Mount Washington Alpine Resort

The Comox Valley Regional District is conducting an update to the Local Area Plan that includes the Mount Washington Area.

The main intent of this planning exercise is to build upon and update the current Mt. Washington Local Area Plan with recent CVRD strategies and policy direction and complement it with public input. The CVRD Regional Growth Strategy for the Valley has recognized the Mount Washington area as a new settlement node.As such, many policies must be updated or created to address important matters such as land use, community services, infrastructure, transportation, the environment, design guidelines and the need to adapt to climate change.

The consultants for the project are seeking the public’s feedback through an online survey.

More information about the project is here : http://www.mountwashingtonircp.ca/

The online survey is available here : SURVEY

“Our crews are still putting some final touches on our new Magic Carpets in the Easy Acres learning area,” explains resort spokesperson Brent Curtain. “We’re almost there but the weather is going to make things very interesting this week.”

Interesting indeed. With over 40cms already on the ground, a major La Nina-like weather pattern is taking aim at central Vancouver Island. Mount Washington is expecting to see anywhere between 50 and 100cms of new snow by the end of next weekend.

Mountain staff get some of the first rides up the new Magic Carpets last week.

The Magic Carpet lifts, four in total, have all been installed over the last three months. Final tweaks are being done to the entrance and exit areas of each Carpet and final preparations are being made to the covered canopies that will protect skiers and boarders from the elements.

“We added covered canopies to make the learning experience as memorable and comfortable as possible for people new to the sport,” adds Curtain.

The Magic Carpet lift installation, with a projected budget of close to 3 million dollars, was one of the missing pieces of the puzzle for Mount Washington’s resort development plans.

“The old Green Chair was the hub of our learning area since 1979 and it was definitely time for a change,” says Don Sharpe, Director of Business Operations. “We removed the Green Chair at the end of last winter and re-contoured the slopes in our beginners area. With the addition of the Magic Carpets to the new terrain, we are now one of the easiest places to learn to ski and snowboard in North America.”

To lure new skiers and boarders to the mountains, Mount Washington is offering a full range of daily Discover Ski and Snowboard lessons and a new three-day program called Learn to Turn (LTT). With LTT, you can prepay for three lessons at a heavily discounted rate, book the lessons any time during the season, and as a bonus receive a free lift ticket to use in the month of April. All beginner lesson packages come with a lift ticket, lesson and rental skis or snowboards.

“With the combination of new ski and snowboard technology which makes turning easier and our new Easy Acres learning area, there’ll be no better time to learn to slide on snow than this winter,” adds Sharpe.

In addition to Easy Acres, Mount Washington has been working hard to enhance their alpine experience. Here’s more of what’s new for the 2011-12 season:

For those who like to ride nights, the mountain has added Sunday nights to their already successful Thursday through Saturday Night Skiing program. Night Skiing begins Thursday, December 15th.

The Gold Rush continues this winter at the Gold Rush Glades with two new lines off the frontside of Little Washington peak. Look for two new black-diamond gems named The Miner and Midas.

The Vancouver Island Mountain Centre, an Olympic Legacy project spearheaded by the Vancouver Island Mountain Sports Society, opens in early December and features meeting rooms, weight-training facilities, dorm-style and private room accommodations, and some of the best views on Vancouver Island.

The Stomping Ground Terrain Park received five new features for the park groms this winter which include: two new Street Bars, a Kicker Box, a Flat Deck, and a Rainbow Deck.

From beginners to experts, day skiers to night skiers, there’s something new for everybody this winter at Mount Washington Alpine Resort.

And don’t forget if you like deals, the early bird deadline for 6ixPack tickets is November 30th. “They make the perfect Christmas gift so pick one up at any Thrifty Foods location or check them out online at mountwashington.ca,” says Sharpe.

Mount Washington Alpine Resort opens for winter operations on Friday, December 9, 2011. The resort is located 30 minutes above The Comox Valley on Vancouver Island. WestJet, Central Mountain Air, Pacific Coastal Airlines, and Island Express service the Comox Valley Airport (YQQ). To find out about accommodation and package information, call Mount Washington Alpine Resort at 1-888-231-1499 toll free or locally at 250-338-1386. Surf to www.mountwashington.ca for additional information including our live snow cam.

2011 marks 10 years of snowshoeing for The Yeti. We are very proud of what we have achieved but always want take it to the next level. New for 2011, The Yeti XC is offering Canada’s first Winter Duathlon. Cross Country (XC) skiing will be incorporated into our snowshoe events. We are still offering the Snowshoe Sport (approx. 5km) and Enduro (approx. 10km) courses, but if you are looking for a new challenge this winter, try our Winter Duathlon as a Solo or team of 2.

The Yeti Snowshoe Sport course is a great option for the beginner snowshoer, and our Snowshoe Enduro course will give any runner or hiker the challenge they’re looking for. These courses are designed so you can use all your snowshoe skills like climbing, descending and winding yourself through undulating single-track while doing it all at a faster pace.

Don’t be intimidated, anyone can snowshoe and these courses will be a challenge to anyone, whether you run or hike! Frontrunners will take about half an hour for the Sport course and the back of the packers will take about an hour

For more information check out http://www.theyeti.ca

Race Details

• Date: Saturday, January 29, 2011
• Location: Mount Washington Ski Resort
• Registration Deadline: Pre-Registration: Wednesday January 26th at midnight.
• Day of race registration is also offered.
• Registration: Click here to register.
• Directions: Mount Washington is located 25 km west of the Comox Valley, 50 km south of Campbell River and 100 km north of Nanaimo, on Vancouver Island. The Nanaimo Ferry terminals are serviced from Horseshoe Bay and Tsawwassen on the Lower Mainland. Call BC Ferries for schedules at 1-888-223-3779 or visit www.bcferries.com. To view a map click here.
• Check-in & Race Day Registration: 9am at the Raven Lodge
• Start Time: 11am for Sport, Enduro and Winter Duathlon
• Distance: Sport Course (~5km) and Enduro (~10km) Winter Duathlon (Sport Course / 10km ski / Sport Course)
• Terrain: Cat track, single track, powder sections, hiking trails and some hills.
• Refreshments: Energy Drink, fruit, bagels, cookies and much more. You won’t leave hungry. Don’t forget to bring some money in case you want to have lunch at the Raven Lodge.
• Washrooms: Located inside the Raven Lodge.
• Parking: There is plenty of parking outside the Raven Lodge.
• First Aid: There will be First Aid at the finish line and also as the course sweep. We will be able to access anyone on course in the event of an emergency.
• Spectators: There will be First Aid at the finish line and also as the course sweep. We will be able to access anyone on course in the event of an emergency.
• Awards/Prizing: As soon as the last person arrives. We are known for the great prizes we give out so you don’t want to miss out. You have to be there to win!
• Snowshoe Rentals: The Yeti has snowshoes available to rent for all races. Click here for details.
• Course Map:
• Accommodations:
  • Riding Fool Hostel – www.ridingfool.com – 1.800.313.FOOL
  • Shantz Haus Hostel – www.shantzhostel.com – 1.866 603 2060
  • Coast Westerly – www.coastwesterlyhotel.com – 1.800 668.7797
  • Mount Washington – www.mountwashington.ca
• Results: Will be posted shortly after the race.
• Kids Race: Entry is free for children under 10 with paid adult entry. Each racer receives a race number, a pair of snowshoes to use for the race, and a picture with the Yeti. Each participant must register on race day morning and a parent/guardian must sign a waiver.

Mount Washington has a base of over 176cms with deeper depths at higher elevations, bring on the Outback!

“We will now have 100 percent of our terrain open for skiing and snowboarding this Friday,” says resort spokesperson Brent Curtain. “The coverage in the alpine is excellent right now so we’re definitely stoked that we can open the Outback in early December.”

Mount Washington was able to open earlier than expected this season and is seeing some positive early-season effects from the La Nina weather phenomenon. “We’ve seen consistent snowfall over the last month and our snow depths are accumulating quicker than we would see in a normal season,” adds Curtain.

The mountain wants to remind skiers and boarders that early season conditions exist over the lower third of the Outback. “The Outback isn’t groomed so natural hazards exist,” says Patrol Director Jesse Percival. “So use extra caution and ski and board with care.”

The long range forecasts are calling for continued snowfall throughout the weekend and into next week. The Outback and the rest of the mountain appear to be headed towards epic conditions leading into the busy Christmas season.

Mount Washington Alpine Resort opens the Outback on Friday, December 10, 2010. The resort is located 30 minutes above The Comox Valley on Vancouver Island. WestJet, Central Mountain Air, Pacific Coastal Airlines, and Island Express service the Comox Valley Airport (YQQ). To find out about accommodation and package information, call Mount Washington Alpine Resort at 1-888-231-1499 toll free or locally at 250-338-1386. Surf to www.mountwashington.ca for additional information including our live snow cam.

Starting in January the dream of hosting international teams at the Resort becomes a reality. Over 250 Olympic and Paralympic Athletes from 12 International teams will be coming to Mount Washington to prepare themselves for the biggest competition of their lives. We are very excited to welcome these Athletes to Vancouver Island and Mount Washington and we are even more excited to be able to cheer them on during the games.

What is happening?

Because of the Resort’s close proximity to the Olympic venues and similar weather conditions, international teams have chosen to come to Mount Washington to get a feel for for the conditions (snow quality, temperatures, elevation levels) that they will be encountering during the actual 2010 Winter Games. Because of Mount Washington’s world-class Nordic facilities and terrain, most of the teams coming are focused in on the disciplines of Biathlon, Cross-country and Nordic Combined. We also have some Alpine teams training here in the disciplines of Skier-Cross,Parallel Giant Slalom, and Freestyle skiing.

Biathalon at Mount Washington Alpine Resort

Will the Athletes be Interacting with the General Public?

Although chances are that guests to the resort will end up riding a chairlift with an Olympian or two, these athletes are here to focus on their training and be allowed to prepare for Games. Their privacy is crucial and as their hosts we all must do our part to respect that. There are some plans for a “meet and greet” events being scheduled for both the Mountain and other venues in the Comox Valley but complete details are yet to be announced. Please check back periodically as we get closer to their arrival.

More information can be found on the Mount Washington website.

When are they here?

Country	Team – Sport	Dates
	Canada Biathlon	Feb 1 to Feb 8
	USA Biathlon	Jan 27 To Feb 8
	Sweden Biathlon	Jan 29 to Feb 6
	Germany Biathlon	Feb 1 to Feb 10
	France Biathlon	Feb 2 to Feb 9
	Chinese Biathlon	Jan 20 to Feb 2
	Czech Republic Biathlon	Jan 28 to – Feb 2
	Sweden Freestyle Ski	Jan 31 to Feb 6
	France Freestyle Ski	Feb 3 to Feb 7
	Finland Ski Cross	Feb 10 to 16
	Sweden Ski Cross	Feb 13 to Feb 18
	Australian Ski Cross	Feb 13 to 17
	Canada Cross Country	Jan 20 to Feb 3
	Sweden Cross Country	Feb 7 to 13
	France MEN Cross Country	Feb 4 to Feb 10
	Russian Nordic Combined	Feb 15 to Feb 19
	Netherlands Parallel Giant Slalom	Jan 25 to Feb 10
	Sweden Parallel Giant Slalom	Feb 18 to Feb 23
	Swiss Parallel Giant Slalom	Feb 18 to Feb 23
	German Parallel Giant Slalom	Feb 13 to Feb 21
	USA Parallel Giant Slalom	Feb 14 to Feb 20
	Sweden Paralympic	March 1 to 6
	Norway Paralympic	Feb 25 to Mar 2
	Finland Paralympic	Mar 3 to Mar 10
	Belarus Paralympic	Feb 27 to Mar 7

Mount Washington Alpine Resort

It’s official; Mount Washington Alpine Resort has now surpassed- make that blown past- their old snowfall record for the month of November. The resort received a whopping 440 centimetres of snow over the last three weeks. With one week left this month, conditions are looking ideal for this Saturday’s opening day.

“Our old record for November snowfall was 300 centimetres in 2006,” explains resort spokesperson Brent Curtain. “Needless to say, this month we’ve seen unprecedented amounts of snow up here. We received 300 centimetres in the last week alone!”

As of Monday, November 23rd, Mount Washington was reporting a snowbase of 240cms. “This is a base we usually see in mid-January. We’re standing on 6 feet of compacted snow in front of the Alpine Lodge and it gets deeper the further you look up the mountain,” Curtain adds.

As for business at the mountain, the early snowfall has produced an influx of accommodation bookings and early bird 6ixPak sales. “Our Call Centre has seen an 80 percent increase in call volumes over the last week compared to this time last year,” says Reservations Manager Susan Sanderson.

The resort is busy training staff and more importantly, digging out the resort, in preparations for opening day this Saturday.

Mount Washington Alpine Resort opens Saturday, November 28th. The resort is located 30 minutes above The Comox Valley on Vancouver Island. WestJet, Central Mountain Air and Pacific Coastal Airlines service the Comox Valley Airport (YQQ). To find out about accommodation and package information, call Mount Washington Alpine Resort at 1-888-231-1499 toll free or locally at 250-338-1386. Surf to www.mountwashington.ca for additional information including our live snow cam.