The Down Family Christmas - Whistler Style - Part II

So it turns out the old weather boy on channel 17 finally got it right for once !

The arctic storm predicted to be charging down the coast from Alaska did indeed appear during the night and manifested itself in the first instance with another 20cm of fresh white stuff all the way into the village.

Secondly temperatures had plummeted to a village high of -14C and peak chair low of -27C !

Yikes ! Now I have worked in Geordie land before and stood at various taxi ranks armed with little more than a bag of chips and curry sauce but this was taking the biscuit ! Mountain hosts were manning the gondola entrances checking peoples equipment before allowing them to head up the mountain.

Mig, Owen and I wrapped up in crazy amounts of layers headed out in endurance fashion to try and enjoy our days skiing.

Mom and John had the much better idea of laying in before frying up some seriously skinny Canadian bacon and eggs in the kitchen of our plush gaff whilst admiring the baltic conditions outside.

Armed with the extra layer of lard however they felt brave enough to venture out and take some pictures of the winter wonderland all around before meeting Amanda and I for lunch in the GLC (Garibaldi Lift Company Bar).

The snow was amazing even if madly cold.

It's amazing how good a GLC burger tastes at lunchtime bulking up for an afternoons charge. I suppose it is only surpassed by how good the Kokanee (local yellow lemonade) tastes once the day is done.

I assume this of course because all in attendance who were new to alpine activities (the senior members en tour) seemed happy to partake without complaining too hard !

So that's day one done of Stig's Mission to ski 50 days this season !

49 to go by May ! Should be easy ! Lets hope the legs last !