Vancouver Island’s Mount Washington Alpine Resort has pushed back its planned opening day after unseasonably warm conditions and a lack of snowfall left the mountain short on coverage.
The resort summed up the mood with a tongue-in-cheek line in its update this week, saying even its general manager is asking “WTF – What the Forecast?!” as winter continues to hold off.
The resort had been aiming to kick off the season this Friday.
Staff spent the past week making snow whenever the temperatures dipped low enough and shifting around every patch they could find, but the weather simply didn’t cooperate, the resort said.
More than 60,000 people refreshed the mountain’s webcams yesterday hoping for a miracle.
General Manager Mike Manara acknowledged the frustration in a video update, saying he’s as eager as anyone to get the lifts moving.
Mount Washington is moving ahead with its Ted’s Funky Forecast Celebration this Saturday, a full-day event meant to rally guests, bring some levity to the delay, and maybe encourage a shift in the weather.
The celebration will run from 11 a.m. to midnight with a seventies theme, throwback menu items under five dollars, and live DJs into the late hours.
A free shuttle will operate to Courtenay and Cumberland until 12:30 a.m. A costume contest will also give guests a chance to win a six-pack of lift tickets.
From 1 to 3 p.m., visitors can gather around the fire outside Eagle View Bistro for free s’mores and light-hearted snow-summoning antics.
The resort is calling it a chance to “urge ULLR” and give winter a nudge.
Several resort services will remain open, including Outdoor Elements, Raven Retail, the Demo Centre for gear tuning, Raven Cafe, Eagle View Bistro and the season pass office.
Mount Washington says it is also working to open a beginner carpet for its Learn Free Discovery Days program and will share an update soon.
The resort will announce a new opening date once conditions improve. For now, mother nature is calling the shots.
