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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