Winter has arrived in Sun Peaks and anticipation is building as Mother Nature has been dropping snow on the resort. However the decision has been made to push back Opening Day to Saturday, November 23.
Resort officials say that snow is holding at higher elevations and the mid-mountain base is currently 45 centimetres. Snowmaking efforts began earlier this month and will soon resume in full force with temperatures forecast to cool this week.
Communications Director Christina Antoniak says it has had some recent warmer weather impacting conditions. “It’s in the valley where it’s affected the natural snow that has fallen and over the last several weeks leading up to what would have been our opening. Those warmer temperatures have just had a bit of a negative impact with the lower elevations. Lots of snow at the top of the world, top of the mountain is looking pretty good. We’ve got a 45 centimeter snow base, but we need more snow at the lower elevation.
“With those warmer temperatures, we’ve also had to put a temporary pause on snow making. So snow making efforts look like they’re going to be resuming at some point this week. The short term forecast is looking quite favorable. We’ve got cooler temperatures on the way and some more snowfall in the forecast as well. So we’re pretty confident about that November 23 date. But unfortunately, that did have to just push by a week this year.”
Antoniak says they need temperatures to stay a couple degrees below freezing to make snow. “We need sustained temperatures at about -2°C. And that is day time and over and overnight temperatures to be able to kick in the snow making operations. That allows us to actually make the snow and make it worth the effort that the snow is actually going to last once it’s made. So I saw the guns were working a little bit this morning, but it did warm up a little bit during the afternoon here. I think we’re sitting about 4°C in the village.”
Planned Opening Day festivities will still occur, but have been rescheduled. Check the event calendar for details.
