Mount Washington Resort Reviews
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Visitor reviews for Mount Washington Ski Resort
(NOTE: Reviews may be edited by our content team for the purposes of ensuring accurate and relevant information)
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May 01, 2013
chico from Canada
Sorry to hear that the bike park will not be open for 2013. I'm sure the limited amount of riders who used it will miss it greatly. But it's all about demand. See you in the new ski season. Can't wait.
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Mount Washington Ratings
Based on 91 votes. Vote
Access: 4.3
(1) At least one overnight stop, (2) requires a whole day, (3) requires more than half a day – you may have time for a few turns (4) arrive by lunchtime and ski all afternoon, (5) there is a main airport within an hour of Mount Washington.
Public Transport: 3.3
(1) There are no buses or taxis to Mount Washington, (3) there are slow or infrequent buses / trains available, (5) getting to the resort is easy with frequent bus / train connections.
Scenery: 3.9
(1) An ugly resort in a bland setting, (3) average mountain views and resort, (5) a spectacular setting and a beautiful / historic resort town.
Accommodation: 3.4
(1) No places to stay in/near Mount Washington, (3) a few places to stay in the resort, (5) a wide variety of accommodation suitable to suit all budgets.
Cheap Rooms: 2.4
(1) No budget accommodation available, (3) just one or two hostels so book ahead, (5) several cheap hostels and pensions available.
Luxury Hotels: 2.6
(1) No luxury accommodation available, (3) just one or two luxury hotels so book ahead, (5) several up-market hotels in Mount Washington.
Ski in/Ski out: 3.9
(1) The ski area is located far from any accommodation, (3) a free ski bus takes you to the ski area in a short trip, (5) Ski-in ski-out accommodation is available.
Childcare: 3.3
(1) There are no child care facilities at Mount Washington, (5) the resort has excellent child-care facilities including at least one reasonably priced creche.
Snowsure: 4.0
(1) Occasionally gets enough snow for skiing, (2) is often closed due to a lack of snow, (3) occasionally suffers from a lack of snow, (4) rarely suffers from a lack of snow, (5) Mount Washington is snowsure even in the poorest seasons.
Snowmaking: 1.5
(1) Mount Washington relies entirely on natural snow, (3) there are just a few snow cannons, (5) there are snowmaking facilities on all pistes.
Snow Grooming: 3.4
(1) There are no snow groomers at Mount Washington, (3) occasionally some pistes are left ungroomed and in a poor state, (5) all the runs at Mount Washington are groomed daily.
Shelter: 3.4
(1) there is nowhere to ski when it is windy or visibility is bad and lifts often shut, (3) there are some trees for poor visibility but main lifts sometimes close, (5) Mount Washington is mostly in forest where you can ski in flat-light and windy days, lifts rarely close.
Nearby options: 1.7
(1) If snow conditions are poor at Mount Washington, it will be poor everywhere nearby, (3) there are good alternatives within an hours drive, (5) other locations on the same lift pass provide a rich variety of snowsure ski conditions.
Regional rating: 3.9
(1) Mount Washington usually has poor snow conditions compared to other resorts in region, (3) has average conditions for the region, (5) usually has the best snow conditions in the region.
Lift Staff: 3.6
(1) The staff at Mount Washington are rude or unhelpful, (5) lift staff at Mount Washington are pleasant, cheerful and eager to help.
Crowds/Queues: 3.0
(1) the resort is always busy and there are usually long lift queues, (3) it is quiet apart from occasional weekends and school holidays, (5) it is uncrowded and lift queues are very rare.
Ski Schools: 3.7
(1) No ski schools available, (2) one or two ski schools but local language only, (3) a few ski schools but book early for multi-lingual instructors, (4) plenty of ski schools and multi-lingual instructors available, (5) excellent ski schools with friendly multi-lingual ski instructors.
Hire and Repairs: 3.8
(1) Nothing can be sourced, not even ski-wax or ptex. (3) there are some ski shops but rentals need to be booked in advance, (5) good quality ski equipment can be purchased or hired and overnight repairs are possible.
Variety of pistes: 3.6
(1) The ski runs are featureless and unvaried, (3) the ski runs are varied but not extensive enough for a week, (5) Mount Washington has diverse and interesting pistes including forests and high alpine terrain.
Beginners: 4.0
(1) Beginners can only watch others ski and snowboard, (3) a few gentle slopes but beginners will get bored in less than a week, (3) Vast areas of gentle terrain.
Intermediates: 3.9
(1) No intermediate terrain at Mount Washington, (3) intermediate skiers will get bored after a few days, (5) vast areas of cruising runs.
Advanced: 3.6
(1) Nothing for advanced skiers and snowboarders, (3) enough steep terrain for a few days with some good offpiste, (5) Enough steep terrain and offpiste areas to entertain advanced skiers for at least a week.
Snow Park: 3.4
(1) Not even a kicker at Mount Washington, (3) average sized park quite well looked after, (5) huge park area and expertly crafted pipes, jumps and boardercross trails.
Off-piste: 3.2
(1) No off-piste worth mentioning, (2) off piste is out-of-bounds, (3) some varied offpiste that stays fresh for one or two days, (5) a vast array of off-piste routes that can stay untracked for several days.
Cross-country: 4.2
(1) There is nowhere to go for cross-country skiing around Mount Washington, (3) there are some cross country trails available, (5) the area features many spectacular and well maintained cross-country trails.
Luge/Toboggan: 2.3
(1) No designated luge or toboggan runs, (3) there are toboggan runs that open quite often, (5) Mount Washington has long and well maintained luge / toboggan facilities suitable for all ages.
Mountain Dining: 2.8
(1) Nowhere to buy food by the pistes, (3) some places to eat up on the mountain but they are often busy and expensive, (5) there is a variety of excellent mountain eateries right next to the slopes to suit all budgets.
Eating: 2.7
(1) Bring your own food, there isn't even a shop. (5) A wide variety of places to eat and drink in the resort, from fast food to fancy restaurants.
Apres-Ski: 2.6
(1) Nothing to do, not even a bar, (3) there are a few bars in the resort but nothing special, (5) clubs and bars stay open until very late and have a friendly atmosphere.
Other Sports: 1.7
(1) No sports facilities at all apart from ski lifts, (3) resort has just a small public swimming pool, (5) resort has all kinds of sports facilities, including a full-size swimming pool.
Entertainment: 2.2
(1) Besides the snow and walking there is nothing to do here, (3) the non-skier will find things to do for few days but may become bored after a week, (5) the resort area is a fascinating place to visit, regardless of winter sports.
Winter Walks: 3.1
(1) Very limited walking and no snowshoe trails, (3) a couple of designated scenic walking/snowshoe trails, (5) extensive and diverse winter walking trails for all abilities.
Ski Pass Value: 2.6
(1) A 1 week ski pass is overpriced compared to the number of lifts available, (3) the ski pass is averagely priced and covers a reasonable number of lifts, (5) ski passes are excellent value for money and cover a lot of lifts spanning a big area.
Value (National): 2.7
(1) Overall, Mount Washington is one of the most expensive ski resorts in the country and not worth the money, (3) overall represents average value for money, (5) overall offers the best value resort in the country.
Value (Global): 2.8
(1) Overall, Mount Washington is one of the most expensive ski resorts in the world, (3) overall it offers pretty average value for money compared to resorts from other countries, (5) internationally the resort offers excellent value for money.
Based on 91 votes. Vote
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April 13, 2013
Sleepercell from Canada
Holy smokes! I can't believe the mountain would ruin my dreams of skiing the sweet, sweet ice fields until the 21st of April. I only bounced off three rocks and got two coreshots yesterday; I could have been doing that during the week when they made the ludicrous decision to close. The management wants to make us believe that a "lack of snow" and "warmer than average temperatures" are to blame. Hogwash. Corporate mumbo-jumbo. I overheard something about farming snow on the mountain. Why don't they just add some more snow seeds earlier in the season? It's called foresight.
Don't even get me started on how much they've reduced my season's pass to a meaningless piece of plastic. I may have already gotten enough ski days to pay it four times over, but when I absolutely demanded they stay open until June at the Ticket Kiosk, they just laughed at me and told me to deal with it. How am I going to get my two runs in on Coaster? Who will keep Timmy's Traverse an actual traverse?
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April 08, 2013
powwow from Canada
What a surprise, passholders are squashed on managements' whim. No longer raking in the bucks on day tickets, screw our commitment to staying open, the forecast doesn't look good so we are closed. What a crock. Tomorrow, clear skies, 'corn snow, would have been a great day. Your lack of commitment to stay open is shallow and pathetic.
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April 06, 2013
OTIS MUCKCHIP from Canada
Well now, they did it again, Another hell of a great attempt for Timmy the Washington snow prince. Finished the season off on east bullets.
Did at least 3 twisters, one spread hawk back scratcher and a mut grab to 760, donkey kick. It was so sick people yelled from the chair "go home you Victorian idiot". Why do people from the valley have to be rude up here? I just want sick powder turns! "Said in a Australian accent". Anyways, lets hope the rumour about the gondola from Wolf lake next year is true. I will be the first to hot box it then pry the door open and super daffy ski out of it. -
March 11, 2013
Chumpski from Canada
Sweet to have the lifts open early for the season's pass holders, seems to me after having a pass for the last 12 years this was really nice and was great for those of us that heard about it via the grape vine. Not sure where the miss communication was?. Oh well, we went skiing with a couple of other pass holders. Sure, they lost a heap of money with that stunt. Where was staff (I loaded the Hawk chairlift myself?) Hope they don't shuffle their mismanagement woes and uneducated decisions onto the backs of us, the rate payers of mount Washington (season pass holders). Sheeez, thanks again?
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March 07, 2013
blue man goop from Canada
Yesterday I bought a burger at Mount Wash. I've been eating here for the last 30 years and every burger I have ever had up here comes with a pickle (obviously). I've been to Whistler, pickles! I've been to Whitewater, pickles! Even Seymour has pickles on their burgers. Today I asked management about pickles; they told me to "not worry about it" really?! What kind of operation are you running!? Is there a conspiracy against me and my pickle? Well, hear this Mount Washington: once you are a pickle, you can't go back to being a cucumber. That is all, from a hungry friend.
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March 07, 2013
CHUMPSKI from Canada
What a week we have had, all of the fresh pow pow has yet to be skied out, seems like the snow gods are smiling again. Missed it you say, well not to worry this place gets the best and most powder anywhere. Good luck with your power traversing see ya out there!
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March 04, 2013
powder cowboy from Canada
Holly smokes, can't we all just get along. To another reviewer, yes, I do work on the hill to satisfy your curiosity, but is that relevant as we all have a right to express our opinions on this public web site. We can all learn from each other. I do think you are being a little paranoid as to staff using this site for a secret agenda as most of us are just trying to work and have fun. Re dads and the disput over names, does it really matter what we call Out of bounds runs??? Only point I can see is that if we need to explain to someone where someone is say for a rescue or meeting spot. Here's a few local names: from the top of the eagle dropping toward the boom the obvious chute that cuts the north face is "Heroin Chute". After you cross the traverse track that side cuts the upper hike chutes just outside the boundary is a tight chute called "Root Chute" then the face that everyone poaches just above the first gate into the Outback is "Woodies". Looking up at the north bowl from Thunderdome just lookers left of the north face is a rock pinnacle "Tele Spire" then a blunt rock face "Cougar Rock". The treeline to the left coming off the ridge is the "T1 trees" (even has a sign post if you look carefully near the top).. Looking up from the Makay load there is the big chute, yeah, the rad looking one "Beggin For It" and then some smaller chute lines to lookers left the "Beggin strips" then we hit the makay clear cut (the one everyone skiis) tucked around the corner and dumping out onto 9k is" Annias". Follow the height of land and you are on the burnt ridge. That should help if you need to call in with a location. Maybe next we can cover the sunrise ridge system. Feel free one and all to add in info and we can all work together. Have fun and play safe..
P.s. these names have been handed down from the beginning of Mt Washington's time from staff and local legends. Oh and yes, I started skiing here on opening day if you wondered.[note from the editor : this post will be the last to appear related to the subject 'names of runs at Mount Washington'}
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March 02, 2013
CHUMPSKI from Canada
Myself and family used to ski that terrain. However, it seems that we are in peril and possibly due for some type of accident. I suggest we all, yes you know who ya are, take just a few minutes to engage the brain, before opening the typewriter or mouth.
[note from the editor : some text removed for the sake of relevance. ]
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February 28, 2013
Radder Than Thou from Canada
How dare you folks question these (KooKie) dad's names? They are obviously Mt Washy Loc's to the 10th degree. Proof:
1) Crazy "original" names for micro-terrain that everyone else has their own "original" names for... but they were there first (along with everyone else)
2) Name dropping Al, our glorious retired semi-pro (hey... do you guys know Douglas? Cooool...)
3) Telemark god complex ('nuf said)
4) Continuing the legacy of parents teaching their kids to make poor choices... Joining the hoards of gumbies hiking the N.Bowl sans any avy gear (real s-m-r-t)
5) Constant posts on snowforecast.com griping/bragging(?)/chattering about the hill and its radness or lack of radness (although this is appreciated for levity's sake)
6) And finally and most credible reason for them to be crowned Princes and Kings of the Mount Washington slack-country: Claiming (repeatedly) super-rad lines that have "traverse" in their super-rad name... that's super-rad... God bless the traversing masses of our beloved ski hill!From all of us mere skiers, We Salute You!
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February 25, 2013
Daddybigbucks from Canada
Listen up, there's many off-piste runs up there that my boy and I have traversed, planked, slalomed and stove pipe pioneered over the years and we named them all after some good wholesome father son times like when my son stove piped down poppas pipes! We only ski out of bounds ala Aspen XXXtreme style and where no one can judge when we wanna stovepipe it or meat up with dirt and his dad on dirts dads meat curtains. These are the actual names of the runs out of bounds so if you wanna come play with the big dads then strap on your telemark skis and well show you Timmy's traverse.
[note from the editor : some text removed to maintain relevance]
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February 21, 2013
faceplant from Canada
Get your names correct: it's not Poppa's Pipe, its called Hash Pipe. And I am assuming by "Stove Pipe" you mean Hot Knife.
And big thanks to the patrol who pulled my broken ass friend out of Beggars Ridge.
[note from the editor: some text removed to maintain relevance]
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February 21, 2013
Dad hunter from Canada
Hey, I'm the dad hunter. Dads run is a figure of speach!
I grew up on the hill since I was two! I used to steal instructors lunches from beneath the staircase which was used as a lunch room for them.
I was in nancy green ski league. There were two chairs: the green and blue, then old thriller red came, that's when we noticed Timmy's traverse. I got spanked by my dad on Hamburger Hill for telling the secrets of his stashes, that is where the orange is now, or Sunrise chair etc!
Bottom line, mess with the Dads get the horn. -
February 20, 2013
The local from Canada
Hey dad dude.. Your made up names for runs don't make any sense to the rest of us. Get to know a local and use the proper names so we can help.
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February 20, 2013
The local from Canada
Thursday rocked. 30+ cm of powder and boom opened at 9:30. Thanked a patrol and he humbly said it was due to good snow and the early day light. Thanks anyway guys you are all doing a great job this season and the avalanche team is getting it done this year. Interesting point was made that the avalanche patrol cant be on the slopes till it is light out due to restraints from Work Safe. The red coats love skiing as much as the rest of us and I am sure they would love to get things cracking asap but they get bogged down by paper work just like you and me I guess. Any ways thanks dudes for a stellar day. Remember to that the red coats start the avalanche shift at 5:00 and 6:30 when we are still in bed dreaming of the pow to come and they do it for the love of shredding certainly not the minimum wage..
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February 20, 2013
Paine Kuhstomoer from Canada
I have been a Mt Washington customer for 20yrs. and have seen most of the service complaints that are aired on this website. What baffles me is that instead of trying to address concerns or shortcomings, Mt Washington seems to engage in an ongoing spin campaign on this website using a multitude of names. To lend some credibility to your complaints or kudos, how about stating whether you have any affiliation (employee, owner, etc.) with Mt. Washington. I f you don't state any affiliation, then I think we can all speculate pretty accurately who you are representing :). I'll go first: I do not and never have been employed or have any financial interest in Mt. Washington... I am a paying customer.
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February 16, 2013
Dad hunter from Canada
Well, there we were, right at the top of Stovepipe Chutes. Dirt took Timmy's Crack Traverse and I launched my fatties into Papas Pipe. This was earlier in December when it was already thrashed. We managed to sneak away unscathed. Dad's run has been so pounded lately I'm getting a little emotional. Leave the Dads alone! Go to Suns run if you can't really bust a nut on Dads glades. We'd really appreciate it. The Dad hunters!
[note from the editor: some text removed for the sake of relevance]
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February 14, 2013
boon-dawg from Canada
It is highly unfortunate that this forum has become dumping ground for derranged ex-staff members in a futile last attempt to make themselves feel important.
Lets all look at the facts together:
1. Mount Washington is awesome
2. Skiing is awesome
3. This season has been awesome
4. No one wants to hear your negativity.
If it relates to public experience, then post it. If its the truth - post it. But no one wants to hear about a flash back you had about avalanche control in the 80's. Please - as a favor to us all. Educate yourselves. Talk to the staff. Write a letter. Make a phone call. But if you are still finding it difficult to ski this mountain without getting a huge hate-on for it then please, keep it off this forum.
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February 14, 2013
mr happypants from Canada
There are 2 reasons Mount Wash gets tracked out so fast:
Number one: It's a ski hill. Don't go to a ski hill and expect a mountain experience or to get endless fresh turns.
Number two: Fat skis have made it possible for anyone who can stand up to ski powder by reason of the fact that they keep you on top of the snow rather than in it, which some would say defeats the point of skiing powder.
Here's two solutions:
Number one: Ban fat skis.
Number two: Get off your arse and go ski touring.
We love Mount Washington, and we will keep coming back.
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January 27, 2013
Joes from Canada
I'd like to explain the "noonerang" concept to the haters out there.
Unfortunately, the general skiing public don't see all the factors that might conspire to a delayed opening. A bunch of different departments all contribute to timely openings. Transport has to get the crews up, Lifties have to get the corrals and ramps going, the lift mechanics get the bullwheels spinning, and patrol does avie control/t-boggan cheks.
All these folks do their jobs as best they can. Delays happen. Busses break down, staff don't show up, transformers blow, and most of all it freggen dumps here thus complicating all of the above.
Not saying that delays are ok, but it's not the folks in the trenches fault. They're here to get you up that hill and down again safely.
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January 24, 2013
Reality Check from Canada
Overall, Mt Washington is an over-priced, below-average ski hill that is blessed with lots of snow that is tracked out too quickly because of the limited terrain and high numbers of skiers.
Locally, we call it a half-day hill because it's only worth that. Unfortunately, it has big hill prices which is insulting because the terrain is little more than a hill in Ontario - but in BC..
That's not to say you can't have fun here and for sure, there are some good days but there are way more average ones and the prices stink no matter how good the snow is because the terrain is so mediocre.
If you live on Vancouver Island you probably ski here because you don't know there's a better option at Mt Cain and if you plan on travelling and spending your hard-earned vacation, don't bother.
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January 24, 2013
chico from Canada
Talk about spring skiing in January. On mountain Jan.20 and Jan 21. Temp.8-10 degrees. Blue skies. Awesome.
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January 11, 2013
mr happypants from Canada
Best ski hill ever.
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January 10, 2013
Rick from Canada
Thanks to the lift staff for ensuring full chairs over the busy holiday season. Their job looked exhausting and they took some abuse.
I wanted to mention a safety issue. My daughter fell in the middle of a busy carpet tube partly due to the slick surface. Staff initially couldn't see or hear me yelling due to the crowds. There was a bit of a pile-up, but no injuries. Could microphones be installed inexpensively? Could the belt surface be made more tacky?
In response to a response to my previous review. I only complain here because I know management reads this and I want the best for Mt. Washington. I'm invested here. I own a place, bring friends/family up who spend money, part of my strata fees go to Mt. Washington marketing, and I buy tickets. I have friends, and in particular, families who won't ski due to the cost. I fell in love with skiing on Washington as a boy on family trips and I want other families to have the same experience. The future of the mountain is largely dependent on that.
I'm not against carpets - they're great for absolute beginners. But I don't think 4 were necessary with 3 staff each. Also, I don't think that parents training their child on the carpets should have to pay for 2 tickets.
I like how Apex doesn't charge for children under 8. They understand that for every young child there is at least one parent supporting the mountain.
Adult tickets are up an average of 4.8% per year over the last 3 years. Any rate above wage growth and inflation is not sustainable.
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January 07, 2013
powder cowboy from Canada
Re x Mt Washington snow cat operater Dec 20th,
Yes, you are correct, it is not cost effective to run the boom for the frontside only. The number of staff required to run the chair plus the chair cost alone make it silly to turn it for 10 turns. You can still hike up and in 5min enjoy untracked pow that those not willing to walk don't track up in 10 minutes. Many locals have said they actually prefer this uncrowded option better. Re Eagle not opening until avalanche control is done... Well, you have the poachers to thank for that. Due to the publics unwillingness to respect closed boundaries and not slip under closed rope lines, we must limit access to prevent the possibility of humans meeting explosives and ski cut avalanches. Maybe, with time and resect for rope lines, we can begin to review opening the Eagle during a/c in the west basin. How to help... educate folks when you see them slipping under the lines and resect the skiers responsibility code (see the back of you ticket). Lets all work together to get on the slopes as early as we can. Thanks. -
December 26, 2012
DarylD from Canada
Mount Washington is glorious! Powder days every day, small lift lines, challenging terrain, the outback. Been here a week, every day is a better powder day then the last. We love you Mount Wash :) Merry Christmas.
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December 25, 2012
Campbell River Nordic Skiers from Canada
Yesterday being Christmas Eve we skied the Lake Trail at Mount Washington! The trail was in excellent shape and the weather picture perfect. The temperature -5 degrees was comfortable in virtually no wind. Most of the trees still had their early snow accumulated on them which had turned them into snow ghosts. What a treasure we have here on Vancouver Island and kudos to the staff and management for trying to keep the trails open when weather permits!
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December 22, 2012
BowserBum from Canada
Thursday Dec 20 was an incredible day. 75cm of light fresh powder after a major storm on the previous day. Blue skies, slight breeze in the morning and then dumping powder in the afternoon.
The ski patrol had the Outback open at 9:25am! The first incredible major powder day and the patrol had the Outback ready early. They brought in extra people to make sure the work was done. I did a half dozen runs in the morning with fresh tracks each time.
After a few wet storms before the season that laid down a solid base covering up the mountain really well. Since the start of the season, it's been -5 or so putting down an incredible base of light powder. No chowder powder so far this year, it's light powder that this mountain hasn't see for years and it keeps coming down.
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December 21, 2012
powwow from Canada
WOW, what a day on the mountain! 57 cms in 24 hours of unbelievably light snow. The Boom open early was a treat as well. Yahoo.
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December 20, 2012
Dad hunter from Canada
Yes, a great start to this season. Even dirty al has chased down a few good lines on dads run. This mountain rocks and it's only getting better! If you hit some McKay lake laps via the burnt tree ridge take a look at the scars and tele turns near papas pipe. Sick lines thx 2 the dad hunters!! Cheers
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