May 29, 2007

Ski season wrap-up

It's over :( After 6 months... For that the season was six months long 21 days of skiing doesn't seem to be a lot at all and real freaks get in multiples of that. But I was working quite hard throughout the spring and I was sick on 2 or 3 weekends. On top of that the weather was sometimes not to my liking - neither powder nor sunshine. Anyways, I am quite happy! Whistler scored more than 14 meters of snowfall this season and there are still more than 2 meters of coverage above 1500m altitude. On my last day none of the upper lifts were running, so I took my backcountry skis and hiked up to the peak twice. It was sunny and blazing hot - like on Haleakala in Hawaii! The bike park had opened two weeks before on Whistler mountain, while skiing is still open on Blackcomb (instead of Whistler because of some ongoing maintenance on the gondola). The construction for the peak-to-peak gondola in the style of Kitzbuhel's also started on both mountains.

I love that remote control! The "Notice" said "Very Icy" - well, not on that day.

The above photo is taken at the entrance to Jersey Cream bowl (Sudan). A couple of snowcats were working to build the terrain park where there is going to be summer glacier skiing starting next week. Amazing to see what amounts of snow they move around there.

From the peak of 7th Heaven down to the village.

Ice fields near Squamish (Tantalus Range)

Now back on the bike for the next half year...

Thesis

The date for my defense is set, it is going to be on July 18. I think I finished most parts of it but might still have to work on some details. But alltogether I am looking forward to finally being a Master!