it’s hard to live so far away from family over the holidays (esp. when you can’t afford a plane ticket two months in a row).  so once again this year i headed up to whistler to kick off the ski season.  kim and i drove up wednesday afternoon arriving just in time to have dinner with mark and joe (who had went up for opening day the saturday before).  i wish i could have taken off a few days to enjoy the mountain before the crowds set in.  next time…

with a few feet of base, they opened up blackcomb on thursday.  we stood in line early and had a few hours of fresh powder runs in the morning.  after having so much snow last year for thanksgiving it was a little hard to keep remembering that we indeed had typical early conditions this year…  after riding all day, we enjoyed the hot tub for a bit, had a few beers, then the boys suprised us by having previously made massage appointments for us all.  oh how wonderful a 1.5 hr massage is before thanksgiving dinner at hy’s steakhouse.  lots of bonus points there. ;)  we had such a great meal and kim couldn’t stop commenting about how good the food was this year.  i’m starting to think steak is the perfect new thanksgiving meal. 

  
 

we skied blackcomb thursday and friday, then hit up whistler the last two days.  they opened up harmony express saturday so we basically lapped symphony and the back bowls for 2 days straight.  lots of great runs and i’m finally feeling more confident on my powder turns.  on sunday we did a short little hike up the side of the piccolo peak, where joe and kim did a jump off the snow cliff. we took a great video of kim, but with the throwing of the poles and the yelling, i don’t think she’d appreciate me posting it for all. :)

 
  
 

we had the most amazing blueberry and strawberry crepes on friday and sunday morning at this little place called hot buns. definitely check it out if you’re up there.  i’m looking forward to more days on the mountain!