This has been an outstanding season here --- until this week.
Weather has been similar to Chatter Creek, but warmer the past 3 days or so. Thus there is a crust up to about 5,500 feet in most locations. Since there is overcast and fog the alpine is off-limits and skiing is in what I've heard before called a "Whistler sandwich" of elevation.
The fog has restricted flying time, and the people who have been here all week say that every day has had a late start or early finish. Today started on time ~8:30AM, but the fog thickened around 1PM and they brought us in for the day at lunch. I estimate about 11K of skiing in our 8 runs, in the ballpark with a full day of cat skiing. I skied 6 days here last season and none of them were shortened, so I believe it's just an unlucky weather pattern.
We flew north and west into the Cariboos and were dropped around timberline at 6,500 feet. It snowed lightly but steadily all day, similar to last Sunday at Chatter. The first 4 runs started with about 500 vertical of good powder, gradually getting heavier over the next 500, and then a few hundred of wet and/or crusty stuff to the pickup. For the next 3 runs we went deeper into the Cariboos (must have had colder weather), and these runs had nice powder from top to bottom even though elevation range was similar. But the pilot was worried each run that he would get stuck out there in the deteriorating weather, and our guide had to lobby hard to get us those 3 runs. We had one more run in the original area on the way back in before lunch.
The ongoing new snow should result in good conditions for tomorrow. But what we really need is for the fog to let up so we can go higher into the alpine.
The good news from a consumer's perspective is that there are even fewer people at Wiegele than last year. I believe that with the proliferation of cat and heli operators in Canada you can usually get in here for 2,3,4 days by booking 3 weeks ahead like I did. It's still about $1,250CDN/day, but you don't have to do a whole week like 15-20 years ago. Personally, I think my arrangement this year of 4 days cat and 2 days heli is ideal.
For those who want to shave cost a bit, reserved skiing only is $950CDN. You'll have to get a motel here in Blue River plus breakfasts and dinners. Since I'm by myself it's not that much more to enjoy the luxurious amenities here, but for those sharing lodging you could save some. The standby heliskiing is only $550, but it really means standby. You find out whether you're going maybe the night before. Sun Peaks and Jasper/Marmot are the only ski resorts where you're close enough (still 2+ hours away) to use this arrangement, and thus have something to do if you don't get in here.
Weather has been similar to Chatter Creek, but warmer the past 3 days or so. Thus there is a crust up to about 5,500 feet in most locations. Since there is overcast and fog the alpine is off-limits and skiing is in what I've heard before called a "Whistler sandwich" of elevation.
The fog has restricted flying time, and the people who have been here all week say that every day has had a late start or early finish. Today started on time ~8:30AM, but the fog thickened around 1PM and they brought us in for the day at lunch. I estimate about 11K of skiing in our 8 runs, in the ballpark with a full day of cat skiing. I skied 6 days here last season and none of them were shortened, so I believe it's just an unlucky weather pattern.
We flew north and west into the Cariboos and were dropped around timberline at 6,500 feet. It snowed lightly but steadily all day, similar to last Sunday at Chatter. The first 4 runs started with about 500 vertical of good powder, gradually getting heavier over the next 500, and then a few hundred of wet and/or crusty stuff to the pickup. For the next 3 runs we went deeper into the Cariboos (must have had colder weather), and these runs had nice powder from top to bottom even though elevation range was similar. But the pilot was worried each run that he would get stuck out there in the deteriorating weather, and our guide had to lobby hard to get us those 3 runs. We had one more run in the original area on the way back in before lunch.
The ongoing new snow should result in good conditions for tomorrow. But what we really need is for the fog to let up so we can go higher into the alpine.
The good news from a consumer's perspective is that there are even fewer people at Wiegele than last year. I believe that with the proliferation of cat and heli operators in Canada you can usually get in here for 2,3,4 days by booking 3 weeks ahead like I did. It's still about $1,250CDN/day, but you don't have to do a whole week like 15-20 years ago. Personally, I think my arrangement this year of 4 days cat and 2 days heli is ideal.
For those who want to shave cost a bit, reserved skiing only is $950CDN. You'll have to get a motel here in Blue River plus breakfasts and dinners. Since I'm by myself it's not that much more to enjoy the luxurious amenities here, but for those sharing lodging you could save some. The standby heliskiing is only $550, but it really means standby. You find out whether you're going maybe the night before. Sun Peaks and Jasper/Marmot are the only ski resorts where you're close enough (still 2+ hours away) to use this arrangement, and thus have something to do if you don't get in here.
/ \
