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Mount Washington open for skiing, snowboarding

Finally — Mount Washington Alpine Resort is open for skiing and snowboarding after a big snowfall Friday night. “This is just what the doctor ordered,” said Brent Curtain, spokesman for the resort.
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A file photo of Mount Washington Alpine Resort. The ski hill will finally open for skiing and snowboarding on Sunday after a lack of snowfall delayed the season.

Finally — Mount Washington Alpine Resort is open for skiing and snowboarding after a big snowfall Friday night.

“This is just what the doctor ordered,” said Brent Curtain, spokesman for the resort.

The hills received 55 centimetres of snow and a now have a mid-mountain base of 110 cm, he said.

“Our base is strong — it’s going to be a late start but a strong start because of the volume of snow we’ve seen.”

When news of the opening hit Saturday morning, the demand for information overwhelmed the resort’s website and it crashed.

The ski resort, near Courtenay, was hard hit by the lack of snow early this season. Only the nordic trails and tubing park were open.

At least 500 to 600 people have been out of work as a result, Curtain said. In 2012, the resort opened Nov. 30, and had planned to open for the current season on Dec. 6, 2013.

“We have called back hundreds of staff already because we are getting the lifts going,” Curtain said.

The Whiskey Jack and Hawk chairlifts will be running today but the resort was not sure how many trails would be ready for skiing and boarding.

“This is a pretty quick turnaround for us to have all of this snowfall in the last 48 hours. We have machines out on the hill getting things ready but we won’t know until [Sunday] morning what we will have open exactly as far as trails go,” Curtain said.

Lift tickets will be sold at a discounted rate until the entire resort is open.

A deal struck with Whistler Blackcomb, which allows Mount Washington season pass holders to ski and board for free at the mainland resort, remains in place, Curtain said. The deal between the two resorts will be honoured — with three days grace — until Mount Washington lift tickets are at full price.

Environment Canada meteorologist David Jones told the Times Colonist Thursday that the freezing level would drop today, likely resulting in more snow on Island mountains

However, the freezing level, the elevation where rain becomes snow, will bounce up and down next week, so snow may be mixed with rain at higher elevations, Jones said.

Precipitation will fall as rain below 1,000 to 1,500 metres, he said.

Mount Washington has high hopes for the season, despite not being able to open its alpine trails over the Christmas holidays.

“We have very busy weeks ahead, including that Family Day weekend,” Curtain said.

charnett@timescolonist.com