Who'da Thunk It?
Hill opens to June skiing
By Rob Shaw, Times Colonist June 11, 2010 2:02 AM
A cool, wet spring has brought an unexpected benefit -- Mount Washington plans to open for summer skiers and snowboarders next weekend, a first in its 32-year history.
"How often can you say you've skied on the Island in June?" said resort spokesman Brent Curtain.
"We're allowing people the opportunity to do it."
The rare chance to hit the slopes in a T-shirt is courtesy of a recent spate of unseasonably wet weather, which means less snow than expected has melted since the resort closed in late April.
As a result, there's enough snow to open the Linton's Loop run on the Eagle Express chair.
At the top, there's as much as two metres of snow, said Curtain.
"There's been no sun, and snow melts a lot quicker when you have some sunshine and warmer temperatures," he said. "Even with rain, if there's cloud cover and rain, it's not going to melt as quick."
The summer ski session caps a banner year for Mount Washington. The resort was blanketed with more than 15 metres of snow from November 2009 to April 2010 -- the second-deepest amount in history.
Mount Washington had a top-five year in terms of business, said Curtain.
Resort officials aren't sure what the turnout will be for the summer ski weekend, or whether Mount Washington will turn a profit, said Curtain.
"This wasn't a venture to make a bunch of money or a weekend to be a cash grab. It's more of a, 'You know, we can do this,' " he said.
"We've joked about it in past years when you've closed the season with a lot of snow and you joke, 'God, imagine summer operations if we had enough snow to ski.'
"We always say that but you get the warm two-week stretch in May and then the snow disappears pretty quick."
The summer ski weekend runs 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 19 and 20. A lift ticket costs $25.
Dads pay only $10 on Father's Day Sunday if they bring their kids. Rentals are available.
Because the weekend is considered a special event, the resort said season's tickets are not being honoured.
[email protected]
© Copyright (c) The Victoria Times Colonist
Read more: http://www.timescolonist.com/news/to...#ixzz0qY7KJ2rl
Hill opens to June skiing
By Rob Shaw, Times Colonist June 11, 2010 2:02 AM
A cool, wet spring has brought an unexpected benefit -- Mount Washington plans to open for summer skiers and snowboarders next weekend, a first in its 32-year history.
"How often can you say you've skied on the Island in June?" said resort spokesman Brent Curtain.
"We're allowing people the opportunity to do it."
The rare chance to hit the slopes in a T-shirt is courtesy of a recent spate of unseasonably wet weather, which means less snow than expected has melted since the resort closed in late April.
As a result, there's enough snow to open the Linton's Loop run on the Eagle Express chair.
At the top, there's as much as two metres of snow, said Curtain.
"There's been no sun, and snow melts a lot quicker when you have some sunshine and warmer temperatures," he said. "Even with rain, if there's cloud cover and rain, it's not going to melt as quick."
The summer ski session caps a banner year for Mount Washington. The resort was blanketed with more than 15 metres of snow from November 2009 to April 2010 -- the second-deepest amount in history.
Mount Washington had a top-five year in terms of business, said Curtain.
Resort officials aren't sure what the turnout will be for the summer ski weekend, or whether Mount Washington will turn a profit, said Curtain.
"This wasn't a venture to make a bunch of money or a weekend to be a cash grab. It's more of a, 'You know, we can do this,' " he said.
"We've joked about it in past years when you've closed the season with a lot of snow and you joke, 'God, imagine summer operations if we had enough snow to ski.'
"We always say that but you get the warm two-week stretch in May and then the snow disappears pretty quick."
The summer ski weekend runs 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 19 and 20. A lift ticket costs $25.
Dads pay only $10 on Father's Day Sunday if they bring their kids. Rentals are available.
Because the weekend is considered a special event, the resort said season's tickets are not being honoured.
[email protected]
© Copyright (c) The Victoria Times Colonist
Read more: http://www.timescolonist.com/news/to...#ixzz0qY7KJ2rl
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