THUNDER BAY - While it may not look like winter in the city, that’s not stopping people from getting out and enjoying some cold weather activities.
Skiers and snowboarders were hitting the slopes out at Loch Lomond Ski Area this weekend, with two runs opening on Saturday.
Jason Gerry, general manager at Loch Lomond, said staff have been working hard making snow since Nov. 18.
“We start as soon as we have windows of appropriate weather,” he said. “It takes about -2 degrees Celsius to -3 degrees Celsius depending on the humidity in the air for us to make quality snow and we look for 12 hours windows of time that we can make snow for. It allows us to make enough to make it viable.”
This is an average time to kick off the season, Gerry said, but quite a bit earlier compared to last year’s start.
“We’ve opened as early as Nov. 8 four seasons ago and last year we opened on the Christmas break,” he said.
Gerry said on Saturday there were lineups at the lift and on Sunday there was still a steady flow of skiers itching to take to the hill and start enjoying winter, even if it’s not quite here yet.
“There is a lot of people excited to be out on the hill,” Gerry continued. “The nice thing about the weather right now is it’s almost like we have spring skiing in the fall. People were out yesterday in T-shirts and smiles on their faces having a great time.”
For Bill and Amy Boucher, the nice weather and newly made snow made for a perfect weekend to get back into some winter activities.
“It feels great,” Bill said.
“It’s a beautiful day and we’re getting the blood flowing again,” Amy added. “It’s awesome.”
But with the season starting in December, and such a late start last year, Bill and Amy are worried that the skiing season could be getting shorter and shorter.
“It seems that’s the new norm, starting late,” Bill said.
“We always worry a little, but we know they are making snow and working on it, so it’s nice to see it opening,” Amy said. “Hopefully the weather cooperates a little more. Right now it’s not looking too hopeful, but everything can change in a matter of weeks.”
Gerry said staff will continue to make snow and he is hopeful to have additional runs opened by next weekend, but as with any ski season, it needs a little cooperation from Mother Nature.
“We feel fairly positive about the outlook for the season, as long as Mother Nature helps us out with that and delivers us some natural snow and some good temperatures,” he said.
“It’s calling for snow, so let’s hope that happens,” Bill said.
Over at Mt. Baldy, no runs are open yet, but staff said they hope to start making snow this week and possibly open runs on the left side of the mountain by the weekend.
