THUNDER BAY – Skiers and snowboarders are back on the slopes at the Loch Lomond Ski Area this weekend.
The Snoopy chair lift was running, with snow on the Snoopy and Lower Sunbowl runs, as the ski hill opened the season Saturday.
It’s a task that manager Alisia Cameron said was made significantly more complicated this year due to shifting COVID-19 rules.
“Obviously the restrictions have been changing quickly, so we’ve had to have a lot of plans in place to be able to open under whichever restrictions we happen to be under,” she said.
Thunder Bay’s move to the Orange-Restrict level of Ontario’s COVID-19 response framework as of Monday will prompt some changes, for example, such as more thorough screening of those entering the chalet.
The chalet is now open only to use the washrooms, collect rentals, and eat at the restaurant and bar. The building will be divided into four zones, with two separate entrances.
Masks must also be worn on site whenever distancing of two metres from others cannot be ensured, such as at the base of the hill.
Other operations, like the snow school, will function “almost normally,” said Cameron.
The team at Loch Lomond has also tried to ensure visitors can hit the slopes without venturing inside, with a new outdoor ticket window.
“Generally, there’s no real reason to have to come inside if you don’t want to,” Cameron said. “Everything is accessible from the exterior of the building.”
The hill is open over the weekend from noon to 5 p.m. Cameron expected the north side of the hill to open around Christmas.
Updates on opening hours and COVID-19 restrictions at the hill can be found at its Facebook page.
