Canadian resort re-opens
Wednesday June 16, 2010 - Email this article to a friend

Mount Washington still has so much snow that it has decided to re-open for some summer skiing this weekend. It had the most snow of any resort in the world last winter and there is still some there. It's come as a pleasant surprise for many.

Last winter over 15m of snow fell on the resort near Vancouver and for much of the time it had a depth of 6m.

It closed at the end of the season but now is going to offer skiing and snowboarding for this weekend.

The nearby resort of Blackcomb is also opening this weekend for summer skiing but it had always planned to do so.

Snowsports at Mount Washington is a surprise.

It is the first time in its 32-year history that it has opened during the summer.

Not bad for second half of JuneIt decided to do so as the authorities were trying to clear away all the snow off the mountain bike trails for the summer season and simply decided that instead of clearing it people might actually like to use it.

It is, of course, good public relations and marketing too.

"The running joke at the end of the winter season at Mount Washington was that the snow would last until June and you would be able to ski and snowboard the opening day of summer operations," said a resort spokesman, Brent Curtain. "Joking aside, Mount Washington is announcing it will indeed open for skiing on the first weekend of summer."

"We will be loading skiers and boarders onto the Eagle Express from 11am to 4pm on opening weekend," says Don Sharpe, Director of Business Operations at the resort.

"Anybody wanting to head up for summer turns can do it for a special $25 lift ticket. As an added bonus, dads can ski or board for $10 on Father's Day when they head up the lift with their child."

Linton's Loop will be used for the summer skiing weekend.

"Imagine telling your friends and family across the country that you skied on Vancouver Island on the first day of summer," adds Curtain. "It really is unbelievable."

Mount Washington was main pre-Olympics training base for international teams immediately before the Winter games in February and is situated on Vancouver Island.

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