The Marmot

The RV parking lot at Mount Washington is officially gone. In its place will be more day parking, which the resort hopes will solve some of the congestion visitors experienced last winter.

When Mount Washington first opened its slopes 25 years ago, it offered two chairlifts and “rubber tire” service for people driving up the dirt road to the day lodge. Now, close to 400,000 people visit the resort every winter, and six to 10 families live at the resort full time. They’re even getting their own post office at the Resort.

New staff on Mount Washington

“It’s amazing what one quick, seemingly innocent glance out of a car window can set in motion.”

It’s the sound of snow crunching beneath your ski boots as you slough your way up the hill to grab your skies, slap them on and then zip down the hill like a blur.

A new business at Mount Washington Alpine Resort is offering a “Pizza Italy” for visitors this winter. Pizza Mogul is open in the old Nordic Lodge on Henry Road, and is offering sit-down, take-out and delivery service.

So much so, that resort Public Affairs Director Dave Hampshire hopes they can host a B.C. Cup mountain bike series race next summer. And they’ve expanded their terrain to open up the sport to novice and intermediate riders.

Policing will have a higher profile on Mount Washington when the Alpine Resort opens for the snow season. The Courtenay RCMP Detachment has dedicated two members – Constable Dennis Flint and Const. Scott McLennan — to policing on the mountain this winter.