Whistler '14

The yearly trip to Whistler, Mecca of snowboarding.

Chinese markets on the street

Customs, always being the fun and excitement that it is, kept us in line for nearly two hours. No unusually harassment like usual though. We hopped into a cab and got to the bus station right as our bus was leaving. We spent the next four hours dragging snowboards, suitcases, and backpacks through the streets of Vancouver. Eventually, we came across a large steamer with a few buns sitting on the awning of a Chinese restaurant and bakery. That is where we spent the nest several hours snarfing down short ribs and the most authentic polo buns we've had since Taiwan. Pretty good wife cakes too.'

Vancouver is delicious. There's something wonderful at ever turn. We'd really like to stay more than a day sometime and check out the city. Year before last, we walked the city for the day and went to see DaDa Life perform. It's very pretty here, and the people are nice. If it weren't so expensive, and cold (well, not like South Dakota Iowa) it would be an excellent home. 

Our goody bag for later

bolou bao

wife cake

The Inn at Clifftop lane is a great place to stay. It is out of the village which is great- no noise all night long. Just a ten minute walk down the hill to the bus stop, and a few minutes down the road to Creekside and Whistler Village. Alan and Sue Lee are wonderful host and we always enjoy spending time with them. Their dog, Ursa, is nice to have around too. And Sue Lee makes the best breakfast, which is very important before a day on the mountain!

Why Whistler? Because  its beautiful. We've thought about going elsewhere, but why would we? This place is known around the wold for its snow and terrain. 

And it always seems to snow over a foot the night before we leave.

The  Harmony 6 lift just opened up in mid December of 2013. During double black diamond conditions, we decided to try it out for the first time. Going up the lift was pretty intense. The snow was so thick you couldn't see two feet in front of you and we were almost completely vertical being pulled up the mountain with a tiny little bar holding us in.

starting out up the hill, doesn't look too bad, right?

Visibility didn't get much better when we neared the top

And when we finally got there, this is how well we could see.

It was snowing and windy, and the snow was so deep that if you weren't flying on top of it, you were sinking right down into it. Then, into the trees. Huge open spaces. Hardly any people. Pure white, fluffy nature. 

IT WAS AMAZING.