Vancouver Island: A Top British Columbia Skiing
Adventure Destination
Want an awesome British Columbia skiing adventure? We've got it - Vancouver Island's Mount Washington. WHY IS MOUNT WASHINGTON ONE OF THE TOP BRITISH COLUMBIA SKIING RESORTS? We consistently have the deepest snow base in all of Canada (even beating the Rockies), with the added bonus of very mild temperatures. If you like skiing the Canadian Rockies, check out the sweet skiing on Vancouver Island first.
There are two destinations for skiing on Vancouver Island: Mount Washington Alpine Resort and Mount Cain.
If you're searching for some great snow sport vacations this winter, check out the Island and discover real BC skiing.
DECEMBER 7, 2009 UPDATE
Okay - GREAT start to the ski season up here on Mount Washington! The mountain opened early this winter, with an alpine snowbase currently at 179 cm, which is fantastic. Our Recommendations: #1 - come and ski mid-week if possible to avoid some long lines on the weekends; and #2 - if your budget is a bit tight this year, bring the family to the Snow Tubing Park, which is affordable, fun, and gets everyone outdoors!
What's Our Favourite?Mount Washington has been our favourite British Columbia skiing destination over the years (pleasant temperatures... and quite accessible from any point on the Island). We've been here many times, so we'll tell you all about it...
Mount Washington
Mount Washington
, the Island's biggest ski mountain (60 good runs), lies adjacent to spectacular Strathcona Provincial Park and overlooks the Pacific Ocean. The mountain averages nine metres of snow every season, making it Canada's deepest all-natural snow base! FACT: Our mountain is the second-busiest BC skiing destination, behind Whistler/Blackcomb on the mainland. THINGS TO DO ON THE MOUNTAIN:
-
alpine skiing and snowboarding
- cross-country skiing
- night skiing
- snow tubing
- snowshoeing
- tobogganing area
- adult and kids ski schools
- and now... the Luge - a 350 metre natural luge track - new as of 2005 (luge lesson is mandatory).
In addition to these snow sport vacations, you can also sign up for private lessons, ski clinics/camps, races, tours and more.
Try out some of the tours up on the mountain like the Evening Snowshoe Tour & Fondue Dinner. It's extremely popular, and tours sell out. BOOK WELL IN ADVANCE IF POSSIBLE.
AND A FIRST FOR CANADA...The resort's new $3.4 million quad chairlift is the first of its type in Canada! Nine lifts now serve the 1,600 acres of this beautiful British Columbia skiing terrain.
Rentals, Kids Ski Schools & Daycare
RENTALSYou can rent all your ski/snowboarding equipment right in the main lodge at Mount Washington. Rentals are priced fairly, but be prepared for some long lines. Locker rentals are available. Kids rentals are also available, including helmets, but be prepared for some chaos. Kids are running around everywhere trying to get outfitted. SERVICES The main lodge has a cafeteria (average food), a gift shop and other services. Bringing younger kids that can't ski? The resort offers an on-site daycare for parents that want to leave small tots while they hit the slopes. Fees are modest, but CALL AHEAD to book a spot. KIDS SKI SCHOOLS Mount Washington has a GREAT kids ski and snowboard school that we highly recommend if you have kids that want to learn. The Instructors are fantastic. They know how to deal with kids, and our son has ALWAYS come back excited. OUR TIP: Call ahead at least 48 hours before arriving to reserve a spot in the kids ski school - spaces fill super fast! Otherwise, the lineups to register kids are depressingly long, as I found out when I failed to book a spot ahead of our arrival.
Here's Nolen, trying out snowboarding on our ski trip January 2006. We started him with the morning kids snowboarding lessons. By 2 p.m., he was on the green chairlift with us hitting the easy runs! Here he is, ready to go down with us!
The facilities for kids is what makes Mount Washington one of the best family ski resorts!
When you come to BC, skiing Mount Washington's only half the adventure. The other half is the scenery. This is some of the most spectacular scenery of all British Columbia ski resort destinations! From the chairlift, on a clear day, you'll have a stunning panoramic view of part of the Island, the Strait of Georgia, and the Mainland Coast Mountains in the distance to the East.
How To Get Here
Centrally located, the mountain is accessed right off Hwy 19 - take Exit 130. The road is paved all the way to the top. It's about a 2.5 hour drive from Victoria and about 75 minutes from Nanaimo. The closest community is Courtenay, situated in the Comox Valley. You can make it a real British Columbia skiing adventure by staying right on the mountain for cozy winter nights. Mount Washington has some really good ski chalet and condo accommodations, but BOOK AHEAD.
Where To Stay
There are some fairly reasonably-priced options for your ski vacation accommodation here on Vancouver Island.
Click Here for our list of accommodations
for your Mount Washington ski vacation.
WANT REMOTE SKI WILDERNESS ADVENTURES?If you're looking for a more rugged, out-of-the-way ski adventure, then
Click Here to find out about skiing at Mount Cain
on northern Vancouver Island. One word describes it: POWDER!
Vancouver Island is a fantastic BC skiing destination! Come on out - Your snow adventures are all right here!
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