(Image Credit: Sun Peaks webcam shot of Sundance Lift Base from December 1st 11:49am)

By Dylana Kneeshaw

SNOWFALL HOPES

Sun Peaks Resort looking for additional snowfall this week to expand usable terrain

Dec 1, 2019 | 11:55 AM

SUN PEAKS — After a bit less snow than Sun Peaks Resort was hoping for during the first week of the 2019/2020 season, fingers are crossed that the coming week will bring more flakes to the mountain.

Sun Peaks Chief Marketing Officer Aidan Kelly says the natural snowfall amount was not what they would like to have for the start, however recent cooler temperatures have made conditions better to run the snow making system.

With flurries in the forecasts for this week, Kelly says they’ll be waiting to see what Mother Nature brings.

“We’re expecting snow. We have some light snow in the forecast throughout the week, we’re really hoping that the forecast changes a little bit. We could use a big dump up there,” he says, “We’re pretty close to getting a whole bunch more stuff open on the mountain but we need one good solid snow dump for that to happen.”

Sun Peaks Resort opened the mountain to skiers and snowboarders last weekend (Nov. 23), however not all the runs were open.

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“We don’t have a ton of terrain to work with, but everyone that has been up – I mean opening weekend we had over 3,000 skiers on the mountain and nobody was disappointed,” explains Kelly, “Everyone thought it was worth coming up and worth skiing, and everyone had a smile on their face and that’s kind of what you want to see in November. Shake off the rust and get it going.”

Less snow and limited runs led to Monday’s (Dec. 2) Kamloops Food Bank fundraiser – High Five Ski Day – being postponed, which Kelly says wasn’t an easy call to make.

“We’re all pretty disappointed because it’s a really fun day up at the mountain. It really helps kick start the season a little bit. It’s always busy so that’s good for the new staff to get some training in on a big, busy day before the holidays,” Kelly stresses, “If there was any way we could have pulled it off, we’d still be doing it tomorrow.”

Kelly says with the limited terrain open, having the thousands of skiers and snowboarders High Five Day regularly brings in would not be a smart combination.

“It just makes for a little bit more of a sketchy day. So we wanted to make sure that we could reschedule that (event) for a time that makes sense. So stay tuned online, and we’ll do what we can when the weather cooperates. ”

Once more snow arrives, the rest of the mountain’s runs will open up- including the new Orient chair lift, which was introduced last season.

“We don’t have that side open quite yet, but last year that lift ended up being way better for us than we originally anticipated. It improved the whole flow of the skiing around the resort, so we’re looking forward to getting that one open sooner rather than later for the season.”

The development of the recreational terrain doesn’t end there. According to Kelly, on the other side of the resort, work on the new Crystal chair lift replacement is about halfway through.

“We did a bunch of the concrete and electrical work, and all the engineering this past summer – just finished things up a few weeks ago in the fall actually. And then next summer the rest of the project will be completed, and we’ll install the new lift,” he explains, “By this time next year, everyone will be skiing up there on a brand new lift as well. So it’s all progressing quite well all things considered.”