Paul Christofanelli wrote:

I've never had heavier, wetter, more impossible snow than at Whistler,
above treeline ("in the alpine"). You simply would never get that kind
of snow in the Rockies, or even in CA in my (limited) experience. [clip] Ok, I didn't have fat
skis - they would've helped in that glop. Otherwise it was pretty much
unskiable (unless groomed)


Heavy, wet, glop has it's good side - once you learn how to ski it
(skinny skis work just fine, if you have good technique. and wax.) you
will find that you have the mountain pretty much to yourself. No
waiting, no crossing tracks, no people, period. (Work on your technique
- and for gawds sake dump those fat skis somewhere where a beginner can
find them - everyone will be better off...)

However, I will agree that conditions are very much better uner certain
other conditions. For example I offer a raging -10deg blizzard with
60mph winds - fresh light snow and yet again "No waiting, no crossing
tracks, no people, period." (except for a like minded few, all of whom
you know, and meet for beer while cuddling up to the woodburner in the
warming hut every hour or so. The way skiing ought to be.