With close to 70 centimetres of snow packed, Mount Timothy Ski Resort's season is officially beginning on Friday, Dec. 20.
Mount Timothy Ski Hill general manager Launna Groves said she and her team are excited to open the ski hill again after a lack of snow last winter caused them to cancel the 2023/2024 season. Thanks to cooler temperatures and more precipitation, Groves is confident they'll be able to have a good long season this year.
"We got dumped on (Tuesday) night and we got about 70 centimetres mid-mountain. It will still be marginal conditions and unfortunately as of right now I do not believe our expansion will be open, I need more snow over there," Groves said, noting the expansion refers to the hill's black diamond runs.
That being said Groves said all of their blue and green routes have enough snow and she's hoping things will run smoothly this year. On Friday Groves said the resort's lifts will start up at 9 a.m. and run until 3:15 p.m. Her plan is to be open every day from Dec. 20 to Jan. 5 next to Christmas Day, before settling into the hill's regular schedule of Thursday to Sunday.
"Not being open last year we had that down year so we're hoping all the bugs will all be worked out and everything will go smooth. We have a full staff, we're ready to go and everybody is trained," Groves said. "We're hoping for an amazing season. I keep saying we're going to get twice as much snow because I'm owed a season."
Groves said the ski hill has sold quite a few season passes already, in addition to the ones they're honouring from last year. She noted they also have 10-day punch cards available and regular day rates for avid skiers.
Day passes cost $78.75 for adults, youth aged 13-18 is $59, junior five to 12 is $47.25 and seniors 65 to 79 is $65, all plus tax. Meanwhile, the 10-day punch cards for adults are $714, youth are $551, juniors are $441 and seniors are $525.
Groves said the ski hill's typical season lasts until the last Sunday of March, however, if conditions are good she hopes to extend it this year into mid-April. She encourages anyone with an interest in skiing to come out and visit the mountain.
"I've got some amazing new staff this year, one gentleman from Chile and two from Germany and they got some great ideas and we'll see (what events) we come up with," Groves said. "I can't wait to see everyone's smiling faces, I didn't get to see them last year. It will be great to see all those regulars back."
