A foot of snow dumped overnight on Mount Washington in British Columbia

Erin Haluschak
Goldstream News Gazette
Thu, 12 Dec 2019 20:19 UTC

Overnight Wednesday, Mount Washington Alpine Resort received 31 cm of fresh snow, along with a light snowfall into Thursday morning.

It's a welcome sight for those waiting to break out the skis and snowshoes.

Overnight Wednesday, Mount Washington Alpine Resort received 31 cm of fresh snow, along with a light snowfall into Thursday morning.

Last week, the resort announced they were pushing back their original opening day of Dec. 6 due to lack of snow.

"...Without old man winter making an appearance just yet, we're forced to delay the start of the winter 2019/20 season. We're ready and waiting as patiently as possible, and we know you are too," read their posting on social media last week.

This photo from the Mount Washington Alpine Resort Facebook page shows just how much snow fell there on Dec. 11.

Kayla Stockton, marketing manager for the resort said they aim for around 100 cm of snow in order to open the runs.

"Some areas need more, some areas need less, and so we play a lot of it by ear," she noted and confirmed snowmaking equipment will begin operation later Thursday for one run.

She also noted depending on the forecast, there is a possibility they could open next week, just in time for Christmas holidays.

Although the resort has not yet revised its opening day, light snow is expected Thursday. While clear skies and a high of zero is predicted for the weekend, the Weather Network is forecasting snow next Monday through Thursday with highs just below freezing.

Reader Comments

win 52 · 2019-12-13T23:52:52Z

All we got in the Comox Valley was rain. My son did go up and do some snowmobile riding in the high back country yesterday. I went golfing.

Demore · 2019-12-14T01:10:49Z

win 52 Same as when I lived there early 80's. Mountains hidden by clouds for a month it seemed then one morning the clouds were gone and the mountains were white. I learned to ski on Forbidden Plateau back then, my ex taught me. Oh man the memories... The very best years ( too few ) of my life were spent there, in the Comox Valley.

win 52 · 2019-12-14T04:37:44Z

We have had a lot of clear sunny days so far this fall. Some rain but this was the first snow.

I went hiking on forbidden plateau. It's now a ghost resort. The lodge burned down a few years ago. Mount Washington has taken over because they always have more snow.

In the early 80's I was living on Salt Spring Island. Being raised in Manitoba, the milder winters are quite nice.