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Mount Washington resort set to open Saturday after 'fast and furious' snowfall

The Mount Washington Alpine Resort opens for the season Saturday, Dec. 15, with about 40 centimetres of snow and plenty of people eager to hit the slopes. It’s a bit of a later start than last season, which got underway Dec. 1.
Mount Washington ski resort generic
Mount Washington ski resort

The Mount Washington Alpine Resort opens for the season Saturday, Dec. 15, with about 40 centimetres of snow and plenty of people eager to hit the slopes.

It’s a bit of a later start than last season, which got underway Dec. 1.

Spokeswoman Sheila Rivers said storms this week have dumped a lot of snow on the mountain, including more than 16 centimetres Wednesday and Thursday.

“It’s coming down pretty fast and furious and we’re anticipating quite a good, strong forecast for the next two days with lots of snow,” Rivers said Friday.

“It’s a 100 per cent winter wonderland up here, certainly that picturesque Christmas background.”

The start of the season can’t come soon enough for some people, she said.

“People have been chomping at the bit, for sure,” she said. “We have a really enthusiastic crowd waiting to come, so it’s exciting that we can get open.”

Rivers said a lot of season’s-pass holders are expected to show up.

The Whiskey Jack is the lone alpine chair being used to start, but the Easy Acres beginner area and snow-tubing park will soon be in full swing. Additional terrain will become accessible as more snow accumulates, something anticipated to happen with the weekend weather.

Opening activities include Discovery Days, a free program for 13 and older who have never tried skiing or snowboarding before.

“We had over 1,000 participants last year so we’re expecting to be quite busy with that, as well,” Rivers said.

Discovery Days take place Dec. 15-21. Preregistration is required at mountwashington.ca.

The Courtenay-area resort’s lifts give access to about 690 hectares and 505 vertical metres of alpine terrain. There are also 55 kilometres of cross-country skiing trails and 25 kilometres of showshoeing trails.

jwbell@timescolonist.com