February 7, 2016 by Jenn Chan

The sun was shining as we wound our way up the Seymour Mountain Parkway. The snow seemed to double with each switchback up the mountainside and my excitement grew in turn.

I pulled up to children laughing and a bustle of activity; a small swarm of pre-teens swirled by nipping at the heels of their ski instructor and a group of seniors cheerfully chatting and tucking their skis away into their station wagon after an early day on the mountain.

A boarder enjoying the view before heading down

Even after the sun went down the enthusiasm amongst the Seymour faithful did not die down noticeably. To say Seymour is family friendly would be an understatement! There was ample terrain for the novice through expert riders and enough surprises to make the day fun for the Olympian or armchair quarterback.

Thank you for having us up Mount Seymour! Happy Family Day weekend everyone!

photos: Jenn Chan Photography
words: Scott Allan

WINTER IN BC 2015/16 - WHISTLER / February 1, 2016 by Jenn Chan

Happy Pride Weekend up at Whistler! My weekend was filled with fun, adventure, and relaxation - sounds pretty perfect to me!

Whistler was named the best ski resort on Earth by Ultratravel for 2015 - 2016; Earth. The 30 year old bible of snow sports, Ski Magazine, named it best in North America and it takes all of 10 minutes to see why! With over 110 different runs you would have to go once a day, every day, forever, to learn them all by name. Even the charming Australian Lifties will scratch their head if you ask by name, "what does it look like?" they'll reply. The terrain is so diverse, the snow, especially in the alpine areas, so fluffy and inviting and the energy of the mountain so uplifting you will wish they stayed open past 3 PM so you could soak it in a all day and night.

Looking down from the Chairlift towards Whistler Village

Lots of Skiers & Snowboarders came out for some fun on the mountains!

Roundhouse Lodge & Peak2Peak at the top of Whistler Mountain

The Peak 2 Peak is a 4.4 KM long Gondola that connects Whistler & Blackcomb mountain. It's the longest and highest lift in the world with breathtaking views. The Peak 2 Peak Gondola isn't only built for the skiers & snowboarders, but also for sightseers in the winter and summer. There is 1 cabin every 49 seconds, and takes about 11 minutes to travel from one mountain to the other.

Snowing heavily on the Peak 2 Peak ride through the valley

Rendezvous Lodge at the top of Blackcomb Mountain proudly adorning a Pride flag

A snack hut brings many Whiskey Jacks close, hoping to dive in for a snack.

When night falls, the vibe of the village changes, and transforms into a vibrant town filled with party-goers.

Speaking of night... Even before the accolades for terrain and ski conditions were raining, sorry snowing, down on Whistler it was ranked, and high, in nearly every ski and snowboard publication on Earth for après ski activities. As soon as the sun goes down the music goes up and the sleepy town filled with charming shops gets a little bit Vegas - In a good way! Free community events, this past weekend Whistler's Gay Pride festivities, light up the public squares, bars and pubs glow with light and the action is taken indoors (when it's not also on many pubs' massive, heated, snow-licked patios).

Overlooking the hot tubs & pool at Cascade Lodge, looking towards the Village.  The little light spots at the top of the photo are Mountain Groomers heading up and down the runs. — Overlooking the hot tubs & pool at Cascade Lodge, looking towards the Village. The little light spots at the top of the photo are Mountain Groomers heading up and down the runs.

Christmas lights are up in Whistler - creating a fewtiv

After a night of partying, there's no better way to recuperate than to go up to the famous Scandinave Spa for a day of relaxing in their baths & massages.

Tranquil trail leading to the Scandinave Spa

Thanks for having us, Whistler! It was fun to play outside for the weekend for a mini-getaway! Happy Golden Anniversary, Whistler - Here's to another 50 years!

words: Scott Allan
photos: Jenn Chan Photography

Sea To Sky Gondola: Winter Edition / January 29, 2016 by Jenn Chan

I'm so happy to finally have the chance to check out the iconic Sea To Sky Gondola! The $22 million Gondola began their operations in May 2014, and has been popular with tourists & locals since! There are 20 gondolas on the line and rises 885m from the base area to the Summit. On the ride up, you can see views of the Northshore Mountains, Shannon Falls, and the Sea to Sky Hwy & Howe Sound below you.

Once you get up to the Summit, there's a Summit Lodge with a large outdoor deck, complete with amazing views of Squamish.

The 110m long Sky Pilot Suspension Bridge connects the First Nations Spirit Deck to various walking & hiking trails.

There are a few walking & hiking trails once you're up there, like the First Nations Spirit Trail and the Panorama Trail. We took the Panorama Trail, which is about 1.6km towards the Stawamus Chief Viewing Platform.

Looking out on the Chief Viewing Platform

It was so nice to be able to head out into nature and explore! It was great taking in some breathtaking views & fresh air! Thanks for having us, Sea to Sky Gondola!

Have a great weekend everyone!