It should come as no surprise given the recent series of winter storms across Vancouver Island, but Mount Washington Alpine Resort opened its slopes Friday for the 2016-17 winter season. Even before the weekend’s series of snow events, the mountain had been hammered with more 120 centimetres of snow that started in November and has remained steady.
“We are very pleased to be opening with an excellent base and what should be very good conditions,” Director of Business Operations Don Sharpe said on the eve of the opening. “We have had back-to-back-to-back storms that have brought copious amounts of snow and our crews have been working hard to get the mountain ready and to finish up the improvements in the lodge.”
Along with the fresh deep snow have come “interesting” challenges to getting prepared. After opening the front side, “the Boomerang Chair and the Outback terrain will take a bit more work to make it safe and will open a week later on Friday, Dec. 16,” said Jessie Percival, Director of Ski Patrol and Snow Safety.
The resort will also open for night skiing this Thursday, Dec. 15.
— Submitted by Mt. Washington Ski Resort