The good news is that more than 4,500 hectares, or 60 per cent, of terrain on Whistler and Blackcomb is still open after a Pineapple Express brought heavy rains and warm temperatures to the area almost three weeks ago.
And though the weather has had a significant impact on the snowpack, it could have been worse – between Jan. 17 and Jan. 28 the high alpine areas of Whistler and Blackcomb only saw 50 millimetres out of the 350 mm of total rain recorded, with the rest falling as snow. Of course high winds limited the alpine access for avalanche control for several days, but those issues have been resolved and alpine operations are back on track. The situation is steadily improving at mid-mountain, and the ski-outs are still open.
"We’re doing anything and everything we can to make sure we get through this abnormal occurrence, and to get through it without our resort reputation being damaged," said Doug Forseth, senior vice president of Whistler-Blackcomb.
When he says anything and everything he means it. While rumours circulated around town that one or both mountains were closing down operations and laying off staff, Whistler-Blackcomb was busy putting those rumours to rest.
In the last week, Whistler-Blackcomb has used helicopters to transport snow from the Upper Dave Murray to bare sections on the ski-out to Whistler Creek, as well as to the learning areas at Olympic station. The snow is shovelled into nets, which can carry a few hundred kilograms of snow each trip.
The cat shop on Blackcomb has also modified a snowcat by adding a hydraulic dump truck attachment to the back. The bin, which cost Whistler-Blackcomb $15,000, is lined with Teflon, allowing workers to blow snow into the back in a matter of seconds, and easily dump it where its needed most.
Forseth praised the efforts of staff, which he says have been going above and beyond the call of duty to keep the mountains operating.
"It’s really unbelievable the kinds of things we’re seeing, showing once again that we have as good a team as you’ll find anywhere, if not the best in the world," he said.
"Ski patrol has been out there with shovels and tarps, moving the snow from the sides of the runs into the middle, keeping our ski outs going while working hard to open as much of the alpine as possible.
"The vehicle maintenance guys have been hard at work on the snowcat with the dump truck attachment, something that doesn’t exist anywhere else. The grooming staff is doing an incredible job considering what they have to work with in some places. They have a lot of finesse, and a lot of experience, they’re winching in places where they’ve never winched before… to keep that terrain open."
With thousands of staff members and hundreds of businesses in town relying on the mountains, Forseth says Whistler-Blackcomb is committed to do everything they can to stay open, even if it means paying helicopters to move snow and modifying snowcats into dumptrucks. All 29 cats on Whistler and Blackcomb are working two shifts a day, seven days a week, to improve the terrain.
"We have our own reasons for staying open, we are a business, but it’s not the only reason," said Forseth. "As (a manager) said at a meeting the other day, they’ll have to pry the shovels out of 3,800 cold, dead hands before we’re going down."
More than 90 per cent of comment cards from the public have been positive throughout the bad weather, which Forseth credits to the efforts of frontline staff in all departments.
"Guests can see the kinds of efforts we’re making, and they’re letting us know they appreciate it," said Forseth. "That was important for us, because this has been an extremely challenging situation for everybody, and we’ve had to react as things went from bad to worse.
"There’s not much snow (on the lower mountains), we all know that, and we think it’s important that the community knows we’re working hard, and thinking of ways to recover."
On Feb. 2, the snow depth at the Pig Alley weather station on Whistler Mountain, an altitude of 1,650 metres, was 129 cm, down from almost 170 cm before the rain. Meanwhile, according to patrollers the high alpine base is between two and three metres in some areas, with extensive avalanche control required for the first few days after the storm. The high alpine lifts closed for a few days during the worst of the storm, but opening the area was a priority. The Creekside Gondola was also closed temporarily to allow water to drain from the Timing Flats area on the lower Dave Murray.
The Blackcomb Glacier also remained closed as of mid-week because of the condition of the road back to the Excelerator Chair.
"It’s definitely the most bizarre winter weather that anyone has seen in a long time," said Jan Tindle, a veteran patroller on Whistler Mountain. "We’ve gotten warm fronts and rain before, but this was particularly strong and it’s hanging around. Hopefully we’ll see some clear skies and colder temperatures, which would allow us to start making snow again."
According to Tindle, patrollers are concerned that the snow at lower elevations is turning to slush, which is being broken up and scraped off the runs in some areas. Colder temperatures are needed to firm up that snow to ensure that it stays around long enough to keep the ski outs open.
Nobody is using the words global warming in connection with the recent weather, said Forseth, although the company does have a carbon reduction program.
"Is global warming happening? I believe it is. Is that what’s happening right now? I don’t see it happening yet," said Forseth.
One long-time resident was in Whistler in 1949 and said there was no snow at 7,000 feet (2,130 metres). The 1976-77 winter was also challenging, with no snow until the end of January. Whistler Mountain was forced to close for two weeks.
"There are things out there that are affecting climate change," said Forseth, "but (recent events) are not something we haven’t ever seen before."
Bernie Protch, the ski patrol manager for Whistler, says that conditions are improving at higher elevations. They are doing what they can at lower elevations, but in the end the weather will have to change before things get much better.
On a positive note, the rains completely refilled the snowmaking reservoirs on both Whistler and Blackcomb, and the snowmaking staff, which are typically laid off at this time of year, have been kept on indefinitely.
"(On the lower mountains) we’re taking the snow and moving it to priority runs, and the ski-out is a bit bare. At the mid elevations, things are looking quite good, everything filled in with snow, and we’re set up to start making snow the moment the temperatures drop enough. The forecast looks good for that, the freezing level is dropping. We’re not out of the woods yet, but things are looking better."
The terrain parks are getting extra attention, he added, with guests and ski school groups spending more time on park skills. On Whistler, the halfpipe area by the Roundhouse is going to be converted into a small park until the conditions improve in the Habitat Terrain Park under the Emerald Chair.
According to Forseth, Whistler-Blackcomb’s response to the storm has come in three phases. The first phase dealt with the customers who were already in Whistler, offering free lift tickets, free ski lessons, and discounts on food.
"We wanted to turn a negative into a positive, and judging by the comments we’ve received we did that," said Forseth.
The second phase concerned staff. With almost every department outside of grooming cutting hours, Whistler-Blackcomb has been offering $2 dinners, breakfasts and other perks. They even rented Millennium Place to show free movies for staff members.
"Looking ahead to February and March, our bookings are strong and there’s a lot of business still to come, and we’re going to need our staff when things pick up," said Forseth.
Some senior staff members have voluntarily cut back their own hours to give more hours to seasonal workers. Only a few staff members have left, although others have taken other part-time jobs to make ends meet.
Whistler-Blackcomb has also talked to their insurance agency, and obtained permission to continue to offer benefits to staff members who work fewer hours than what’s required by their policies.
The third phase is ensuring that future guests have the best experience possible. In addition to working to keep runs and the ski-outs open, it means working with hotels and other resort businesses to create value for guests. For example, one hotel is offering guests a free night’s stay along with their packages and Whistler-Blackcomb is backing that offer with one free day of skiing.
UPDATES
• Enchanted Forest Run reopened to public
• Snowcat/dumptruck has been so successful that a second one is being built
• Half-price food and ski school offer for the public ended on Feb. 3. Season pass holders will still get 50 per cent off food, while Edge Card holders will get 20 per cent.
• First Tracks breakfasts will resume on Saturday, Feb. 5.
• Night Moves will likely reopen this weekend, Thursday, Friday and Saturday
