It’s been an awesome week over here. The snow has been falling on top of the mountain continually since we arrived, so much so that Blackcomb opened yesterday, 3 weeks early! It’s the earliest opening for 20 years. It snowed at the village level on Friday for the first time, which was a nice change from the rain. The snow had melted outside our place within an hour or so however there was still a dusting on both mountains the whole way up for the opening yesterday.

I got up early this morning after a big night out and hit the slopes at 8:30am. The sky was blue, the lift queues were short and the snow was plentiful. Couldn’t have asked for a better first day on the hill. I met a girl from Sydney and a guy from Christchurch heading up the Solar Coaster lift and hung out with them for the rest of the morning. For early season snow, it is great up there. It’s a bit chopped up from the 5000 people who shared 4 lifts yesterday (I didn’t bother with the crowd, and I the roof was still spinning from Friday night’s dinner party). As you get a bit further down, you need some grass skiing skills but the top is great. We stopped for lunch at about 11 and I had a burger and fries for just under $10. It was just what I needed though. Came out after that feeling totally energised. Did a few more runs and then I left the group to meet up with Phill. Waited around for about half an hour but he didn’t show so I took the Wizard Express down the mountain and came home. Turns out the guy that I rode the lift down with was the Senior Vice President of Blackcomb Mountain. He thanked me for taking time off my career and calling his mountain home.

My new boots are great. I can’t believe I’ve been using those crappy old ones for so long. Best hundred bucks I’ve ever spent.

In other news, I got a job. I’m the Lead Hand in the Storage department at Glacier Creek, which is a bistro half way up Blackcomb. Apparently Lead Hand means that I am the boss so I guess my engineering degree must have impressed them. First (and only) training session is this Wednesday and Glacier Creek opens on Friday, so I could be working as early as then. It will be nice to start adding some funds to the pot again.

Last night was the Jill Ackhurst Community Welcome Dinner at the Telus Whistler Conference Centre. It was an opportunity for the new employees to meet some of the locals. They mixed the tables so that every table had a few newbies and a few locals. Over 700 people attended. It was nice night and all for just $2.

After dinner, we went across the street to Tapleys for a few pints of Molson Canadian and to watch the Canucks go down 1-0 to the Flames. We met a couple of chicks from Novascoscia. Quite a novelty to meet some Canadians for a change.

At about 10:30 Dave, Phill and I headed over to Tommy Africa’s to see Roger Sanchez lay down a cooking 4 hour set. My ears are still ringing but it was worth it.


We got chatting to a girl (Anna) from Melbourne on Friday at the bus stop who has been travelling around the world with her boyfriend (Andrew) for the past six months. We had already made plans for a dinner party around at Phills condo for that night, so we invited them around. I whipped up a curry and Dave threw together a lovely Cuss Cuss salad, without the Cuss Cuss.

Phill had a fine selection of B.C. Merlot for us to sample.

We even purchased a complete range of chocolates to accompany the wine, ranging from Extra Creamy to 70% to 85% to 99% cocoa.

99% cocoa chocolate has a label inside the packet warning that it is an acquired taste that should be worked up to. We heeded the warning and worked up to it a block at a time. For those curious as to the flavour of 99% cocoa chocolate, take a pair of leather shoes and eat the soles. Everyone had a fantastic night, however after 12 bottles of red between the 7 of us (three were one litre bottles!), there were a few sore heads the next day.

Phill has a rental car at the moment so we took a road trip down to Squamish on Thursday. It’s an amazing town totally enclosed by mountains and sheer granite out crops in all directions. Unfortunately it was overcast and drizzling the whole time we were there however there were a few moments when the clouds receded and the views are spectacular. Despite the natural beauty of the place, it is a Red Neck, country, American town where the size of the man is judged by the size of his pick up truck. We had lunch at Boston Pizza, picked up a few essentials from Canadian Tire (a cross between a hardware and a sports store) and Fillies (Crazy Clarks), then high tailed it out of there before the road closed for the night road works. So much construction going on between Vancouver and Whistler for the 2010 Winter Olympics.

So all is well here. I can’t believe I’ve only been gone for two weeks. Thinking of you all. Justin.