With winter weather finally here, the Stake Lake ski trails and Harper Mountain near Kamloops will both open for the season this weekend.

The Overlanders Ski Club will begin operations at Stake Lake, south of Kamloops, on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024.

“We’ve finally got enough snow to open this Saturday,” a post from the Overlanders Ski Club on Facebook said. “It is still early season conditions, so there may still be some sticks poking out and thin spots on the trails.”

“We are going to try set some classic tracks today and we will provide information on which trails they are located on later today. Not all trails will have tracks set quite yet.”

It is a much later opening at the Stake Lake ski trails compared to last season which got underway on Nov. 26, 2022, because of an abundance of snow.

Efforts to open up ahead of New Year’s Eve included shoveling snow off of Stake Lake onto a ski trail, but those efforts ultimately proved futile as warm weather led to icy conditions.

Cross country skiers who hit the trails this weekend are being cautioned as several trails will be closed for the time-being.

“The snow is still too thin on a few of them for skiing,” the post said. “Information on the trails that are open will be updated on our website and at the booth.”

Harper Mountain, which also postponed its opening date last month due to a lack of snow, is also set to gradually begin operations on Saturday.

“Finally good news,” owners of Harper Mountain said on Facebook. “Gradual opening Saturday and Sunday for the T-Bar and Handle Tow. Tube Park is still being prepared…possibly Sunday.”

The mountain’s ski shop and cafeteria will also be open this weekend.

Sun Peaks Resort, which has been operating since Nov. 18, also lent a snow gun to Harper Mountain owing to a lack of snow in December.

For the latest conditions at Harper Mountain, check their website or Facebook page.