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With a current base of 489 cm, it should come as no surprise that Mount Washington has been rockin’ all season. With school out for Spring Break, this is definitely the mountain’s most exciting and action-packed week. The week-long Chek News SnoJam event kicked off with the After Dark Invitational as riders from the Island, Lower Mainland and Whistler amped up the slopes under spotlights hoping to ride away with $3K.

Photo: Antonio LaFauci/LMount Washington Alpine Resort

You don’t want to miss the rest of the coming week – it’s jammed full with the Barq’s Root Beer Snowtube Festival, the Beavertails Eating Contest, Dairyland Crazy Cards and the Old Dutch Mini Olympics. A full detailed listing can be found here, but this is only a sliver of the fun that Mount Washington has planned for those interested in checking out what a 5-metre snowbase looks like. As always, the nordic and alpine trails are open – including the legendary Boomerang Outback and both snowboard terrain parks.

For more information on the mountain, snow reports and stay-and-play packages, visit Mount Washington’s website or call the mountain toll free at 1-888-231-1499.

Two years ago, when I brought Rebecca to Mount Washington Alpine Resort with me for a girls’ snowboarding weekend, she had told a friend or two about our pending trip. A few of the comments she got in response included: “I thought Mount Washington was in Washington State,” or “There’s a mountain on Vancouver Island?”

Photo: tempest_kat on Flickr

The answer to the second of those questions is an unequivocal “yes”.

Map: Comox Valley World Cup Organizing Committee

Half-way down the spine of mountains that runs north to south along Vancouver Island, towering majestically over the Comox Valley, outdoor enthusiasts will find the home of British Columbia’s deepest snowpack. In fact, the current base reaches a depth of 391cm (that’s more than 13 feet)!

Mount Washington Alpine Resort – A History of Logos. From left-right: 1979; 1981; 1996; 1998; and 2002

Named for Rear Admiral John Washington of the British Royal Navy, construction on the resort was launched in 1977 before the lifts at Mount Washington first whisked skiers to the peak in December of 1979. The powder-laden resort was an instant success, giving nearby Forbidden Plateau some serious competition.

Photo: ai.dan on Flickr

Photo: bmann on Flickr

In its 31-year history, Mount Washington has expanded to more than 1,600 acres of skiing and snowboarding thrills, nine high-capacity lifts, extensive nordic terrain, a condominium and chalet village, tasty eateries, slippery snow tubing and a legendary backcountry area.

Trail Map: Destination Snow

One might argue that Mount Washington’s greatest value is found in the stunning vistas, stretching out across the entire Comox Valley, the Georgia Straight and rugged peaks to the south.

Needless to say, it’s not been difficult to convince Rebecca to return with me. The cold beers at Fat Teddy’s Grill in the lodge may have had something to do with that.

Photo: Calypso Orchid on Flickr

Don’t let the copious snowfall at Mount Washington fool you. The resort is also a paradise for those who seek sunshine in the summertime. With winding hiking paths, frisbee golf, BBQ events, an epic network of mountain biking trails, an annual wine festival and even some shopping, there’s no shortage ways to fill your days.

Photo: mattdil on Flickr (used with permission)

Aside from the obvious attractions, Mount Washington is also home to the endangered Vancouver Island marmot . This species is native only to the sub-alpine meadows of Mount Washington and, thanks to tireless recovery efforts, the wild marmot population has been increased from 25 to 100 since 2001. Keep your eyes open – they aren’t easy to spot! However, you may also find yourself face-to-face with bears, cougars or elk amongst the woodland.

With glistening snow and crisp air, these pictures do more than speak for themselves. Next time you find yourself visiting Vancouver Island – or exploring your own backyard – you owe it to yourself to discover the crown of the Comox Valley.

Mount Washington Alpine Resort is accessible by car at the top of an entirely paved parkway; chains are encouraged (and sometimes mandatory) throughout the winter months. From the inland Island Highway (Highway 19), take exit 130 onto Strathcona Parkway – the resort is located at 1 Strathcona Parkway. For more information, call the resort at 1-888-231-1499 or visit their website. You can also follow the resort’s updates on Twitter.

…British Columbia has more than lived up to its reputation of being the “Wet Coast” in recent weeks. While this means puddles and downpours on the streets, it’s equated to incredible amounts of snowfall on the mountains.

Nowhere is this more prevalent than on the slopes of Mount Washington Alpine Resort. While at this time last year the mountain saw nothing more than a fresh dusting, this year’s snowfall has been smashing records like never before!

Photo: Mount Washington Alpine Resort

Crews have been scrambling to groom the more than 440 centimetres that have fallen in the last three weeks, paving the way for beyond stellar riding conditions. “Our old record for November snowfall was 300 centimetres in 2006,” explains resort spokesperson Brent Curtain. “Needless to say, this month we’ve seen unprecedented amounts of snow up here. We received 300 centimetres in the last week alone!”

Photo: Mount Washington Alpine Resort

Load up your iPod, wax your board (or planks) and dig out your toque – it should come as no surprise that Mount Washington is gearing up to hit the green button on all lifts two weeks earlier than planned for the 2009/2010 season. Operations begin this Saturday, November 28, 2009. Happy birthday to me, indeed! Rebecca and I are more than ready to “Go For Gold” as soon as we can.

For more information, directions, lift pass pricing, accommodations and more, head over to Mount Washington Alpine Resort’s website. Be sure to check out their blustery snowcams for a preview of what’s to come. This is a great time to grab a Six-Pack of lift tickets for yourself or for friends as Christmas gifts! Don’t forget to follow Mount Washington on Twitter.

With 2010 around the corner, news outlets are reporting that bookings have increased at ski resorts in BC’s interior. With the crowds and chaos expected during the month of February on the North Shore and in Whistler, it really comes as no surprise. While our interior’s small towns may boast some tasty snow, may I instead suggest something with a view as well?

I know me and my favourite gal are looking forward to it…

While the deadline for early bird season passes has come and gone, that doesn’t mean you can’t still hit Mount Washington for a fantastic day rate (considerably less expensive than comparable mountains in the interior) once the snow starts falling. Here’s hoping that the dusting that fell last week is just a preview of what’s to come.

Crews have been scrambling over the last month to clear brush, bushes and trees to make for expertly sculpted runs on some of the best snow BC has to offer. Also new for the 2009/2010 season is extended night skiing.

Photo: Mount Washington Alpine Resort

It’s bright lights, big mountain with twilight riding operating from 3:30 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. – that’s a lot of skiing or snowboarding in a 24-hour period. Hungry bellies and beer cravings can still be satisfied at a number of Mount Washington’s dining establishments that are also gearing up. And remember that you don’t need to go far to get a good night’s sleep (only to get up and do it all over again the next day) – tons of gorgeous condos and chalets dot the side of the mountain.

For more information and to plot a winter escape to Vancouver Island, visit Mount Washington’s website. I’m pretty sure that the winter packages will blow your mind.

With soaring temperatures, the idea of snow seems entirely foreign on the cusp of August. However, amongst busy days of mountain biking, beer festivals and sun-kissed views from the top, the crew at Mount Washington Alpine Resort have already put on their thinking toques to gear up for the 2009/2010 ski and snowboard season.

Photo: Mount Washington Alpine Resort

Season passes went on sale last week and if you purchase yours before Friday, July 31, 2009 – one week from today – you’ll be entered into a contest with some not-so-chintzy prizes. The winner of the initial draw at the end of July will have the entire cost of their pass purchase reimbursed (who doesn’t like to ride for free?) with subsequent draws at the end of August and on September 15.

The winner of the August draw will be treated to a weekend getaway at Middle Beach Lodge in Tofino (where my mom and I will be staying). A golf package from Crown Isle Resort, the Pacific Mist Hydropath at the Kingfisher Spa, and Mount Washington gift cards make up the third and final prize draw in September.

The resort has re-vamped season passes for the 2009/2010 season and is now offered a tiered system of Gold, Silver and Bronze. The Bronze pass is a traditional mid-week pass that includes mid-week nordic skiing, mid-week night skiing and weekend skiing in April. Silver passholders will be entitled to the traditional any day, anytime pass. Gold girls and boys (and men and women) will enjoy the added benefits of food and beverage discounts, retail discounts, and free hot waxes in addition to mile-high lift access during the summer in 2010.

For more information on season passes and how you can get your hot little mitts on one, visit the resort’s website or call the mountain toll-free at 1-888-231-1499.

I can’t even begin to tell you all how excited I am to be headed to the Island on Thursday after work. My mom is headed to Dawson Creek to meet my niece, so it’s just going to be me, my aunt and Charley all weekend.

I can’t lie – more than anything I’m excited to make the drive on Friday afternoon to Duncan to visit Jordy’s foster home and meet the little guy. For those that haven’t been keeping up-to-speed, I’m in the process of applying to adopt a rescue dog, and after a month of hoop jumping, I finally get to meet him. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

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While many of you will be chowing down on turkey or ham this weekend, I know there are many others who’d rather take advantage of the amazing late snowfall that’s graced the slopes of the Comox Valley’s Mt. Washington Alpine Resort.

Photo: Tony Radomi/Mt. Washington Alpine Resort

With a mid-mountain base still well over 200cm and warm sunshine, it’s hard to resist those conditions. Easter Weekend is packed full of fantastic and fun events, starting with the Save-On-Foods Dummy Downhill this Saturday, April 11 at 4:00 p.m.

Dummies are designed with painstaking precision and are created with one ultimate goal in mind: make the crowd go wild! To achieve this goal, dummies must fly down the hill in as straight a line as possible. If successful, they will eventually make it to a massive kicker where huge air is unequivocally inevitable. Then, with luck, an explosion of epic proportions will happen inducing an equally epic roar from the crowd!

Dummies are judged on overall artistic impression, hang-time and of course crowd noise.

If dummies aren’t your thing, perhaps freezing your ass off is! On Easter Sunday the resort hosts the Barq’s Slush Cup, a long-time crowd favourite.

Photo: Mt. Washington Alpine Resort

All that needs to be said about the Slush Cup is the following:

Get the picture? Thought so.

Don’t forget – Mt. Washington has an extended season and will be open weekends until the end of April! To find out more about registering for these and other events – including the brand spanking new Undie 500 – visit the Mt. Washington events calendar.

Whether you did a little snow dance, wished upon a snowy star or prayed to the snow gods, something has worked. I’m insanely jealous of the Island’s high school kids who are, as I type this, ripping through fresh powder on Mount Washington during the annual Spring Break SnoJam. The resort has received a ton of new snow over the past 48 hours and have a base hovering around 200cm.

Photo: Mount Washington Alpine Resort

It would seem that the luck ‘o the Irish has fallen on Mt. Washington’s skiers and snowboarders – rather appropriately – as the mountain just announced that the season will be extended past April 13 to open on weekends until the end of April!

If the fantastic Spring conditions aren’t enough to entice you, the mountain will also be taking advantage of daylight savings with extended operating hours as well as some other special surprises. I’ll keep you updated as soon as I know!

(P.S. Don’t forget to make your way up there on April 12 for the annual Barq’s Root Beer Slush Cup! Check out this video from 2007.)

I cut off my last lift pass from last season yesterday morning, only to realize that the last time I went snowboarding was March 23, 2008. Riding again was long overdue, so I grabbed my girl of 18 years, Rebecca, and headed to Mt. Washington.

This year’s been super warm and dry, so the snowpack took its sweet little time building up, but after seeing that nearly two feet of powder was dumped on the resort this week, I could resist no longer.

The Whiskey Jack chair was reserving its energy for last night’s speed dating event.

I thought that the clear, sunny day would equate to frozen snow in the morning, but all it meant for us was amazing, unobstructed views of the Georgia Straight (including Denman and Hornby Islands). From the minute my board touched the snow, it was nothing but soft white stuff and pockets of powder.

By the time noon hits, my body’s always ready for some rest. We headed into Fat Teddy’s Bar & Grill because a girl’s gotta have beer.

I cautiously ordered the enchilada (being that I make such wicked ones), but I was pleasantly very surprised. It was tasty and definitely spicy – just the way I like it!

(Plus, the caesar salad kinda kicked ass.)

Lucky me, I ran into Amy there at lunchtime. She told me she was up snowboarding for the day with a few buddies, but I’m pretty sure she was just trying to pick up hot men.

Half-way up the Eagle Chair, we discovered that the legendary “bra tree” exists. Check out the red cups on the branch. I don’t know of a single bra I own that I could or would part with for that sake.

Days on the hill always go by way too quickly, but beautiful pain of my muscles lasts for days. I’ve missed the smells and sounds and feeling of being on the hill, so here’s hoping I’ll get in a few more days before the snow melts and it’s time to don a bikini. (That right there is a whole other reason to break out my camera.)

It’s been a cold Winter.

I haven’t written a single word – either on here or in my private journal – in almost two weeks. That alone astounds me. I love to write.

E-mails, comments and words of encouragement have come in steadily, simply out of concern. While I don’t feel it’s appropriate or necessary to share my reasons for allowing myself to be swallowed up into obscurity, I can say with all honesty that I’ve enjoyed my time away from this realm.

Anyone who has read this blog for a reasonable period of time would be well aware of what I personally struggle with in regards to the internet. Putting myself out there and blogging about who I am, what I go through and that which I experience finds me walking the tightrope between being real with myself and being vulnerable to others.

I haven’t missed this.

In the past, I’ve contemplated giving up blogging altogether more times than I can count, but in the end, I know that’s not realistic. Writing has always been my catharsis, escape and means to untangle circumstances in hopes of clarity. That said, surely one can understand my surprise at my lack of motivation and inspiration to put pen to paper – or fingertips to laptop – as of late.

I want to both find and offer some sort of inspiration through words because words can be beautiful. Words can also be cutting. I want to write again. I’m going to share of my life, post photos, thoughts and exhortations. What my hiatus has shown me, however, is that I can do all of those things while also protecting myself, not getting in over my head and certainly not swimming with the sharks in the deep end.

I want to write, I will keep any of my followers updated on my new Twitter page (so feel free to follow me) and keep my Flickr account up-to-date. While these avenues will be active, it’s my goal and desire to be less interactive than I was before. Being absent from the web was refreshing and oddly freeing. As is the case in so many other areas of my life, I don’t want to be where I was before.

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That being said, my first venture back into the real world will be this Saturday. I’ve spent much of the past few weeks on Vancouver Island with my family, but have yet to visit my “home away from home” this season – Mount Washington.

Even though the snow decided to take its pretty little time falling this year, things have turned around drastically with close to two feet of fresh powder having fallen in the last 48 hours. Combine that with the glorious sunshine expected on the slopes this weekend, here’s hoping it’ll manage to put a smile on my face.

Photo: Mount Washington Alpine Resort

See you on the slopes, kids.

While streets, yards and sidewalks all over the South Coast of BC are being washed clean of the fluffy white stuff, there’s one place that the snow is definitely sticking. Despite a slight delay with the opening of the 2008/2009 ski and snowboard season, Mount Washington has been kicked into high gear with a base of over four feet of packed powder, with more fresh stuff falling every single day!

Photo: Mount Washington Alpine Resort – snapped at 10:35 a.m. on January 6, 2009

I’m sad to say I’ve yet to get up there this season, and my snowboard gear is currently collecting dust in my mom’s garage. Fear not, o’ my faithful readers, as yours truly will be strapping on her Forum board, grabbing Miss604 and hitting the slopes on Friday, February 6, 2009 (one month to the day!) for another installment of the Kokanee Day For Dudes [event page].

“Wait a minute – you’re not dudes!” you must be exclaiming. True, but the only thing better than snowboarding is snowboarding with eye candy. So for those of you gents wishing to experience my favourite mountain at a bargain price, head up. $62 will get you a full-day lift ticket, all-mountain ski or snowboard lesson, a Kokanee aprés event, prizes, entertainment and – of course – Kokanee girls! Look for us snowbunnies on the slopes…

(And click here for my Flickr stream of good times to be had at Mt. Washington!)