Yep, it's game on. After failing miserably to ski two weeks ago, and narrowly missing a heli trip up to the glacier, I needed vengeance big time. And so began the desperate weather watching, hoping that one day soon, the Whistler area would be shreddable once again. We all saw what was lining up for Saturday... not to be missed.

Jordan, Pat & I joined up for a Saturday backcountry shred day. After spending an hour debating over where to head, we blew right past Brandywine (aka the place we all know there was the most snow) and headed North to the Duffey, with day dreams of clear skis and peak bagging drifint through our heads.

All photos by Jordan Manley.

Fresh snow down to the village in Whistler was a good start, and so begins another epic season in the Pacific Northwest.

Keen to explore somewhere Jordan and I handn't been, Pat ripped us up Blowdown pass in his truck and out we went to check out the snow... all uh, 10cm's of it on top of dirt. Hmmmmm, had we blown it? Were people getting mad faceshots in Brandywine while us no-snowmobile suckers were left with scraps? We weren't giving up yet.

So we skinned as far as we could, romped through a boulder field, climbed some bushes and trees, shimmied up a shallow chute then booted up to the top of Gotcha Peak.

It didn't dissapoint... the weather stayed clear, the snow was juicy up top, good times were had by all, and nobody's body or boards were maimed in the process. Well, not completely maimed.

But on the road out, the snow had largely melted, and Jordan kept his skis on the whole way out. Afterall, the last time they were used was for Gaper Day in June, so coming full circle back to his rock skiing roots seemed fitting.

Anyway, point made, it's mid October, and the shredding was sweet. Next stop... pre-season Baker when the storms hit.

Pat has some good jealousy-inducing photos of his own in
PAT'S BLOG>>

And here's some from Jordan...