Whistler Village to Kees and Claire Hut

Departing from Whistler Village, I was able to start skinning just past Oboe Creek, around the bend at approximately 1550 m. Coverage was decent overall — only 2–3 small creek crossings where skis barely touched the water. Conditions deteriorated near the Russet Lake trailhead as a strong storm rolled in, with sustained southerly winds that persisted all the way to the hut. The terrain was heavily wind-affected, with a hard crust forming on the snow surface above 1850 m. The storm continued overnight, bringing strong winds throughout.