Whistler-Blackcomb Après Ski Club Trip

By Ray Muggli     photos by Ed Martin     

picture The excitement was so thick at SFO that you could not cut it with a sharp ski edge. Sixty-six (Yes 66) happy campers were off on a Plane ride to Vancouver. The bus ride from Vancouver to Whistler through the streets of Vancouver and along the West coast Pacific Ocean Sounds was Awesome. OK, a little Jack Daniels was sprinkled around. We arrived at the Horstman House to a wine and beer party. Everyone received their pink ribbon-The branding done by Brenda Cash. Oh, did I mention the HOT TUB. Yes Après finally had a Hot Tub. It was a Roman Style with a place to set your drink in the middle!.mmmmmmmm! Quick trips to the market were made with Greg Smith buying coffee for his condo. Coffee Beans with NO grinders. What was he thinking? Does Greg Grind in the night?

The next day started the SEVENS: Seven Days, Seven people groups, Seven Parties, and reminders of the Après Seven rules.

Most people skied Blackcomb the first day, which was Sunday. Whistler was closer to the favorite Bars like the "Longhorn Saloon and the Irish Pub so some people like: John Stoddard, Jim Gunderson, Bernie Mille and Guerin Provini got right to it. Someone had to do it. Mark Nave led seven people over to Horstman Glacier for some serious powder searching. What Fun! We joined a mountain guide who showed us all the secret runs including the Crystal chair area. That is where Joe Giammarco had a Rock and Roll Yard Sale. What a sale. That night we actually found the Secret trail that allowed us to ski to our back door. Oh, Ski until the lifts closed was mandatory. We weren’t sure it was our condo until we stuck a key in and it worked. Yahooooo! Right into the Ski Locker room.

picture On Monday Mark Nave led out another group of seven Brave souls at Blackcomb. We did a little Tree skiing in an area called "In the Spirit" How could I possibly describe what happened in that very, very long tree area that took 45 minutes to conquer. I kept saying, "The Trees are my Friends, They will not Hurt Me"! Mark Nave and Greg Smith did really well while "Blackout" (Code name for someone who was suppose to be working), Ed Martin, Linda Eaton, Sherryl Hossack and I had some really good Tree Sales. Actually it was more like an Adventure of sales. At lunch we decided on Glacier Restaurant. Mark went by the turnoff sign so fast that when "Blackout" asked if he could read the sign he said "What Sign". He did the "Cannon Ball" RUN to get back to where we were all having lunch. "Cannon Ball" has a nice Nick Name sound to it?? "President Cannon Ball"?? What do you think? Others skied Whistler where Nancy Cole, John Stoddard and Terri Bostick watched Bob Widas hit a four-foot wall of snow in Harmony Bowl. "White Outs" will do that to you. Could that be a Bowl Sale? That night after Our Roman Hot Tub there were Back to Back Parties at Helga Campbell’s and then Mark’s. We then went to the Free skiing Fire jump show and fireworks followed by Sushi and drinking. Could it be true that Après is a Drinking Club with a Skiing Problem? Oh Well.

On Tuesday at Harmony bowl with a Local Guide eight of us tried Blind Deep Powder skiing. Yes, eight people had Yard Sales. Mark had his first Yard Sale on a three-foot cliff he couldn’t see. Errrrrr-Wait, I think that was a Fifteen Foot Cliff. Greg, Linda, Sherryl, "Blackout" and I tried to see it but after all it was a "White Out". That night was Dinner at the "Bavaria". Dee Askew out did herself on this one. Wow! Oh, I ended up at a table with all women. Must be the Hat?? picture Wednesday was a SNOWGASMIC day. Lots of Powder and Sunshine.. Linda, Sherryl, Ed Martin, and Mark rented their Pocket Rockets Powder Skies. Their Party was joined by Greg Smith and Bob Suzuki on Normal skies. The Pocket Rocket Group climbed up on Spanky’s Ladder and over the top to the Back Blackcomb Glacier Bowl. Ed Martin was taking pictures while braving this Adventure. See the Web sight. The big event that day was the Après Races at Whistler set up by Austin Parlette. Nancy Cole had a serious accident at the bottom of the racecourse and will be out for the season. At least she got the Free ride down in the basket. She did make it to the formal lunch on Friday at Whistler. Denise Mansfield, "Blackout" and I went up to Harmony Bowl for powder. Oh, Denise had bought new boots and rented new powder skies. Denise was so excited about being able to ski powder that she skied out into some very deep powder on a very flat area. TeeHee. It gives "Snow Bunny" a whole new meaning. What a lesson: "Never ski Deep Untracked Powder in a Flat Area". After the Roman Hot Tub, the Party was in Bob Suzuki’s room that night.

Thursday a large group of us had the Famous Waffle Breakfast at the "HUT" on top of the Crystal Chair. Mmmmmm---Mmmmmmm Good! Many of us Quit before the lifts closed to do some shopping down in the village. Whistler-Blackcomb Sweaters Popped up everywhere. Been there, Done that, Got the T-Shirt.

Friday!! Oh MY!!!! 45cm of fresh Powder had fallen over Night. There was only 80cm of Fresh powder the whole week we were there. Did I say ONLY 80cm-"What was I thinking". Example: Snowboarder had violated Denise’s rule and was buried in VERY DEEP POWDER. He climbed on his board like a Surfboard and was Swimming out. Wakes UP! On the Gondola going up, all the locals were on their phones calling every one. "Guess where I am Aaaaaa! 45cm of fresh powder so get up here Aaaaaa. Biggest one-day dump of the year. Color Us Lucky. We had lunch at the sit down dinning room at Whistler with a good turn out. See Ed Martins Photos on the Web. Alas a final party and Hot Tub that night. We all sang happy birthday to Pat Templin who had a cast on her foot.

Everyone was in a GREAT MOOD on the bus and plane ride back. Could Austria be Next?

PS: I wish I could have put everyone’s name and event in this article as Never have So Many had So Much Fun.

Note: A Yard Sale is a fall where your equipment is spread around like a Yard Sale.