/https%3A%2F%2F33mag.com%2Fapp%2Fuploads%2F2014%2F01%2Fislanders-stoked-hit-slopes-164431.jpg)
Listening to fresh electro tunes on the way up a heavily-sanded winding road to embrace just as fresh a coating of snow, emotions ran high. A snowplow cut a wide swath as it passed us on its way down. It had been so long waiting for this moment that only the die-hard remained on Vancouver Island awaiting a chance at controlled vertical drop. Many adventure seeking roommates and liftie friends had already cut their losses after the ski season decided to take raincheck after raincheck. But at this second — 8:59:59 a.m. on January 12 to be precise — everything seemed right.
Arriving at the top of Mount Washington's Whiskey Jack chair — the only non-beginner lift besides Hawk open — a gaggle of snow enthusiasts prepped for the thrill they had been craving for so long. Snowboarders flipped through .mp3 tracks seeking that perfect soundtrack to the lines they would pick down the mountain in real time. Others posed for selfies. Cloud cover was a factors but the fog mingling among trees and hills in the deep valleys below gave the place an almost mysterious feel. It wasn't grey on grey. It was more bluish white snow on a landscape purpleish green treed background.
It was interesting to watch how the snow progressed throughout the day. The fear down in the mountainside towns below was the facility would open as soon as physically possible, meaning dodging rocks and stumps might all be part of the game. This caused many to alter their gear selection accordingly — unnecessarily it turned out. There was a bigger challenge at play. The upshot: It was easy to get stuck.
A series of snowfalls had created a scenario where delightful powder could trap you once you bailed into it, since pushing back up from one layer of snow to stand up would cause your arms to suddenly discover another couple feet of snow beneath that.
But by the the same token it was impossible for you to hurt yourself. Catch an edge at a breakneck pace and land full-bore on your head? No problem. Attempt a trick you've never done before and totally overshoot the landing? No worries. A pillow-soft touchdown was guaranteed in either case for the vast majority of the day.
What was a bit more challenging was the tufts and troughs that developed as some lines got worn in while polkadots of fresh precipitation stayed powdery. This created an almost mogul-like effect to either be embraced or avoided — depending on your outlook. By the end of the day the main runs became packed fairly consistently and created a perfect balance for both beginners and more experienced riders.
All this meant skiiers and snowboarders got a thorough workout throughout the course of the afternoon. No wonder Ted's was bustling with traffic as people grabbed a brew or a burger after mountain fun. Given the palpable excitement on the first day, it's clear if it stays cold enough, the intensity of each day on the hill will be its own force to be reckoned with.
