Excavations begin on Bear Habitat!

Hello everyone - it has been a long winter filled with incredible snow fall and amazing ski conditions. Now, however, the days are getting longer and warmer and that means Grinder and Coola are begining to wake-up from their period of winter dormancy. Both bears have been seen leaving their sleeping chamber more often to explore the outer building, have a look outside, or roll around in the snow that has blown into their bear den.

Seeing this, we have begun our excavations of the bear's hibernation habitat adjacent to the bear den. This process will take up to two weeks and then we will put the fence up and allow the bears to official end their hibernation. For now we will continue to work at preparing their home and monitoring their behaviors.

More updates to follow but here are a couple pictures of the incredible snow base we have to clear from around the bear den!

Spring Break & New Specials

Spring Break starts this weekend, folks! This means we'll be extending our hours to accommodate all of your skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing and outoor needs!

Don't forget that Daylight Savings takes place at 2:00am this Sunday, March 13th. Remember to get up one hour earlier and come get some fresh tracks before everyone else realizes the clocks have changed!

Here is a list of our updated hours during spring break (March 12th-27th):

- First Skyride is at 8:15 am
- Outpost rentals will be open at 8:30 am
- Starbucks will be open at 7:00 am
- Grouse Grind Coffee bar will be open at 8:00 am

All winter outerwear and apparel from the following brands have been added to the Outfitter’s Winter Clearance Sale:

- North Face 30-50% off
- Rossignol 30-50% off
- Spyder 40-50% off
- Salomon 30-50% off

We also continue to have a great selection of winter apparel from Burton and Descente and our Oakley Factory Sale; all at 30-50% off.

Thanks everyone, and please share your pictures and experiences on our Facebook wall!

Altitude Bistro Drink Features

Sit back, loosen your boots and leave the rest to our bartenders. Enjoy our newly featured drinks menu at Altitudes Bistro and wind down your day up at Grouse Mountain.

Monday: "Martini Monday's" - All of our featured martinis on special for $7.50 ($2.00 off)

Tuesday: "Tasty Tuesday's" - All of our featured cocktails on special for $6.50 ($1.00 off) (note the grizzly Beer is on for $8.00..down from the usual $9.00)

Wednesday: "Whistler Wednesday's" - Whistler draft on special for $5.50 a pint, $17.00 pitcher + Whistler bottles for $5.00 each.…also runs into our Social Night specials

Thursday: "Toasty Thursday's" - All of our specialty hot drinks on special for $6.50 ($1.00 off)

Friday: "GI Friday’s" - Granville Island Draft on special for $5.50 a pint, $17.00 a pitcher

Saturday:“ Whistler Mixer” - Bucket of 4 bottles of Whistler beer for $20. (Typically all 4 flavors but substitutions are okay)

Sunday: "Sunday Caesars" - Caesars on special for $6.25 ($1.50 off)

Bears Build Bed - Close to Hibernation Now!

On Thursday morning, November 18th, Grinder and Coola suddenly decided it was time to build their hibernation bed! We had provided them with lots of nice soft fir branches a couple weeks before hand but they had gone largely ignored until today. The trigger for their bed building was probably our dropping temperatures and our first serious dump of snow. The snow, cold and short days are all triggers that the bears should begin their winter sleep.

It was all over in a couple short hours and the bears were enjoying their new mattress! As the snow continues to build over the next few days the bears will spend an increasing amount of time sleeping inside. Once we are sure they are spending most of the day inside the den we will close the outer door to their 'bear hotel' and they will spend the winter inside.

Here are a few screen shots of the bed making activity from our infrared cameras inside the den - remember it's pitch black in there!

An Empty Den

Grinder checking out the den.

The first few branches are dragged in.

Testing out the first branches.

Time for more!

A view of the new mattress.

Coola and Grinder test it out together.

Ahhhh perfect!

Bears ready for hibernation!

Grinder and Coola are now inhabiting their hibernation habitat around their bear den. Both bears are super plump and have put on more weight than in previous years - maybe this is a sign of a long and cold winter to come?

They are spending their days laying around with the occasional foray to eat, although food is being left behind each day which is a sign that the bears are happy with their weight and feel prepared for the upcoming winter.

Yesterday we provided them with a huge mound of Silver-fir branches which they will drag into their sleeping quarters and use to create a mattress of branches for their long winter sleeps. As of this morning they have not begun to create a bed but it shouldn't be far off as we received a few inches of fresh snow today.

After we've received our first significant snow fall we will cut off food and this lack of food, combined with short days and cold, snowy, weather will trigger hibernation.

Here are a few shots of Grinder lounging around the hibernation habitat!