Area ski resorts reporting excellent snow conditions as Family Day approaches

Thompson-Okanagan ski resorts are all well prepared for the upcoming Family Day weekend with lots of snow, but probably none more than Apex Mountain Resort west of Penticton.

Apex Mountain Resort Manager James Shalman says the resort has some of the best ski and snowboard conditions in years. The resort had 120 cm in the last seven days, compared to Big White Ski Resort, which saw 56 cm in the past week.

Apex is reporting a 230 cm base this week with Big White at 219 cm.

“We have a phenomenal base right now. Interestingly enough, we had a similar situation last year with a weather event that gave us 150 cm, almost a year ago to this year’s snow,” Shalman says.

There’s been so much snow, the road had to be closed for an hour for rare avalanche control on a short section of the Apex Mountain Road on Monday.

Sun Peaks Ski Resort north of Kamloops is reporting a 217 cm base with 1 cm of new snow on Feb. 6, while Vernon’s Silver Star Resort reports a 167 cm base, with 2 cm of new snow on Feb. 7.

This week’s deep freeze is expected to come to an end with temperatures forecast to begin moderating in time for the weekend as well.

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