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From: tron@fluke.UUCP (Peter Barbee)
Newsgroups: net.rec.ski
Subject: Re: 1 mile vertical drop
Message-ID: <1257@vax1.fluke.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 8-Nov-85 16:58:58 EST
Article-I.D.: vax1.1257
Posted: Fri Nov  8 16:58:58 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 10-Nov-85 07:34:43 EST
References: <5820@tekecs.UUCP>
Distribution: na
Organization: John Fluke Mfg. Co., Inc., Everett, WA
Lines: 46

>I see that Whistler Mtn in British Columbia just added a chair lift that
>increases their vertical drop to 5280 FEET.  This takes the record as the
>ski area with the longest vertical drop in North America from neighboring 
>Blackcomb ski area, which has about 4200 vertical feet.  
>	
Not that it really matters but the areas are reversed, Blackcomb now has the
mile of vertical, Whistler used to have the highest vertical on the continent.

Since people are giving reports of areas I will say a few things about
Whistler/Blackcomb.  I live in Seattle but have made several trips to Whistler.

Blackcomb; 6 chairs, 1 T-bar (high lift), 5280 vertical feet.  Imagine all
5280 in one continuous fall line run, no runouts, minimal flat sections (you
cross a couple of access roads), now open your eyes, it's real.  Blackcomb
talks about "the long run" and they deliver.  Top to bottom - no stops, legs
burn and faces grin.  With the high lift this year they open up three steep
bowls above timberline, glacier skiing.  These are runs we used to hike to.
The chairs are new and comfortable, the lodges serve decent food and remember
the current exchange rate favors US money.

Whistler; 9-11 chairs (I'm counting them on my fingers and keep getting
confused), gondola, and a couple of T-bars.  4100 vertical.  Absolutely the
best out-of-bounds skiing in the NW.  The upper T-bars give access to 4 or
5 big, wonderful bowls (some hiking necessary), just watch out for the
Voodoo Chutes!  The skiing within the area is pretty awesome also, the lifts
cover about 180 degrees around the mountain (or seem like it) and there
is any type of skiing you want.

Whistler Village; this is where you stay, from your lodge/condo/loft suite
you can walk to the base of either Whistler or Blackcomb (we're talking a
couple of hundred yards).  It's about 75 miles north of Vancouver B.C. or
five hours from Seattle, good road all the way.  The village has everything
you need, grocery store, nightclubs/pubs, gourmet shop, liquor store, and
whatever.  

With the exchange rate things are cheap, during low season you can stay
two to a loft w/kitchen & hot tub for $50 US a day, including lift ticket.
This is easily the best skiing in the Cascades as far as the hill is concerned.
In fact it competes with most major national areas.  The problem is with the
snow.  Cascade concrete.  Of course when comparing to areas in Washington and
Oregon the only places with better snow are Bachelor and Mission Ridge.  It
also is low (base 2500 ft) so there is not always snow all the way to the 
base.

Happy skiing,
Peter B