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Vancouver Island Ski-ing ...Discover Mt. Washington for yourself!
Vancouver Island skiing adventures begin on the breathtaking upper slopes of Mount Washington and take you down at top speed through swift runs and challenging gullies to the warmth of the lodge at the bottom.(Video at the bottom of the page!)
As you can see from the map, Mt. Washington is located about 2 hours drive, north and west of Nanaimo. Directly west from Comox. (The green area west of Courtenay on the map below!)
From early winter to early spring, often well past Easter, you'll find ideal slope conditions on Mount Washington and wonderful lodge amenities at the Mount Washington Alpine Resort. Night ski-ing runs until the end of March and day ski-ing usually until one week after Easter. The mountainside offers a wide range of skiing adventure, from night skiing to the quieter snowshoeing trails that criss-cross pristine white vistas.
Vancouver Island Skiing At Mount Washington
No matter what your skill level is, you'll find the best Vancouver Island skiing challenges at Mount Washington.
Here is a short list of snow activities:
* 60 marked runs * Snow camping * Snowshoeing trails * Cross country skiing * Night-time skiing * Night-time snow tubing * An advanced terrain park
In addition, the resort is updating and adding even more activities every year. Mount Washington has never been closed once the season is underway, and "in season" has an average of 10 metres of snowfall.
One of the best amenities you'll find at Mount Washington is the expansive access to nighttime skiing activities. This sport, which has grown in popularity over the last decade, adds thrill and excitement to even simple ski runs: beautiful stars when you're between bright lights, blue snow in front of you, and the sounds of nocturnal animals taking the place of your "whish..." every time you pause for a break. If you've never tried skiing this way, you've much more to discover!
When Vancouver Island skiing during the day, the views from Mount Washington are spectacular and among the best in British Columbia. The Strait of Georgia separates you from the Sunshine Coast, with the Coast Mountains as a perfect backdrop; and behind you, the mountains and Forbidden Plateaus of Strathcona Park frame a clear blue sky. On clear sunny days, bring a camera with you; you'll really need it.
The Mount Washington Alpine Resort
When you're worn out from a long day of Vancouver Island skiing, this excellent resort has everything you need: restaurants, shops, massage, and traditional lodge surroundings down to the crackling fire and lofty wood ceilings.
The resort also offers excellent business meeting facilities, perfect for blending your Vancouver Island skiing passion with a little work on the side. The conference rooms are newly decorated, and new ones are added on periodically. You'll also be able to take advantage of state-of-the-art AV equipment and wiring.
If you don't want to stay at the main resort, excellent accommodations can also be found in the Comox Valley nearby, from bed and breakfasts to inexpensive motels. Many of these lodgings offer Vancouver Island skiing packages, with lift tickets and other amenities as well as a shuttle bus to the park. Note that the shuttle bus is a very good idea; Strathcona Parkway is difficult terrain without good snow tires or tire chains.
Also in Comox Valley, you can find everything you need for your Vancouver Island skiing vacation, from equipment rentals and lessons to four-wheel drive vehicle rentals and camping gear.
It's also the transportation center for the area, with daily flights from Calgary and Edmonton and HeliJet service from Seattle (yes, Comox has a small airport!). Ferry service is also convenient to the area, coming in from Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo and Tsawwassen to Victoria.
Okay you waited long enough...below is a longer video (five and a half minutes) made as a media video for the Mount Washington Alpine Centre. Great footage of all the activities...watch for the red car on ski's!!...sound on if you want to hear some very cool music...if you don't want to discover this gem, after seeing this video then you need help!!
See, we've been there, we knew.....what did they say?....one of the few places you can surf and ski on the same day....something like that....something else you really need to discover!
One of the best amenities you'll find at Mount Washington is the expansive access to nighttime skiing activities. This sport, which has grown in popularity over the last decade, adds thrill and excitement to even simple ski runs: beautiful stars when you're between bright lights, blue snow in front of you, and the sounds of nocturnal animals taking the place of your "whish..." every time you pause for a break. If you've never tried skiing this way, you've much more to discover!
