Residents of Nakusp and visitors alike are excited as the Summit Lake Ski Hill is now open for the season.
Unlike last year’s season, which started in January, the hill opened for the first time on Boxing Day, which can be attributed to the higher volume of snow Nakusp has received so far this winter.
“We have a really nice base, and we’ve had lots of coverage, we’ve had fresh powder just about every day,” said Mel Paul, who works at the ski hill’s rental shop. “I’ve had nothing but good comments.”
Paul thinks being able to open over the Christmas holidays has been a boon for the ski hill, and also looks forward to the coming weeks when school programs start up.
The province’s recreation commission offers ski days to the local elementary schools, Nakusp Elementary, Edgewood Elementary, and Lucerne Elementary Secondary School in New Denver.
Each school gets three ski days. The students can choose to try skiing or snowboarding and receive an hour’s lesson before hitting the hill.
Each ski day also counts as a mark for them in their school’s physical education program.
On New Year’s Eve day, people of all ages were at the ski hill and there was a continuous line for the ski lift.
Despite the blues skies that appeared earlier in the morning, clouds rolled in early in the afternoon, bringing snow and adding another layer of fresh powder for skiers and snowboarders to enjoy.
Nakusp resident Anita Vibe was there with her family.
Vibe has been coming to Summit Lake for about ten years and appreciates that the hill is only about 15 minutes outside the village.
“I like that it’s small,” She said. “With my kids, I can see where they are, the staff are super friendly, and I know everybody here. It’s like a little community.”
Terri McLeod, a fellow Nakuspian, agrees.
“It’s very family oriented,” she said. “You see little kids up there as young as two or three.”
McLeod thinks having the skill hill in the area is important for several reasons.
“I think it’s a really stabilizing force in our community to have a recreational place where they can exercise. And it’s social, and it’s healthy,” she said.
It is hoped the hill will be able to stay open until sometime in March.
