Industry News
The snow conditions have been hard this season at many ski areas across North America. Some areas have had to shut down temporarily or completely because of it. Now, Shames Mountain, near Terrace, British Columbia, is offering a generous gesture by offering free lift access to skiers and snowboarders who hold passes to any mountain that is currently shut down or pausing operations due to poor conditions. Current ski areas nearby that remain closed include Murray Ridge, Troll, Purden, and Mount Timothy.
General Manager at Shames Mountain, Christian Theberge, explained why in an interview with cbc.ca:
“There’s been a number of ski hills, some in the north here, that have been shut down. Some only got to operate a handful of days, so those pass holders paid to ski and can’t ski. Lending a hand to our neighbors is a really good gesture. The industry on the whole needs a bit of a boost.”
Shames Mountain is nestled in the majestic Coast Mountain Range at an elevation of 2,300 feet and averages 480 inches of snowfall a year. Unfortunately, this season it hasn’t been immune to the warmer-than-normal weather and lackluster snowfall. However, partly thanks to a more northern location, they do currently have 35 inches of snow at the base area and 50 inches settled at the T-bar weather station. All runs are currently open on 252 skiable acres and 1,600 feet of vertical with spring-like conditions. For the more adventurous, the terrain leasehold covers 7,800 acres offering endless backcountry options. Shames Mountain is open Thursday to Sunday and every day during the Christmas holidays.
The resort has been billed as “the little ski area that rocks,” and it is Canada’s first non-profit community service ski cooperative. Additionally, as part of the reciprocal inter-mountain program, the mountain offers a 50% discount on a full-day lift ticket to passholders from any downhill mountain. This is a generous offer by Shames Mountain, and it hopes it can revive new life into some people’s ski season.
