leads into a week of ‘fish tales’.
 This weekend I had plans of doing some touring around Mammoth Head and gets the legs back in shape. Forecasts were sunny skies throughout the weekend and it was true for Saturday, but come Saturday night wet snow in town turned quickly into the fat powder snow Fernie is famous for. 25 more cm's on a socked in Sunday. I quickly dropped the idea of hiking the backcountry with the storm at blizzard conditions at times. Since all my gear was in the car I simply switched the spit board for my powder board. I wasn't disappointed! Hoots and hollers from last week still echoed the bowls. Curry and Timber bowls were open with Siberia having the deepest deposits of snow. Face shots and rooster tails! Good to see those happy smiles on peoples faces again.
Upper Lizard and Cedar was closed. Rumor has it that the resort can no longer use their gun to detonate bombs for avi control; it has to be hand detonated. So I think the trend will be similar to Sunday with terrain opening up slower then in the past. This restriction goes for all BC resorts using guns for avi control. What’s good about it is that it leaves fresh tracks for the next day! Ever heard the phase, "no friends on a powder day" since it is Valentines Day today how will that go over with your spouse?
 Line ups at 3 chairs to skiing directly to the lift and fresh tracks through-out the day. Mid mountain was tracked out, that's nothing unusual, but secret stashes of power on the lower mounatin.
So where is everybody? Probably gearing up for this long weekend. Long range it looks like more snow for the weekend and through out next week.
Photo's are from last Valentines Day when it snowed 12cm. Forget the Griz, Cupid and his arrow work just fine.
|
