May as well start and finish in Seattle.Changed my mind, I like this better
Sun Peaks 2020-2021
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Also, if you are driving through Sandpoint, seems a shame not to ski at Schweitzer.Changed my mind, I like this better
To provide some context to this post and "prevalence", there are very big differences between Ontario & Quebec, and British Columbia. This is taken from the New York Times Covid stats site (which I've checked against the BC stats (as they are the easiest to check against as you can download the data into Excel) and it's accurate: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/world/canada/canada-coronavirus-cases.html#states
Quebec's past 7 day case average is 936 cases per day, with a positivity rate of 3.5%. 80 cases per 100,000.
Ontario's past 7 day case average is 624 cases per day, with a positivity rate of 1.8%. 32 cases per 100,000.
British Columbia's past 7 day average is 105 cases per day, with a positivity rate of 1.3% 16 cases per 100,000.
Covid is not as prevalent in British Columbia as it is Quebec and Ontario. Ontario is experiencing six times the cases of BC, and Quebec has nine times the cases, in total. Population adjusted to per 100,000 people, Ontario has twice the rate of BC and Quebec has five times the rate of BC.
Right now across Canada there's a surge in cases. End of summer Covid complacency and the under 40s not GAF seems to be the main driver in BC, as the vast majority of new cases are in the under 40 set. Our Chief Health Officer, Dr Bonnie Henry, is looking most closely at the positivity rate as the indicator of how widespread Covid is in the community.
Outside of Atlantic Canada (the eastern maritime provinces), provincial governments have pursued "mild" suppression strategies. In BC, most businesses other than those that require large groups of people indoors at close quarters (ie, virtually all performing arts and cultural activities) remain open, with physical distancing and reduced capacity measures (especially for restaurants) in place. The ski resorts I am looking to visit this winter have announced they'll be open with various physical distancing measures in place. My accommodation at Sun Peaks, Revelstoke, Panorama and Whistler is booked and tickets bought. Fingers crossed the ski season goes ahead.
I was asked to compare West and East. I'm no expert on COVID in Canada, as I haven't been following it closely. So I picked Vancouver and Quebec City. If there are better examples please post them.
I'm just quoting the figures displayed on the Canadian Govt health website. Here's today's figures.
Coastal BC as we fly in here : About 1400 cases in 14 days. So about a 100 a day.
Quebec : About 2000 cases in 14 days. So about 145 a day
https://health-infobase.canada.ca/covid-19/covidtrends/?HR=591,595,2403&mapOpen=true
BTW 2,804 cases yesterday. A new record high.
Interior Health region (southern half of BC excluding metro Vancouver) currently has 2 active cases. The north and the island are also near zero, virtually all cases are in metro Vancouver. Even in the city things are managing well considering the relaxed restrictions, and there are just 60 hospitalized in the whole province.
The figure you have is for the national capital region, ie, metro Ottawa which straddles the Ontario- Quebec border. Today alone Quebec reported 1200 cases, and has exceeded a thousand new cases four days in a row now. They are very much the worst performer in Canada, accounting for half of all cases and two thirds of deaths.
There are very big differences between Ontario & Quebec (the province; not just Quebec City), and British Columbia. This is taken from the New York Times Covid stats site (which I've checked against the BC stats (as they are the easiest to check against as you can download the data into Excel) and it's accurate: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/world/canada/canada-coronavirus-cases.html#states
Quebec's past 7 day case average is 936 cases per day, with a positivity rate of 3.5%. 80 cases per 100,000.
Ontario's past 7 day case average is 624 cases per day, with a positivity rate of 1.8%. 32 cases per 100,000.
British Columbia's past 7 day average is 105 cases per day, with a positivity rate of 1.3% 16 cases per 100,000.
Covid is not as prevalent in British Columbia as it is Quebec and Ontario. Ontario is experiencing six times the cases of BC, and Quebec has nine times the cases, in total. Population adjusted to per 100,000 people, Ontario has twice the rate of BC and Quebec has five times the rate of BC. This page provides some good comparisons on a total cases basis since the pandemic started: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection.html
As @sly_karma has observed, what's happening in BC is not really comparable with what's happening in Quebec and Ontario. As the figures above show, Covid in BC is nowhere near as prevalent as it is in Ontario and Quebec. It was also reported on the news here tonight that the R number for BC has dropped back below 1. If that continues, the downward trajectory of cases in BC will continue.
I see there is a little bit of snow in the SP forecast over the next 5 days, (11cm mid mountain and 2cm in the village) (and yes (this will probably disappear form the forecast)
Nice time of year, when the days get shorter and the temps are already dropping with lows in the village down to -3
Typically this would be a great time of year with the anticipationn of the ski season just around the corner. I hope there is still that excitement in the air despite the issues
Travel bubble with Australia to those zones? Or travel bubble within those zones?
Pathetic , I know, but just checked the SP webcams.
Snow.
Early ground cooler and perhaps a harbinger for the season?
Looks good for the long range forecasts. while we are enjoying the Oz summer.
Yup, it is puking in SP. Ho hum. I will be living this season vicariously through the locals. For me, first season in 21 years I won't be there. Let's hope 2021 we can all get back. Have heard some of the glass half empty folk spruking that we won't see Aus to BC flights until mid 2022
I refuse to believe that. Historically, the Spanish flu was done after a couple of years. vaccine, treatments and natural history of virus prevalence slowly waning tells me that we will get our two weeks SP , one week SS in 2022.Yup, it is puking in SP. Ho hum. I will be living this season vicariously through the locals. For me, first season in 21years I won't be there. Let's hope 2021 we can all get back. Have heard some of the glass half empty folk spruking that we won't see Aus to BC flights until mid 2022
I’m sticking to that line of thought until proven otherwise and am starting to look at bookings already..
glass half empty be damned!
I’d like to think the same way. But has society become a bit soft since 1920? Politicians will now take the populist route.I refuse to believe that. Historically, the Spanish flu was done after a couple of years. vaccine, treatments and natural history of virus prevalence slowly waning tells me that we will get our two weeks SP , one week SS in 2022.
I’m sticking to that line of thought until proven otherwise and am starting to look at bookings already..
glass half empty be damned!
Who knows what is in store.
Agree, especially since it has been snowing there today and overnight
https://www.sunpeaksresort.com/bike-hike/weather-webcams/webcams
There will be lots of families up there this weekend, combine Thanksgiving with cabin opening and winter prep chores. The kids will love the snow, adults will have to bundle up a bit for their firewood cutting.
I refuse to believe that. Historically, the Spanish flu was done after a couple of years. vaccine, treatments and natural history of virus prevalence slowly waning tells me that we will get our two weeks SP , one week SS in 2022.
I’m sticking to that line of thought until proven otherwise and am starting to look at bookings already..
glass half empty be damned!
Well I hope you are right my friend and we even share a few runs in SP and look back and reflect what was. Love the optimism
Happened to see news that a software company called Aspenware is happily providing all sorts of new functions for Sun Peaks, including integrating SkiData RFID data into the pass/ticket system. Aspenware is based in Denver, has been around since 2010, and Sun Peaks is it's first customer outside the USA.
https://aspenware.com/news/oh-canada-welcome-to-the-aspenware-family/
Lots of activity going on. Many groups renting homes. Nice to see a diverse group. The SE Asians are really embracing Winter sports. Three generations playing ball hockey on our street Grandpa in the net.
Once ski resorts are back in full swing, we will have a new crop of skiers/boarders to enhance the financial health of the Resorts.
Lots of activity going on. Many groups renting homes. Nice to see a diverse group. The SE Asians are really embracing Winter sports. Three generations playing ball hockey on our street Grandpa in the net.
Once ski resorts are back in full swing, we will have a new crop of skiers/boarders to enhance the financial health of the Resorts.
Amazing how a bit of snow just transforms a resort. My friend, I saw some footage of some testing of the new Crystal Chair. Theory is to have it ready on opening day?? Won't be seeing you at 8.15 every morning this season unfortunately. Cross fingers for 2021. Hope Mr Hudson is well and remains the wild beast that he is
Amazing how a bit of snow just transforms a resort. My friend, I saw some footage of some testing of the new Crystal Chair. Theory is to have it ready on opening day?? Won't be seeing you at 8.15 every morning this season unfortunately. Cross fingers for 2021. Hope Mr Hudson is well and remains the wild beast that he is
Mr Hudson is now 10 but still feisty.
Snow guns going the past few days. It’s cold enough. The RFID infrastructure is being installed at the base of each chair.
Apex started the guns this week too. Snow forecast in the valleys tonight. If it happens, it'll be the first time I've seen snow at valley floor in October in the 27 years I've been here year round.We're booked in for 4 nights from December 5 utilising the MC pass. So glad to see the early snow. There will be a ski season! I'll be sure to post some pics.
10-20 cm fell in the valleys, depending on where you were. Several southern interior towns and cities set new records for earliest snowfall since beginning of record keeping.
@Gumbie, when you say "utilising" the MC pass, what does that mean?
I'm doing a trip starting at Sun Peaks in mid-Feb (going to Revelstoke and Panorama (and Kelowna @main street and Penticton @sly_karma - details to come)). Accommodation is all booked, but as yet Sun Peaks hasn't said one "uses" the MP pass there. Do you have any further information about this?
Yep, and if you purchased early enough, a bonus third day, then 50% off day tix.
But no information yet about one collects one's MC pass (SP is the first MC destination to which I'm going) or how one reserves one's ski days.Yep, I have 2 days at Sun Peaks. Mrs Gumbie and Teen Gumbie have MC. Miss Gumbie has grade 5 pass, 2 days at all resorts. The third day I'll want to grab for half price, but we might just enjoy family snowtubing, snowshoeing, shopping and lunching. We stop at Revelstoke for another 4 nights on the way back to Calgary. I nominated the third included day for Revelstoke. I've emailed MC to see if you can change your nomination but only received an automated 'busy' email. I haven't followed up with a phone call. November weekends will be spent at Sunshine and Lake Louise. Over Christmas we'll be at Kicking Horse, Fernie (NH epic) and Panorama. A day at Nakiska and Mt Norquay and I'll have made up for lost time over spring break and Easter earlier this year. Hopefully we fly home on January 7, booked Cathay Pacific via honkers. Air Canada has been cancelling fellow teacher exchange flights throughout December. Tough times for some with refunds not being given.
I see that one of the Banff resorts is opening the earliest ever (or 95 years) , Silverstar and Big White have decent snow and Sun Peaks is away. Looks great, seems a long long way away
The MCP doesn't work like Ikon or Epic where you have the same card good at all locations the entire season. You end up with a "season pass" card at each MCP location you get to for a given season. Eventually instructions for pick up will be on the MCP website (click on Pass Pickup in the menu line) for all resorts.
For resorts that use RFID, sometimes can use the same RFID card for more than one season. The first time I used the MCP at Jackson Hole, I had to pay $5 for the RFID card. Wasn't too happy. At Alta, an MCP holder gets a new RFID card every season but it's free.
Most resorts allow linking a credit card so that the pass card can be used to charge additional days, food, or purchases at a resort shop, but it's optional.Last edited:
Thanks so much @MarzNC . I've not used MCP before so was a bit uncertain about the mechanics. This is very helpful - I know what to do now!
so pictureseque and fantasyworld-like
I think the fencing on the left of the pic is new, and I havent seen those wooden tables/chairs on the right hand side before
Still in summer mode. Even at elevation no one was ready for snow in October.
Nordic trails got deeper as we climbed in elevation. A great base with deep powder.
Skiable now with backcountry Nordic skis.
Not a great photo but you may be able to see the tracks on the lower pitch of Blazer or could it have been Run Away Lane. That’s the Sumner grooming at work. The tracks come from the top. Yesterday.
The sun has compressed the early snows. it varies according to the orientation to the sun.
once you are above the top of Cruiser, I would say it could be 20-30 cm. Just a guess.
We are Nordic skiing with the local hiking club up to the top of Morrisey via the Nordic trails tomorrow. Will report back.
The draconian rules for Covid are finally being questioned worldwide. The collateral damage is huge here as elsewhere where tourism is the driver. In this case the cure is worse than the disease. I am surprised that there aren’t more protests in Melbourne. Who’s running the show there and what’s their agenda. Very low deaths. The cycle of revolution is here.
Would be great to keep Victorian political discussion out of a public Canadian ski resort reporting thread.The sun has compressed the early snows. it varies according to the orientation to the sun.
once you are above the top of Cruiser, I would say it could be 20-30 cm. Just a guess.
We are Nordic skiing with the local hiking club up to the top of Morrisey via the Nordic trails tomorrow. Will report back.
The draconian rules for Covid are finally being questioned worldwide. The collateral damage is huge here as elsewhere where tourism is the driver. In this case the cure is worse than the disease. I am surprised that there aren’t more protests in Melbourne. Who’s running the show there and what’s their agenda. Very low deaths. The cycle of revolution is here.
About five years ago it was moved from it’s original location above the Village Poma to that location. Serves as the beginner area.
I guess we won’t be seeing anyone from that jurisdiction in Canada for awhile. Just don’t tell them and they won’t know otherwise or be offended.
You will see people from Victoria at the same time as people from the rest of Australia.
Grab yourself a puece of SP history.
The old Crystal chairs are up for sale.
https://www.sunpeaksresort.com/explore/news-updates/own-a-piece-of-sun-peaks-history
$5 gets you a raffle entry for one of 80 chairs.
