The cold weather recently experienced in the Sea to Sky Corridor may not be favourable to everyone but for cross country skiers it was a good omen as Ski Callaghan kicked off its winter season this past weekend.
The Nordic recreation destination opened its doors officially on Saturday (Nov. 20) and according to director Lindsay Durno, the recent cold spell made for a great start to the season.
"It was a great first day for us as we had over 20 kilometres of trails open," he said. "They were primarily our flat and biathlon trails open, but we also had 12 km open on our Mainline, as well as our Neverland Trail for beginners."
Durno noted that the 30-centimetre base was enough to open the trails but that forecasters were predicting more snow later in the week. He pointed out that both Cross Country B.C. and the Hollyburn Cross Country ski club hit the trails this past weekend and were pleased by the strong early season conditions.
"The feedback we got from skiers was excellent," he said. "Everyone is a little more understanding because it's still early in the season, but with the major blast of Arctic air we got this past week, it made for a busy weekend."
It's been a busy off-season for the Ski Callaghan group, which formed this past summer when Whistler Olympic Park and the Callaghan Country Lodge combined to create a better public recreational skiing experience.
"Since we formed in June, we've been working hard to prepare for this season," Durno said. "We added to our dog trails and snowshoeing trails and added 10 km of trails specifically for beginners."
The group also put together the aforementioned Neverland Trail, a route designed specifically for those who have never tried the sport.
Durno added that Ski Callaghan has also re-organized the trails that were used for the Olympics. He pointed out that those who wish to use the same ones the Olympic athletes used can still do so, but they've changed the flow and direction of many of the routes to mix things up.
Durno said the coming together of Whistler Olympic Park and the Callaghan Country Lodge should bring about huge benefits for the cross-country skiing community.
"It's pretty great to have these two organizations work together," he said. "I think 麻豆社国产people especially will like the new dog trails."
Durno said a pet pass is available for $20. Good for the season, it consists of a small identification card that has a photo of your pet on it.
When operating at full capacity, skiers will be able to experience 7,000 hectares of wilderness and more than 90 km of recreational cross-country trails designed for all different skill levels. Ski Callaghan also offers 20 km of snowshoe trails.
Cross-country season passes are also on sale and cost $275 for adults over 18, $165 for youths aged 13 to 18 and $138 for children six to 12. There is also a family pass for $550.
Those interested in snowshoeing, tobogganing and backcountry access in the area can purchase a season pass for $50. Day passes for cross-country or snowshoeing are also available and can be found at www.whistlerolympicpark.com.
Durno said he expects conditions to improve as soon as this weekend and said he hopes for a 60 cm base for Saturday (Nov. 27). He noted that with more snow, more trails will be available and better grooming machines will be used to enhance the experience for users.
For more information on Ski Callaghan, visit www.whistlerolympicpark.com.
