Singing Pass 2025/01/02

Solo ski from Whistler Village up the Singing Pass Trail to the Musical Bumps Trail and into the resort

• Favorable conditions predicted for the day
• Route greatly minimizes avalanche exposure, maximizes emergency options

Will have Garmin tracking on throughout

• https://share.garmin.com/tjkopena

Route map

Conditions

Trails

Singing Pass Trail in great shape

• Snow all the way down to the bottom (firsthand observation)
• Negligible creek crossing challenges (MIN report 2024/12/29)

Harmony, Symphony, and Peak Chair have been consistently opening the past week

Expect people to be around (for good/bad)

• E.g., Kees & Claire Hut near the route is booked up

Daylight

Daylight for Whistler on Jan 2:

Weather

Forecast favorable as of night before

• MTN Forecast Whistler Peak: Light wind (5kmh SSW), light flurries, cloudy (low in afternoon), -8C
• MTN Forecast Fissile Peak: Light wind (10kmh SSW), light flurries, cloudy, -9C
• Avalanche CA weather summary: Cloudy, light snow
• Whistler-Blackcomb weather forecast: -8C, cloudy w/ isolated flurries, calm

Avalanches

Avalanche CA forecast moderate as of night before

• Alpine: Moderate
• Treeline: Moderate
• Below Treeline: Low

Problems

• Wind Slab
  • Alpine, Treeline; N/W/E slopes; possible chance; size 1--2

Avalanche CA is predicting more new snow Thursday than other sources

• Avalanche risk will increase over course of day if born out

Avalanche CA decision matrix is green

• ATES rated Simple to Challenging terrain crossed with Low to Moderate risk forecast

(note that "Spearhead Traverse" in Trip Planner panel is name of this ATES region, not the route)

Route

https://caltopo.com/m/1CTJV2D

Itinerary

Depart village ~0600

Singing Pass Trail

• 7.3 miles, 3600 feet gain
• Est. 4--6 hours
• Trailhead is by the Blackcomb Way bus stations, then along the tree edge for a few minutes on climber's left by Fitzsimmons chair and Whistler Gondola
• Forestry road in dense trees most of the way, gladed traverse for much of remainder
• Has some avalanche risk from above, especially in section between Emerald and Symphony chairs, but well defined by tree cuts and very quickly crossed (tens of meters wide)

Option: Kees & Claire Hut

• If arrive at junction on early side of estimate and conditions still good (no significant new snow), may out & back to the hut to check it out
• 2.7 miles, 900 feet gain
• Est. 2 hours traveling
• Minimal avalanche risk (low slope angles)

Musical Bumps Trail

• 2.18 miles, 1200 feet gain
• Est. 2 hours
• Minimal avalanche risk (low slope angles)

Enter the Whistler resort at the Flute Bowl and Symphony chair area

Total travel

• ~12.5 miles, 5700 feet gain
• Estimated 8--10 hours

Risk Management

Navigation should be straightforward

• Majority of Singing Pass Trail is extremely well defined
• Should be clear tracks to follow throughout area
  • Singing Pass is primary egress path outside the resort
  • Musical Bumps is main ingress/egress to/from resort
  • Kees & Claire Hut has been & is fully booked for weeks
  • New snow has been minimal for several days
• Will have digital maps/GPS, and compass for emergency

Avalanche risk should be very minimized

• Risk overall is forecast to be only low to moderate
• Whole route is in trees and/or on very low angle terrain that is extremely unlikely to slide
• Musical Bumps area broadly accepted as low risk for general travel

Emergency Plans

Singing Pass is straightforward egress from the area and the route has no commitment

• Can simply turn around at any point

Will have extra layers, water, and food; can bunker down for some time if needed

Should be people around

• Will have beacon/probe/shovel with me in case wind up with group and/or need to assist

Resort is close by and SAR access comparatively fast & easy, conditions permitting

Multiple communication options on hand

• Phone reception is plausible throughout
• Garmin inReach
• SARSAT beacon

Wearing tested & charged avalanche air bag as well as beacon