|
 British
Columbia provides some of the best skiing in North America,
and Vancouver Island slopes are second to none! By virtue
of its location between the Pacific Ocean and the Strait
of Georgia, Mt. Washington gets heaped with snow during
the season.
Thrill-seekers can golf, sail or scuba dive in the morning,
ski in the afternoon and revel in a hot tub in the evening.
Whether you ski the diamond slopes or challenge the
all-natural Snowboard Park, you'll have a winter vacation
to cherish for a lifetime.
There
are two Ski Resorts on Vancouver Island:
Mt. Washington and Area
Mt. Washington Ski Resort
is the premier resort on Vancouver Island, located in
the Comox Valley west of Courtenay. The snow here is often
deeper than anywhere else in British Columbia, and occasionally
deeper than anywhere else in the world! That was Mount
Washington's claim to fame in late 1995. Try as they might,
no matter where the staff called, no one could beat the
more than 21 feet of snowpack that just kept falling and
falling.
Mount Washington has long been known for having good snow
conditions from early in winter to well past Easter. This
accounts, in part, for Mount Washington being the second-busiest
winter recreation destination in BC, behind Whistler/Blackcomb.
It doesn't take long to discover why this part of the
province continues to attract new arrivals from across
the country. With a temperate coastal climate, it is possible
to ride bicycles on local trails year-round, yet be up
in the snowfields with a half-hour drive.
A great deal of Mount Washington's charm comes from its
location. Mount Washington's chairlift glides to a mile
above sea level, and on a clear day, visitors have a 360-degree
panorama of the Strait of Georgia and the Sunshine Coast
from Powell River to Sechelt, with the peaks of the Coast
Mountains rising in a long march behind. Closer at hand,
the many peaks adorning Strathcona Park's Forbidden Plateau
region look equally magnificent. Take your fill of the
inspiring vista and set off on one of the world-class
alpine runs, groomed daily to ensure excellent run quality.
Snowboarding: Experience the thrill of the Snow
Zone! Mt. Washington's Snowboard Park includes 2 Terrain
Parks and a half pipe maintained with a pipe grinder,
guaranteed to test the most skilled of snowboarders. The
slopes offer plenty of enjoyable and challenging runs
down to the high-speed lifts that will return you to snowboard
heaven.
Cross-Country Skiing and Snowboarding: Although
Vancouver Island is renowned for its steep, rugged mountains,
there's also great beauty in the mellow, rounded hills
and snow-carpeted meadows. This terrain is ideal for cross-country
skiing and snowshoeing, great aerobic activities for the
whole family, or the wandering couple and invigorating
exercise for the fitness fanatics. Forty kilometres of
quiet track-set trails, partially located in Strathcona
Provincial Park, will provide enough terrain for the most
demanding adventurer to explore.
Nordic skiers on Mt. Washington enjoy some of the most
diverse and scenic trails in the Pacific Northwest. All
trails are track-set for classic and have a centre lane
groomed for skating. From the cozy, cross-country day
lodge at Mount Washington, a series of loop trails offers
workouts of between 3 and 12 km long across the gentle
terrain of Paradise Meadows. All told, there are
over 40 km of skating-style and double-track cross-country
trails around Mount Washington.
Intermediate and advanced nordic skiers can take advantage
of a specially priced lift ticket for the Red Chair, from
which you can descend into the upper West Meadows
along 10 km of tracked trails. For some of the best cross-country
terrain anywhere, try the Lake Trail Loop and the Upper
West Trail. There's an unhurried nature to cross-country
skiing at Mt. Washington.
Snowshoeing is the best and easiest way to access the
outdoors in winter time. Strap on your snowshoes and hit
the trails at Mt. Washington. Don't miss the Lantern Light
Cross-Country and Snowshoeing tour through the incredible
meadows of Mt. Washington. Glide along under a canopy
of stars, with only lanterns or headlights to guide you
home.
Families that have diverse interests within their group
will appreciate having both alpine and backcountry facilities
within a short walking distance of each other at Mt. Washington.
While some members are riding the ski lifts, others can
be exercising in the quiet of the backcountry. Some of
the best views of Mt. Washington's alpine terrain are
from out in Paradise Meadows.
Snowmobiling: Vancouver Island's hundreds of kilometres
of old logging roads provide convenient access to remote
forests and mountain ranges. Snowmobile touring on the
island combines exploration of unexplored areas with panoramic
views of distant valleys and towering peaks.
With abundant snowfall and spectacular views, Mt. Washington
is a great place for snowmobiling, offering unlimited
adventure. Snowmobiling is not permitted beyond the 10-km
marker! Snowmobile rentals are available in Courtenay
and Campbell River, and guided snowmobiling tours can
also be arranged.
Winter Camping: Self-sufficient skiers intent on
winter camping use these trails as starting points for
exploring the Battleship Lake and Lake Helen MacKenzie
region and beyond.
Snow Tubing: Lift accessed and night lift, 3 chutes.
Rentals: Skis, snowboards, snowshoes and tow sleds
are available from the rental shop on Mt. Washington.
Rentals are also available from Sports
Rent, located in Victoria.
The Mt. Washington Ski Bus Company departs daily from
the front door of Sports Rent all season. Luxury coaches
transport enthusiasts to the mountain, arriving prior
to the lifts opening and departing shortly after the last
run of the day. The bus ride includes on-board movies
and meal stops. For the convenience of those not wishing
to wait in lines, lift pass vouchers for Mt. Washington
may be purchased at Sports Rent as well.
The Mount Washington
Ski Area lies 31 km west of Hwy 19 in Courtenay, and is
accessible from Courtenay,
Comox and Campbell
River. Visitors can arrange to stay in either the
on-hill accommodations or in the nearby Comox
Valley. If you're not into driving, shuttle buses
to the mountain run from a number of hotels in Courtenay.
Mt. Cain and Area
Mt. Cain is located in
Mt. Cain Regional Park, off Highway 19 north of Campbell
River, and is run by the non-profit Mt. Cain Alpine Park
Society. It is Vancouver Island's only community owned
and operated ski and snowboard facility, with plenty of
enjoyable and challenging runs.
At Mount Cain you'll find untouched powder which has built
up over the week, virtually no line-ups for lifts and
the friendly, welcoming atmosphere of a family oriented
mountain. With its island interior location, Mt. Cain
has drier snow than other Coastal mountains, and better
spring skiing conditions. Mt. Cain (1,646m) is open on
weekends and ski holidays in the winter, offering 18 downhill
runs (vertical drop 450 m) and 15 km of unmarked cross-country
trails to explore.
Mt. Cain is accessed from the Island Highway 19 and is
located 8 km south of the Woss turnoff. It's a 16-km ride
on a gravel road from the highway to the day lodge. Roads
are regularly maintained by the mountain's maintenance
department, assisted by the forest companies.
Mt. Arrowsmith
The Mt. Arrowsmith Ski Area, located between Parksville
and Port Alberni is no longer operational.
For skiing and winter recreation information for the British
Columbia mainland, visit BritishColumbia.com/Ski. |
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