Now this is the way to start off a season: sunny, crisply cold, eight inches of fluffy snow--and an entire upper mountain closed to chairlifts but open to the willing. Whistler Peak and its sprawling bowls were awash in mountain light and buffed with a solid enough base to allow for touring to its outer extremities. While Saturday was confined to cold, windy, and snowy piste skiing, Sunday was the day that powder skiers had been dreaming of over the long, hot summer. If Sunday was any indication, the Pacific Northwest is in store for another great season. Many thanks to Whistler's Michelle Leroux. Whistler will remain open daily and Blackcomb plans to open Thursday, Nov. 22.