The Adventure Guys » Adventure Guys

The Adventure Guys route at Whistler Blackcomb

Craig Hill — Sun, 10 Feb 2013 14:12:24 +0000

Whistler Blackcomb launched a new self-guided skiing tour program this year called Wonder Routes. The routes are fun and you can probably knock most of them out in a weekend if you are an advanced skier.

We’ve spent a great deal of time skiing these mountains and thought we’d offer The Adventure Guys route.

WHISTLERPEAK

Starting from mid-mountain on WhistlerMountain take the peak chair to the summit to take a few pictures of the Black Tusk before dropping into Whistler Bowl. Make your away across the bowl to the narrow ridge that leads to sometimes overlooked run called Doom and Gloom.

GO FOR THE GOLD

Return back up the mountain via the Big Red Express then make your way to the Dave Murray Downhill, the run used for the men’s downhill during the 2010 Olympics. When you reach the village make your way all the way back to the summit.

PEAK TO CREEK

Back on top take the longest run in North America as it descents almost a vertical mile back to village. Bonus points for making the entire run without stopping, a feat that’s considerably easier when the run is groomed. Refuel at the base with a pulled pork or brisket sandwich at Dusty’s Bar & BBQ.

FLUTE BOWL

After lunch head back up the mountain to the Symphony Express Chair (perhaps taking a detour to drop into a run off of Harmony Ridge). At the top of Symphony take the short hike to Harmony Bowl and pick your line.

PEAK 2 PEAK

Before the day gets away, hop on the $50 million Peak 2 Peak gondola and head over to BlackcombMountain. Along the way you’ll find your self more than 1,400 feet off the ground, the highest lift in world.

COULAIR EXREME

From here make your way to the 7^th Heaven Express and, if you dare and conditions permit this late in the day, try dropping into the Coulair Extreme, one of Whistler Blackcomb’s toughest runs.

THE BLOW HOLE

Take the Glacier Express, the Showcase T-Bar and then a quick hike up to the Blackcomb Glacier and the wind carved Blowhole. This is a double-diamond run you might want to skip if conditions aren’t ideal. If you pass, the glacier offers several other descents and options for touring.

ONE MORE RUN

After the glacier deposits you on the cat track grab the Excelerator Express to head up to grab another run or two.

THE VILLAGE

Finish your day in the village with a gourmet ice cream cone at Cow’s. Be sure to hop aboard the cow statue out front for a quick photo. For dinner hit any number of pricey and crowded restaurants in the village or get off the beaten path a bit and have an equally delicious meal that’s less expensive and quieter at the Wild Wood Bistro and Bar located at the Whistler Racquet Club.

10 Hidden Gems of Washington

Craig Hill — Mon, 14 May 2012 17:22:07 +0000

The Adventure Guys recently spoke at Pierce College where we gave a presentation on 10 Hidden Gems of Washington. Some of our recommendations were new twists on well known locations (like hiking off trail and retired trails at Mount Rainier) and others areas that don’t get many visitors from Western Washington (like Sullivan Lake in the Northeast corner of the state.)

Here are some resources to get you started if you want to visit these 10 locations:

1. Cape Flattery

http://www.northolympic.com/capeflatterytrail/

2. Moses Lake

http://www.moses-lake.com/

3. Central Washington

http://www.dnr.wa.gov/RecreationEducation/Topics/HarvestingCollecting/Pages/fossil_collecting.aspx

Stonerose Interpretive Center: http://www.stonerosefossil.org/

4. Rainier off trail

http://www.nps.gov/mora/index.htm

(You should speak with a ranger before any backcountry trip. Also speak with them about off trail travel.)

5. Sullivan Lake and Colville National Forest

http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/colville/recreation/recarea/?recid=72092

6. Ross Lake

http://www.nps.gov/noca/index.htm

Ross Lake Resort: http://www.rosslakeresort.com/

7. Upper Columbia

http://farnorthcharters.com

8. South Whidbey Island

http://www.visitlangley.com/

9. Salt Creek Recreation Area

http://www.clallam.net/Parks/SaltCreek.html

10. Washington’s Channeled Scablands

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/05/13/2140195/glaciers-floods-leave-behind-a.html

Frenchman Coulee: Trip reports from the WTA. http://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/frenchman-coulee

Video of skier buried alive by avalanche shows importance of having correct back country equipment, skills

Craig Hill — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 17:16:06 +0000

Hey guys, for the 1,328th time, the Adventure Guys would like to remind you how important it is to have the appropriate skills and tools before skiing in the backcountry. That includes knowing what to do in the event you are trapped in an avalanche.

Check out this video. Watch how quietly and easily this avalanche buries this skier. Thanks to dailyhiker.com for pointing this video out to us this morning.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tbuk9AyEap8

Here’s the message the avalanche victim posted along with the video:

This is the footage of me getting buried in an avalanche in Verbier, Switzerland on the 28th of february in 2011. My friends spotted and excavated me within five minutes even though I was buried at a depth of between 1.5-2 metres. Luckily I was wearing the right equipment and managed to create an air pocket in front of my mouth by holding my hands in front of my face when the avalanche stopped moving.

Uploaded this for everyone to watch and learn. Stay safe friends!

For local avalanche reports visit nwac.us