The new Sun Peaks Resort sign at the top of Sundance Mountain. (Photo via Sun Peaks Resort)
It is a sure sign of winter as Sun Peaks Resort will officially be turning on the lifts for another season of skiing and snowboarding beginning this weekend.
Marketing Director Aaron Macdonald says the resort will be easing into things as it awaits more snow.
“It is limited skiing terrain,” he said. “Mother Nature hasn’t dumped the precipitation that we hoped for but the temperatures have been good and with the lower temperatures we’ve been able to blow quite a bit of snow there, which has been great.”
“We had race training up here the last few weeks but yeah, we’re officially opening up tomorrow for limited skiing. We’re super excited.”
The Nov. 18 opening makes Sun Peaks the first ski resort in B.C. to be open for upcoming winter season. In all, there will be five runs open up this weekend with both the Sunburst Express and Elevation chairlifts set to being turning at 9 a.m.
Those runs include 5 Mile, Cahilty, Gentle Giant, Sunbeam, and Base Camp (previously known as the Platter Park).
Macdonald says overnight camping ahead of opening day will not be allowed this year, though people will be able to head to the resort early Saturday morning to claim their spot.
“We know there are some keeners out there who love to claim first chair bragging rights via a chilly night of camping,” he said. “To help our teams focus on opening, overnight camping for first chair will not be permitted this year.”
“I’m sure there will be a few people camped out early, not camping hopefully, but early there with breakfast and coffees.”
Speaking on NL Mornings, Macdonald says there are some exciting new features coming to Sun Peaks this winter.
“We’ve opened up a few more sort of acres of gladed areas, so we’ve opened up a bit more trees so its going to be a bit more glade skiing and I’m sure you know glade skiing is super fun, and you can sort of bash your way through the trees,” Macdonald said. “We’ve also invested in two low emission Snow Cats for this year.”
Macdonald says there are also some significant glading enhancements in the area around Three Bears as well as the sections on both sides of the Orient lift.
In all, the additions add about 17 acres of new lines and adventures in the trees.
People hoping to snowshoe or Nordic ski at Sun Peaks will have to wait a little while longer, as Macdonald says they need a little more time before those facilities can be opened.
“I’m sure there will be people out there but we’re really encouraging people to stay off because we want the precipitation to fall,” Macdonald said. “We want these trails to be properly maintained, so be patient on that one.”
– With files from Jeff Andreas
