South Okanagan ski resorts reschedule opening dates

PENTICTON – A warmer than normal November in the South Okanagan has forced the region’s two ski areas to push back their opening dates.

Apex Mountain Resort, near Penticton has been making snow but the natural snowpack has not yet reached a level to allow the resort to open on its scheduled date of Dec. 8, according to a post on Facebook.

“We would love to be able to open but have a duty of care to open runs in a safe environment. We hope you understand this is for everyone’s safety,” the resort says in the post. Plans are to open on Friday, Dec.14, unless the weather cooperates.

Baldy Mountain Resort near Oliver has rescheduled the planned Dec. 7 opening to Dec. 14.

General manager Andy Foster says the resort is a "little light on snow” so far this year.

They have been focusing on hill management that included summer grooming and expansion of the snow fences in order to operate as early as possible in the season.

Foster says the Dec. 14 date is more traditionally the opening date for the hill, which has seen a couple of years of earlier than normal openings lately.


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Steve Arstad

I have been looking for news in the South Okanagan - SImilkameen for 20 years, having turned a part time lifelong interest into a full time profession. After five years publishing a local newsletter, several years working as a correspondent / stringer for several local newspapers and seven years as editor of a Similkameen weekly newspaper, I joined iNFOnews.ca in 2014. My goal in the news industry has always been to deliver accurate and interesting articles about local people and places. My interest in the profession is life long - from my earliest memories of grade school, I have enjoyed writing.
As an airborne geophysical surveyor I travelled extensively around the globe, conducting helicopter borne mineral surveys.
I also spent several years at an Okanagan Falls based lumber mill, producing glued-wood laminated products.
As a member of the Kaleden community, I have been involved in the Kaleden Volunteer Fire Department for 22 years, and also serve as a trustee on the Kaleden Irrigation District board.
I am currently married to my wife Judy, of 26 years. We are empty-nesters who enjoy living in Kaleden with our Welsh Terrier, Angus, and cat, Tibbs.
Our two daughters, Meagan and Hayley, reside in Richmond and Victoria, respectively.

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