Mount Washington on Vancouver Island will open two weeks earlier than its anticipated opening of Dec. 13. It’s the resort’s earliest opening in more than eight years.
This season’s ski and snowboard season on B.C.’s South Coast is off to a roaring start, welcome news for those disappointed by last season’s record warm winter and lack of snow.
Mount Washington on Vancouver Island announced Thursday it is opening two weeks earlier than the anticipated Dec. 13 start date.
“Traditionally the resort opens in the first to second week of December. We haven’t had a November opening in quite some time,” said Kayla Stockton, marketing manager for Mount Washington, in an email.
A news release from the mountain says an “incredible early-season snowfall” has created a snow base of 258 centimetres at the mid-mountain elevation of 1,488 metres.
Seymour’s scheduled opening is Dec. 13 but a note on its website says to watch for announcements because of “all this early season snow.” Tobogganing is already open at Seymour.
Last year’s warmer than normal winter was tough on the local ski resorts.
The North Shore Mountains were delayed opening and closed on several occasions because of washouts and rock-exposed slopes. Photos last year showed dirt patches on the lower runs at Whistler Blackcomb at the end of December, which is typically the busiest season for resorts because of holiday tourism, fewer than half of the report’s trails were open.