Sasquatch Mountain Resort is now open for skiers and boarders, after a bit of a rough start.
The resort opened a few of its more advanced runs on Dec. 21, marking the first day of the season that patrons could set out on the hills.
It's OPENING DAY at Sasquatch Mountain Resort!
We received 8cm overnight and are sitting at a 146cm base up top with 56cm at the lodge. Skyline Chair will be open today from 9am to 3:30pm with a… https://t.co/rWlGbOAFLm
— Sasquatch Mtn Resort (@SasquatchResort) December 21, 2018
The resort opening followed the Thursday windstorm that took out power across the Lower Mainland. The resort was without power for three and a half days, but was able to run its lifts and lodge off a generator.
RELATED: More than 300,000 without power at one point due to B.C. wind storm
“When everyone was without power down in the city, we were fully operational up here,” Shelby Lim, director of sales, marketing and business development for the resort, said. “People actually had no idea the power wasn’t on.”
In January 2018, a power outage left 120 skiers and snowboarders stranded on a chairlift for about three hours on New Years Eve. The resort bought a larger generator after the incident, so it could power all of the chairlifts and the lodge.
RELATED: Chairlift malfunction strands 120 skiers and snowboarders
“It’s so extreme up here,” she said. “It was nice to be able to provide a warm place for even the people in the village.”
The resort was fully open by Boxing Day. Snow has been falling throughout the holiday season, and the resort has been more than 76 centimetres of snow since it opened.
RELATED: Sasquatch Mountain Resort gets first snow fall to the delight of local skiers and snowboarders
According to Lim the resort saw more than 5,000 people come in the first week of it being open, despite the power outage and the main road to the resort being closed.
My 5 year old is ripping at Sasquatch Mountain today. #teamnuun #seemerlag pic.twitter.com/Ig1LiLscS8
— Willa Balfour (@WillaBalfour) December 24, 2018
“Now that Christmas is over, it’s been absolutely perfect,” Lim said.
Sasquatch Mountain Resort will be open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. until around March 31. (The resort’s closing date may change based on weather conditions.)
-with files from Nina Grossman
grace.kennedy@ahobserver.comLike us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter
