By Cheryl Jahn

Ski operations in town closed

Dec 20, 2023 | 3:14 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – It’s not a familiar sound in late December at the Hart Ski Hill. The sound of trickling water outside and the sign says it all. “Closed due to weather.” Unseasonably warm weather that has coated the slopes and standing water and ice. Heartbreaking.

“Absolutely,” says Bernadette Kipping, President of the Hart Ski Hill Board. “I mean, that’s the last thing we want to do is close, but it’s too dangerous and we don’t want to take any chances with any of the kids. So all we can do and hope for is colder weather. And the snow guns to run them.”

Speaking of snow guns, there needs to be specific conditions to be able to use those guns. minus three, at least.

Across town at the Otway Nordic Ski Club, the trails are also closed with safety being the big concern, but as well as the condition of the trails.

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“Right now, it’s just be safe, be patient,” says John Bowes, General Manager of the Club. “We know the season will come. We are excited for the season to come, but we don’t want people out here getting hurt. And yeah, that’s that’s just the goal is to have the best season possible and just be patient for now.”

And last year the club was closed over Christmas, but for a very different reason.

“Yeah, we were closed for probably a week last year because of the cold temperatures. And now we’re closed because of the warm temperatures.”

The hope is Mother Nature will cooperate just a little.

“We just need some more snow to cover some of the ground so that you can see that is opened a bit,” says Kipping. But it won’t take us much to get there. It really won’t.”

And it has folks at the Hart Ski Hill doing the snow dance.

“We are definitely doing that. If we have employees here, they’d all be out here doing that.”

Christmas Day is looking hopeful with a high of minus six. So here’s to hoping Santa brings some snow.