Hello, or welcome back to those who have read the introduction! The topic is going to shift, into more of a winter focus; primarily skiing, and a little bit about winter in general. As an individual who loves winter, I am lucky enough to have family in Smithers, BC, which is paradise on earth to winter lovers, and miserable for anyone who does not like the season. Winter there can be interesting sometimes, especially in polar temperatures. In this temperature, cars need to be warmed up for a minimum of 90 minutes, and long exposure can cause hypothermia. This small community also has a ski hill, known as Hudson Bay Mountain, despite it being nowhere near Hudson Bay. The mountain is known for their unbelievable snow, hence their catchphrase: “It’s always been about the powder”. With my dad’s side residing in Smithers, the ski hill made up a sizeable part of my childhood, as I also learned to ski at the hill at around 4 years old. As a child, I always remembered the crisp negative 30 weather hitting me upon arrival via aircraft, as well as the numerous cups of hot chocolate whilst playing a board game. The trips were about a week at a time, with many runs on toboggans, skis, and snowmobiles. The terrain on this hill is good, especially on the right side of the Skyline Chairlift, which consists of the more advanced terrain on the hill; personally my favourite. I remember the hectic t-bar rides, the epic runs through the glades, and watching my cousins launch off of jumps while losing both skis.
I hold those memories dearly, and things have changed over the last few years. In 2021, I had my first ski trip on Mount Washington, when COVID was rampaging. I went on many ski trips, and 2021 happened to be one of the best years in the mountain’s history; with an impressive 390cm of base over the course of the year; approximately 13 feet. The following year was below average, only having about 140cm, or about 4 feet. Last year’s ski season ended strong with 230cm, or about 7.5 feet. The month of December and the month of March are always the best times for skiing, with lots of light snow for my jumps. The best ski area on the mountain is called The Outback; consisting of amazing terrain and fully filled with double black diamond runs. Whenever I ski the Outback, I always find new spots that I’ve never skied before. On top of the terrain, there’s also no line-ups, so I can get the most out of my ski days on the mountain. The problem, is that the Boomerang Chairlift is usually only open on weekends. If I skip a Friday to ski, I can only ski the front, which is alright, but there isn’t as much terrain compared to the back. But overall, Mount Washington is a great place to ski, as long as you have the right day. Sunsets on the mountain are also very impressive if you night ski at the right time.