
Mt. Washington Alpine Resort
#1
Posted 21 November 2009 - 07:14 PM
And that reminds me, what ever happened to Forbidden Plateau, and Green Mountain, both active Island ski hills with lifts in the 70's and 80's.
http://www.mountwashington.ca/
#2
Posted 21 November 2009 - 07:28 PM
-City of Victoria website, 2009
#3
Posted 21 November 2009 - 07:37 PM
#4
Posted 21 November 2009 - 08:21 PM
#5
Posted 21 November 2009 - 08:24 PM
-City of Victoria website, 2009
#6
Posted 21 November 2009 - 08:26 PM
Now imagine running a ski facility with mostly volunteers. And doing it so well you win an award for "best community-run ski hill."
"You certainly have to put aside other things in your life in order to do what we're doing, as directors," says Helen Brown, the hard-working chairwoman of the Mt. Cain Alpine Society, which runs the Mt. Cain ski hill north of Campbell River. "It's pretty overwhelming. You're basically running an entire business from a volunteer standpoint."
While many of us on Vancouver Island -- even skiers -- have never heard of Mt. Cain, it's beginning to get some national recognition. A four-page spread in the latest issue of Ski Canada magazine extols its delights -- the powder snow, the small crowds, the 457-metre vertical drop, the underdeveloped beauty of the place and, not least, the tireless commitment of the volunteers who make this place come alive every weekend.
Two years ago, Ski Canada magazine recognized Mt. Cain as one of the country's best community-run ski hills. According to the magazine's contributor, Mark Mallet, "It's really the epitome of a community ski hill -- just a bunch of locals getting together to create a community-oriented facility where they can get out and just enjoy the sport. It's the antithesis of Whistler, and I love it."
The Mt. Cain ski hill shouldn't even exist. On paper, it's simply not feasible, or at least not profitable. In 2000, after struggling for a couple of decades, the society considered turning the whole venture over to a private owner. They hired some experts in the ski resort industry to assess the hill's potential and entered discussions with a private operator.
"Through that whole process, it became clear that Mt. Cain has non-profit society status for a reason," says Jones, referring to the fact that too few people live within close enough proximity of the mountain to make it a profitable enterprise.
-City of Victoria website, 2009
#7
Posted 21 November 2009 - 09:15 PM
#8
Posted 21 November 2009 - 09:18 PM
#9
Posted 23 November 2009 - 01:48 PM
Currently, winter access to Green Mtn is a major expedition because it is so far up the valley, up unplowed roads on gated timber company lands.
I don't think this is what shut it down though.
#10
Posted 23 November 2009 - 01:58 PM
#11
Posted 23 November 2009 - 02:21 PM
It is a shame that Arrowsmith and Forbidden Plateau were not still in operation. I always thought Mount Whymper would make a good location for a ski hill.
#12
Posted 23 November 2009 - 02:54 PM
#13
Posted 14 February 2010 - 08:51 AM
As usual, they will close this year not when the snow runs out, but when lack-of-interest sets in and people focus on spring and summer sports. Although now thet they are a year-round resort, I'm not sure if they keep one or two lifts going on weekends or the like to extend the season a bit.
#14
Posted 14 February 2010 - 11:56 AM
Mt. Washington got another 30cm last night, brings their mid-mountain base up to 460cm, which may be their biggest snow-load ever.
As usual, they will close this year not when the snow runs out, but when lack-of-interest sets in and people focus on spring and summer sports. Although now thet they are a year-round resort, I'm not sure if they keep one or two lifts going on weekends or the like to extend the season a bit.
Meanwhile it was pouring rain on Cypress

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#15
Posted 29 March 2010 - 05:10 AM
#16
Posted 29 March 2010 - 07:33 AM
Well, only another half-metre of snow in the last 48 hours. The mid-mountain base is now at 621 cm. CRAZY.
I was just thinking last night that they were going to pass the 600cm mark.
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#17
Posted 20 January 2014 - 06:01 PM
I hadn't realized it was just rumour before, but Mt. Washington officials have now admitted that the resort is for sale.
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#18
Posted 21 January 2014 - 08:06 AM
This place can be a wonderland but an investors nightmare too. With daytime highs usually around -3c, one has to wonder about the long term climate implications. I tend to fall more into the natural oscillation camp but still, small margin of error and $25 million goes *poof*
#19
Posted 21 January 2014 - 08:11 AM
7 degrees there right now, with 80 cm base and one chair not open due to lack of snow. Ouch.
#20
Posted 21 January 2014 - 08:14 AM
That's life I guess. I mean wasn't it last year or the year before they had a record season and were considered one of the top skiing destinations in North America?
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