180 replies to this topic

[Victoria Watcher]

These warm temperatures have created unfavorable conditions for ski hills and back country trails.

 

Mount Washington has a current base of 20 centimeters with a number of runs not operating.

 

The ski hill posted on Facebook on Thursday that the Eagle Chair just opened.

 

“Eagle Chair is officially up and running this morning! Thanks for hanging in there with us through the slow kick-off to the season,” the post read. “Our ops team has been all hands on deck to get more lifts and slopes ready for you to enjoy.”

 

 

https://www.cheknews...trails-1183940/

[Mike K.]

A number of runs not operating? 80% aren’t operating.

[Victoria Watcher]

Always tough to miss the entire Christmas season.

[Victoria Watcher]

Warm weather forces Mt. Washington ski resort to close, may reopen Friday

 

The resort said it was suspending operations for Wednesday and Thursday

 

https://www.timescol...-friday-8189176

 

 

The resort is expecting colder weather later in the week, with below-freezing temperatures forecast for Friday and Saturday.

 

All three mountains on Vancouver’s North Shore also closed Wednesday in a season that has challenged ski resorts across the province with warm temperatures and little snowfall.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 01 February 2024 - 04:47 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

Why don't we drag out one of those rare VI marmots for a bit of publicity every groundhog day?

[Mike K.]

He’s busy at the Empress.

[Victoria Watcher]

That’s another missed marketing opportunity. Get that one busking down on the lower causeway and handing out $10 off Enpress Tea coupons.

It’s all coupons these days.

The Victoria Royals have some kind of a large rat-type mascot they could tie in too.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 02 February 2024 - 06:49 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

Fact: all groundhogs are marmots. All marmots are squirrels.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 02 February 2024 - 06:55 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

Why don't we drag out one of those rare VI marmots for a bit of publicity every groundhog day?

 

 

Violet the Vancouver Island marmot wasn’t swayed by other weathercasting wildlife predicting an early spring on Friday — Groundhog Day — and cast her vote for six more weeks of winter.

 

It’s the third year in a row the Island rodent has called for winter to carry on, rather than for the quick arrival of better weather.

 

She took over forecasting duties after the death of another marmot, also named Violet, and has an impressive track record.

 

“Her last two predictions have been spot on,” said Adam Taylor, executive director of the Marmot Recovery Foundation.

 

 

 

https://www.timescol...-winter-8204302

[LJ]

 

 

I would rather have six more weeks of winter than six more weeks of Trudeau.

[Nparker]

I'm watching "Groundhog Day" on AMC. Not surprisingly, it's playing in continuous rotation today.

[Victoria Watcher]

The snow-capped resort on Mount Washington glistened on a rare sunny November day Friday and with 20 to 40 cm of hard-packed snow on the slopes, it’s a promising start to the ski and snowboard season.

 

Opening day is just four weeks away on Dec. 13 and things are already looking better than last year in terms of snow.

 

“Yeah we got our first snow of the season in the last few weeks of October and since then we’ve had a few storm cycles roll in,” said resort spokesperson Kayla Stockton. “The mountain is looking nice and covered right now due to the snow this last week and the weekend looks promising.”

 

 

https://cheknews.ca/...pening-1224320/

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 15 November 2024 - 09:55 PM.

[Victoria Watcher]

Mount Washington will open for a “sneak peek” of its alpine and Nordic terrain this weekend, two weeks before its official opening day.

 

It’s the earliest opening in eight years for the alpine resort, thanks to heavy November snowfalls and last week’s bomb cyclone that brought thick carpets of snow to higher elevations.

 

The early-season snowfall left a base of 258 centimetres at the mid-mountain elevation of 1,488 metres on Thursday, said resort spokeswoman Kayla Stockton.

 

https://www.timescol...hington-9878504

[Victoria Watcher]

Mount Washington Alpine Resort says it’s been hard at work completing nearly $3 million in upgrades to the ski hill on Vancouver Island.

 

About half the total, $1.5 million, went towards upgrading the slopes themselves.

 

Brush cutting, slope shaping, and slope smoothing work was carried out along several major runs, including the Upper Westerley, Upper Exhibition, Riptide, Whiskey Jack, and Fantastic – as well as along several Nordic backcountry trails.

 

 

https://cheknews.ca/...grades-1290310/

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 20 November 2025 - 01:25 PM.

[Victoria Watcher]

A lack of snow has forced Mount Washington Alpine Resort to push back its planned opening this week.

 

The ski resort said that despite trying to make artificial snow, “the weather just hasn’t co-operated.”

 

“If you were one of the 60,000+ people refreshing our webcams yesterday, watching and hoping for a miracle, we were right there with you,” it said.

 

 

https://www.timescol...i-hill-11609273

[Victoria Watcher]

Skiers and snowboarders got an early Christmas present Saturday as Mount Washington Alpine Resort finally opened for the season.

 

While staff at the resort warned alpine enthusiasts there would be marginal skiing on limited terrain due to snow conditions, the chair lift was operational Saturday morning, and its tube park was open.

 

https://www.timescol...season-11653917

[Mike K.]

A chair lift, yes. It’s still just barely operational as a ski resort, though. But it’s better than nothing.

[Victoria Watcher]

A chair lift, yes. It’s still just barely operational as a ski resort, though. But it’s better than nothing.

 

I suppose it's all about the weekends.  You only get so many.  And I think pre-Christmas/Christmas are also the best ones.

 

When I was much younger and an avid skiier, we would try to go to Washington on weekdays, to avoid the lines, when work schedules woud permit.    

[Blair M.]

When Mt. Washington first opened, I was a frequent visitor.

Renting a condo over the Christmas holidays with 4 or 5 friends - back then Mt. Washington had amazing and equally heavy snow pack as any of the other south coast ski hills, including Whistler. 

 

Not being a scientist, and not delving deeply into the subject matter - I don't know if it's global warming or just the randomness of winter weather patterns over time - but something is definitely off when you can't head up and expect fantastic skiing over Christmas at Mt. Washington. 

[phx]

Forecast is for more snow over the next few days. It may be fantastic skiing by Christmas.