Snow base levels have allowed operators of Mount Washington to open roughly two weeks earlier than first planned. (Mount Washington Alpine Resort)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

snow season

‘Champing at the bit:’ Mount Washington set for Saturday opening

Nov 28, 2024 | 11:55 AM

NANAIMO — The premier ski destination on Vancouver Island have announced an unexpectedly early opening day for the season.

Recent storm activity and cooler temperatures for the last few weeks have allowed a base of 258 centimetres of snow to accumulate at Mount Washington Alpine Resort, prompting the resort to push forward its opening day to Saturday, Nov. 30.

Resort spokesperson Kayla Stockton said the earliest opening in eight years, two weeks sooner than previously planned, is a welcomed change for skiers, snowboarders and lovers of all things winter.

“We hope people are able to turn it around quickly enough to get up here this weekend. We know it’s a little bit short notice, but there are a lot of pieces to the puzzle that need to come together and we had to make sure it was all ready to safely open and that we have enough staff here on mountain.”

The resort will host what it’s calling “early opening bonus days” on Saturday and on Sunday, Dec. 1 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on a selected number of runs.

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More will be opened as the season progresses.

“The community is definitely champing at the bit to get up here. It’s exciting, it really just means we get our season going a little bit earlier here and allow our guests to have more days out on the snow.”

Conditions as of Thursday, Nov. 28 showed the 258-centimetre base at Whiskey Jack, 1,488 metres above sea level.

There was a 144-centimetre base at the Hawk-Nordic measuring point, around 1,100 metres above sea level.

No major snowfalls are expected at the resort between now and the early preview days.

Full conditions are available on the Mount Washington website.

A limited number of runs will be open Saturday, Nov. 30 for a pair of preview days. (Mount Washington Alpine Resort)

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