The cold snap enveloping most of Western Canada has some great benefits for those of us who ride and ski the local Vancouver mountains.

Much needed snow has dumped on Mt. Seymour, Grouse Mountain, and Cypress Mountain providing the best conditions we’ve had since early in the season.  (I still ride Cypress by choice, but Grouse clearly has the best website, and my kids prefer it).

Oldest son and I spent some quality time together on Cypress earlier this week where I discovered that dad can’t quite keep up with a lanky 17 year old.

We had one interesting ‘media’ moment – waiting in line for the lift, just looking around, I spotted at least 5 GoPro cameras mounted on helmets.   I had mine mounted to the front of my board, but was also shooting with a Drift HD hand-held – the photo above is a still from that footage.

If you’re in Canada and are looking for one, check out Launch Helmet Cams based in North Vancouver – they’ll get it out to you quick, have great prices, and superb after sales service.

Watch this video on YouTube.

The cloud restricted visibility for a bit this morning, but by 11:00 it moved off and we had some great riding on Cypress Mountain.

This is at the lower end of the Eagle Express chair – could use another big dump of snow any day now, thanks.

That.s my story, and I’m sticking to it.

After turning up the Cypress Bowl road it became apparent very quickly that it was blue skies all the way. Just as Snowboard Expert had noted earlier in the week, things up top were the exact opposite of down in the city.

For one, the sun was shining brilliantly. For two – it was a lot warmer up there. In fact, as I rode the lift this morning, I could feel the temperature rising. A classic weather inversion (not really a pineapple express – there’s little or no wind).

By 10 this morning it was plus 6 celsius – and heading to 10 or 11 for the day. Back at my house in North Vancouver, the temperature stayed steady at around freezing most of the morning.

At the top of Black Mountain, I had to unzip my jacket – 3 guys went by me in t-shirts.

I grabbed a shot with my point-n-shoot (I don’t bring my Nikon to the hill) of downtown Vancouver poking its head above the blanket of fog. Interesting aspect of Vancouver you don’t see very often. (click for a full frame version)

Over in the other direction, Howe Sound is draped in a huge blanket of fog

So, if you’re feeling hemmed in by the fog, head UP UP UP to where the sun’s shining.

There’s something eerie about riding a chairlift into heavy morning fog.

This was around 9 this morning at Cypress, and riding up the deserted Midway chair (above) the light drizzle added to the mood. Near the top left of the frame you can see some boarders shrouded in the fog

Adding to quirkiness of the morning – the distinct smell of garlic about a third of the way down the Horizon run. Not sure if it was successfully warding off whatever was lurking in the fog, but it sure made me hungry.

Looking over my right shoulder on the way up the lift this morning I could see Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands in the background. The trees in Stanley Park are the only indication the city is down there – somewhere underneath the cloud cover.

We knew right away it was going to be a busy day on the hill – arriving at 9am the upper lot was already full, which is quite unusual, even with an 8 am opening.

It was snowing and significantly cooler – with a crisp wind blowing down the face of Mt. Strachan as we rode the left. Wind in the face up means wind on our back coming down, so that’s not so bad.

Seemed to us to be the busiest day on the hill so far this season – probably the allure of 50 plus cm’s of new snow and decent driving conditions in Vancouver for the first time in days. Usually when it gets busy we’ll hit Midway chair to avoid the lineups, but it and Skychair were closed today – probably because of the wind.

I can’t say I like Cypress’s new system of checking passes and tickets in the lift lines instead of at an entry gate. It means digging my pass out from inside my jacket which usually means taking off my gloves and fumbling with my zipper, then having to get things back together again. Not a big deal but a bit of a nuisance, especially since the zipper toggle on my jacket it broken. Hmmm, wonder if that’s a good enough reason to get a new one …

The conditions were spectacular – so much snow it just brings a big smile to your face.

Usually when we head home, we leave the snow behind, driving down into the dull greens of a Vancouver winter. This week however, we’re heading home to a snow filled driveway. Very odd indeed.

The only disappointment of the day is the new Cypress Creek Grill Dining Room in the new lodge. The building in beautiful and huge, but the food is only just so-so, way overpriced, and the lineups to get food and then pay are  long and slow.

We’ll be packing a lunch from now on.

While the rest of the household was sleeping, I packed my gear and headed up to Cypress for the first run of 09.   It was snowing when I left North Vancouver, Starbucks wasn’t even open, but the promise of fresh powder fueled me just fine on the trip up Cypress Bowl road.

Starting the year in knee deep powder riding a freshly waxed snowboard is as good as it gets.

If the rest of the year unfolds as well – it should be a good 009

Not very busy for a holiday Sunday  – probably the heavy snow in Vancouver over the last few days is keeping people away.

Though they need more snow, it’s still great to get on at least a few runs at Cypress.