Garbanzo

[Identity]

What are your guys thoughts on the second season of the Garbanzo extension? I know it's not supposed to open up til later on in June, but I saw some machinery doing some work on the bottom of Freight Train as I was on my way to DM. Last year, Garbanzo was my favourite part of the park, as the trails seemed to be more natural and had a hell of a lot less traffic. What are you guys looking forward to this year?

[drummer_dil]

the trail from the very very top that u wont need a guide to access anymore!

[FlipFantasia]

second season? it's the third by my count......

[patrolskid]

drummer ( and anyone else ) . . . . the trail from the very top is upper whisky jack , which is that ski run under the gondola when you get near the top . that will be the only thing you can ride down , basically just another way to access the garb trails . the idea is to get more rider traffic going past the roundhouse , where you might like to stop for lunch or snacks between runs . the chic pea thing just didn't make sense to staff and stock it for relatively few numbers .

riders going anywhere other than the designated trails will kindly be asked to leave the premises . . . .

[Rosscofat]

in other words. dont be dicks. ride safe and eat at roundhouse! YUM YUM!!!!

[trouble]

damn and I was hoping to ride out to cowboy ridge and ride a 15km downhill down singing pass.

[2cents]

second season? it's the third by my count......

Yup... fourth if you know the right people.

[drummer_dil]

drummer ( and anyone else ) . . . . the trail from the very top is upper whisky jack , which is that ski run under the gondola when you get near the top . that will be the only thing you can ride down , basically just another way to access the garb trails . the idea is to get more rider traffic going past the roundhouse , where you might like to stop for lunch or snacks between runs . the chic pea thing just didn't make sense to staff and stock it for relatively few numbers .

riders going anywhere other than the designated trails will kindly be asked to leave the premises . . . .



im just going off what the website said earlier in the season

[whistler110]

When they said from the top they meant from the RoundHouse and as Patrolskid said it is to increase traffic to the Roundhouse. The trail down to Garbo will probably be easy so that all levels can use it. I don't think many will enjoy doing laps off the Gondola as it gets quite hot in the summer, but eating lunch on the deck will be nice and it will let us keep riding Garbo zone if the Garbo chair breaks down.

There is a lot of area up there that is bear terrain, riding out of bounds into those areas will be the quickest way to turn people against the bike park.

[Straw]

damn and I was hoping to ride out to cowboy ridge and ride a 15km downhill down singing pass.

How about a Flute/Picallo hike a bike?

Just joking. You'll get your front tire removed and left to fend for yourself, from what I hear!

[Air Supplier]

I never got to ride Freight Train because of wet conditions, but I don't think its worth it. I get tired after A-line and so I would get alot more tired, faster. I have heard horror stories about people riding too long and having bad bails lower down because they hit up Garbonzo.

[Cheesestoff]

^^^^^ you need to go back on a non-wet day..... soo much good stuff up there, I pretty much spent every day I could doing laps off Garb last year. Wayy quieter than the lower mountain... not too many worries about being passed... The freight train drop to three huge berms to multiple tables is unbelievably fun... not to mention all the other great trails like fatcrobat... it kinda stinks how long it takes to dry out, but the trails up there are a blast... just make sure you take a break every now and then

[MIKAS]

not before july !
better like that in my oppininon so they will putsome work on the trail befor they oppen it , last year they opened to early and it suck ,to muddy slipery roots ect

[Rosscofat]

I agree. later the better.

[Air Supplier]

Yah, we did it in the beginning of June so that has something to do with it.

[NooNer]

not before july !
better like that in my oppininon so they will putsome work on the trail befor they oppen it , last year they opened to early and it suck ,to muddy slipery roots ect

i was doing laps mid may up garbo last year and it was prolly the most fun ive ever had there. cant wait for it this year.

[bjenko]

I read the post that said the bike park staff/trail guys don't get access to Garbanzo until June 5th (the day after ski season closes).

But why is that? I mean, what harm would be done if the trail guys are in the woods clearing snow, repairing etc. while the small crowds that are still at Whistler in late May ski past on the runs. They of course would wait until June 5th before the attack the trails crossing the slopes, etc. Skiers wouldn't be affected.

It just seems kinda crazy to make Whistler bike park staff wait when they could get in a few weeks of good work in late May.

That would 'kind of' be like saying the snow machine crews couldn't work until the day after the bike park closes.

I understand the bike people have much less say since (I'm guessing) 98% of Whistler's revenues probably come from snow sports, but again, it just seems like a silly rule. It would do little harm and probably help get Garbo open a month early most years.

-B

[motorp]

I read the post that said the bike park staff/trail guys don't get access to Garbanzo until June 5th (the day after ski season closes).

But why is that? I mean, what harm would be done if the trail guys are in the woods clearing snow, repairing etc. while the small crowds that are still at Whistler in late May ski past on the runs. They of course would wait until June 5th before the attack the trails crossing the slopes, etc. Skiers wouldn't be affected.

It just seems kinda crazy to make Whistler bike park staff wait when they could get in a few weeks of good work in late May.

That would 'kind of' be like saying the snow machine crews couldn't work until the day after the bike park closes.

I understand the bike people have much less say since (I'm guessing) 98% of Whistler's revenues probably come from snow sports, but again, it just seems like a silly rule. It would do little harm and probably help get Garbo open a month early most years.

-B

Bjenko, you are totaly wrong. There is way too much snow up in Garbo right now and way too much to do in the lower park. If we could, we would be up there right now. The snow is going fast and I would bet that we will be riding up there by the end of June. I can assure you that no one is stoping us from being up there, but the snow

[motorp]

I read the post that said the bike park staff/trail guys don't get access to Garbanzo until June 5th (the day after ski season closes).

But why is that? I mean, what harm would be done if the trail guys are in the woods clearing snow, repairing etc. while the small crowds that are still at Whistler in late May ski past on the runs. They of course would wait until June 5th before the attack the trails crossing the slopes, etc. Skiers wouldn't be affected.

It just seems kinda crazy to make Whistler bike park staff wait when they could get in a few weeks of good work in late May.

That would 'kind of' be like saying the snow machine crews couldn't work until the day after the bike park closes.

I understand the bike people have much less say since (I'm guessing) 98% of Whistler's revenues probably come from snow sports, but again, it just seems like a silly rule. It would do little harm and probably help get Garbo open a month early most years.

-B

Bjenko, you are totaly wrong. There is way too much snow up in Garbo right now and way too much to do in the lower park. If we could, we would be up there right now. The snow is going fast and I would bet that we will be riding up there by the end of June. I can assure you that no one is stoping us from being up there, but the snow

[jonny.zee]

^Meh - best to let nature take it's course, IMO. Let the snow melt on it's own.

[motorp]

^Meh - best to let nature take it's course, IMO. Let the snow melt on it's own.

Yeah. We can't even drive a truck up there. Some of the patrol have cut the deadwood from Freight Train and hit up. It is mint. Patience, it won't be long and we will be up there.

[bjenko]

motorp-
Thanks for the info. Sorry for the jump to conculsions but I was refering to this post in the A-Line passing thread a few days ago when someone asked when Garbo was opening:

"I asked that very same question to some of the park guys on Sunday... here is what I was told....

They get access to that area of the mountain on June 5th. That being said they were going to try and have stuff open for the middle of June... but that seems highly unlikely as there are still tons of snow up there. So I am banking on the end of June for the regular trails.

They said the new trails will not be open until the end of July... ie the Roundhouse to Freight Train connector.

That is all I know!

Dan"

He said he had heard it from a park guy so I thought that was the deal.

Thanks,
-B

[patrolskid]

sounds good in theory bjenko , but the reality is you'd be digging deep trenches through the snow just to get down to the trail surface . then you'd have all that snow on the sides of the trail melting onto the trails' surface , keeping it wet ( like , real wet ) all the time .

best to just let ma nature do her thing . . . . we'll be riding those trails soon enough .

[bcbud]

that's the parks manager talking there bjenko, he knows what's up.

[motorp]

Bjenko, like I said, we could be up there, but there is no point and realy no way to get up there with the crews. We are going to start working on that area from the bottom up as the snow melts. Like I posted previously, the patrol are clearing some of the trails in the lower Garbo zone so that we can be ready ASAP. I feel that we will be riding there at the end of June, but it will be wet. There will be snow around. And we will start working on the new trails ASAP, but it will be a big project, so it's hard to say when it will be good to go. Cheers

[bjenko]

I got it. I totally understand, no worries. I know you guys are doing you best, I was just confused by what I had read in that post and wanted to get it clearified. Can't wait to hit it up this summer. Thanks for your hard work.

-B