Operations Update: Hitting Historical Snow Depths

It’s been an incredible week of fresh snowfall! We’ve seen consistent overnight and early-morning snowfalls, pushing us toward historical snow depth records across the resort and surpassing 350 cm of natural snowfall. Some runs in areas like the Orchard & the North which traditionally remain open on natural snow only, are boasting packed snow bases of 50 cm or more. On average, our snow depth across the resort is close to hitting 125cm. The ongoing snowfall has been a dream for powder hounds, but it does present some challenges—particularly for those used to groomed terrain. Despite our ongoing nightly and mid-day grooming efforts, the fresh powder can quickly cover groomed terrain in the early morning hours, creating soft and variable conditions. For those unfamiliar with skiing or riding in fresh powder, it’s a different skill set than cruising on groomed corduroy. Once the powder is skied on, it can lead to bumpy, variable conditions, which may be more challenging for beginner and intermediate-level skiers and riders. If you’re out on the slopes, take your time adjusting to the changing snow texture and enjoy the thrill of great winter riding. We’re also gearing up for an exciting weekend as we welcome the 24 Hour at Blue event in support of Special Olympics Ontario and the Blue Mountain Village Foundation. This incredible relay event will see teams skiing and snowboarding around the clock. The Silver Bullet lift will be running for a full 24 hours straight to accommodate competitors. Smart Alec will be groomed overnight Friday ahead of the event, and will not be groomed again until Sunday night, which means conditions may vary on this trail throughout the weekend. If you’re planning to ski or ride on Smart Alec, be prepared for changing terrain as the event unfolds. Terrain Park Update It’s been a busy time for our Park Crew! We’ve introduced two new features in the Badlands, and last week, the cross track in L-Park received a full rebuild. With record-breaking snowfall, our team has had their hands full clearing snow off takeoffs, rails, and features. This process, which includes manually shovelling, raking, and dyeing, can take time, sometimes delaying the opening of our terrain parks by a couple of hours. We appreciate your patience during these snowy mornings. As we work through the snowpack, we’ll be closing down Badlands on Tuesday for a refresh. But don’t worry—The Grove and Yahoo parks will remain open for those looking to hit the features while we work on the updates. With all this fresh snow and exciting events, it’s safe to say this has been an amazing season so far! Stay safe, have fun, and we’ll see you on the slopes!