THUNDER BAY - After being shut down for a majority of the season, seeing the chair lifts moving and skiers back on the slopes is a welcome sight for ski hill operators.
“It’s great that we are able to open back up,” said Jason Gerry, co-owner of Loch Lomond Ski Area. “It means everything to us to have the public come out and enjoy our ski area. We’ve worked long and hard to get open for the year and it’s just nice to be able to see people coming out and getting some fresh air again.”
Loch Lomond Ski Area and Mount Baldy Ski Area reopened to the public after being forced to shut down during the province-wide stay-at-home order, which was lifted for much of the province on Tuesday.
Ontario was the only province in Canada to close down ski hills, which was a source of frustration for both ski hill operators and skiers and snowboarders.
“This is our seventh year as ownership of Loch Lomond. We haven’t experienced anything like this,” Gerry said. “We have experienced the occasional weather delay. We are used to dealing with variables, but I think the most we ever lost in any stretch is two or three days at a time but not weeks.”
COVID-19 safety protocols are in place, including mandatory facemasks, physical distancing, limiting access to the chalet, COVID-19 screening, and a maximum wait time of 10 minutes in lift lines.
On Tuesday at Loch Lomond, there was a steady flow of people eager to get back on the slopes.
“It is an extremely cold morning today but we do see some steady traffic coming into the ski area and we expect it will continue into the afternoon,” Gerry said.
With the stay-at-home order taking place during the peak of the skiing season, Gerry said he is hoping the weather will cooperate and give them as long of a season as possible.
“We would hope we would have at least six more good weeks,” he said. “We are going to try and run as long as we can this year and make up for lost time. We owe it to our faithful membership and we will continue to go for as long as the weather will permit.”
Under the province’s new COVID-19 response framework, ski hills can continue to operate under the red control zone and grey lockdown zone.
“The only thing that would prevent us from being able to operate is a stay-at-home order or an emergency act by the province,” Gerry said.
All the runs at Loch Lomond and Mount Baldy are open. In an effort to make up for lost time, Loch Lomond will be open seven days a week, 12 to 5 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
For more information visit the Loch Lomond and Mount Baldy Ski area websites.
