Mount Washington Alpine Resort
Encyclopedia
Mount Washington Alpine Resort is an alpine skiing
ski resort
located on Mount Washington on the eastern edge of the Vancouver Island Ranges
in British Columbia
, Canada
. The nearest communities are those in the Comox Valley
, a 3 - 3.5 hour drive North from the capital of Victoria, British Columbia
.
The mountain allows for a wide variety of downhill terrain, ranging from beginner to expert. There are additionally facilities for snow tubing and two terrain parks. Mount Washington also manages 55km of Nordic
trails some of which are in nearby Strathcona Provincial Park
.
During the summer months the lifts are open to sightseers and downhill mountain bikers
. Much of the summer activity is focused in the nearby park, which draws thousands of tourists and backpackers each year.
On January 6, 2006, the mountain opened the Boomerang, a state-of-the art continuous lift system
that extends up one vertical face of the mountain and down the other, with a capacity of 1200 guests per hour. The Boomerang lift opened up 400 acres (1.6 km²) of additional advanced terrain for the mountain.
The Resort averages over 10m of snowfall yearly, boasting one of the deepest snow packs in Canada.
Alpine skiing
Alpine skiing is the sport of sliding down snow-covered hills on skis with fixed-heel bindings. Alpine skiing can be contrasted with skiing using free-heel bindings: Ski mountaineering and nordic skiing – such as cross-country; ski jumping; and Telemark. In competitive alpine skiing races four...
ski resort
Ski resort
A ski resort is a resort developed for skiing and other winter sports. In Europe a ski resort is a town or village in a ski area - a mountainous area, where there are ski trails and supporting services such as hotels and other accommodation, restaurants, equipment rental and a ski lift system...
located on Mount Washington on the eastern edge of the Vancouver Island Ranges
Vancouver Island Ranges
The Vancouver Island Ranges, formerly called the Vancouver Island Mountains, is a mountain range extending along the length of Vancouver Island which has an area of 31,788 km² . The Vancouver Island Ranges comprise the central and largest part of the island...
in British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The nearest communities are those in the Comox Valley
Comox Valley
The Comox Valley is a region on the east coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada that includes the city of Courtenay, the town of Comox, the village of Cumberland, and the unincorporated settlements of Royston, Union Bay, Fanny Bay, Black Creek and Merville. The communities of Denman...
, a 3 - 3.5 hour drive North from the capital of Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
.
The mountain allows for a wide variety of downhill terrain, ranging from beginner to expert. There are additionally facilities for snow tubing and two terrain parks. Mount Washington also manages 55km of Nordic
Cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing is a winter sport in which participants propel themselves across snow-covered terrain using skis and poles...
trails some of which are in nearby Strathcona Provincial Park
Strathcona Provincial Park
Strathcona Provincial Park is the oldest provincial park in British Columbia, Canada, and the largest on Vancouver Island. Founded in 1911, the park was named for Donald Alexander Smith, 1st Baron Strathcona and Mount Royal, a wealthy philanthropist and railroad pioneer. It lies within the...
.
During the summer months the lifts are open to sightseers and downhill mountain bikers
Downhill cycling
Downhill biking is a gravity-assisted time trial mountain biking event. Riders race against the clock, usually starting at intervals of 30 seconds , on courses which typically take two to five minutes to complete. Riders come from all around the world. Riders are timed with equipment similar to...
. Much of the summer activity is focused in the nearby park, which draws thousands of tourists and backpackers each year.
On January 6, 2006, the mountain opened the Boomerang, a state-of-the art continuous lift system
Chairlift
An elevated passenger ropeway, or chairlift, is a type of aerial lift, which consists of a continuously circulating steel cable loop strung between two end terminals and usually over intermediate towers, carrying a series of chairs...
that extends up one vertical face of the mountain and down the other, with a capacity of 1200 guests per hour. The Boomerang lift opened up 400 acres (1.6 km²) of additional advanced terrain for the mountain.
The Resort averages over 10m of snowfall yearly, boasting one of the deepest snow packs in Canada.