Resort And Weather News

Alpine Lodge webcam, Mount Washington, 15 June

After reporting a cumulative winter snowfall of 15m, the British Columbia resort of Mount Washington – which acted as a pre-Olympics training base for many international athletes – has now added a further feather to its bow by announcing it is to reopen for snowsports.

The resort, which ended its winter operations on 24 April, still has sufficient snow to operate the Linton’s Loop piste on 19 and 20 June – the first two days of its summer season. It marks the first time skiing and snowboarding has been available in June in the resort’s 32 year history.

“It really is unbelievable” commented Mount Washington spokesperson Brent Curtain, who put the current situation down to conditions experienced after the close of winter; “May was relatively cool and rainy which wasn’t conducive to snow melt”.

According to the resort, there is “plenty of white stuff at the higher elevations” as well as enough at lower levels to warrant the opening of Linton’s Loop, which skiers and snowboarders will be able to access via the Eagle Expres.

As snow lovers get one last reprieve before the resort switches to summer mode, the remaining snow has meant resort workers are having to work extra hard to get the Bike Park ready for summer ahead of its scheduled opening on 1 July.

“We’ve been clearing snow off the bike trails to help initiate and speed up the melt process in those areas” commented Director of Business Operations Don Sharpe. “We’re hopeful that we can get some of the trails ready by our planned opening date”.