Canada'a ski season ends after the coming weekend with the three ski areas still open in Alberta, BC and Quebec all due to close.
Whistler Blackcomb (below) has been battling to make it to their planned season end date reporting very warm weather reaching +30C down at the base and warning that the heat is causing instability to the remaining snow and that slopes might need to close at short notice due to avalanche danger as a result. There's also only intermediate – advanced level terrain left open.
"It's another scorcher here in Whistler, with temperatures nearing 30° in the valley today! While snow and heat might be fun for T-shirt laps, they don't really mix well for terrain coverage — our ski area is changing rapidly because of this," a resort spokesperson said on Monday, adding, "Large patches of slopes are now extremely thin or melted completely, with rocks and other obstacles far more apparent after a sunny, warm weekend. The north side of Blackcomb has seen the worst of this accelerated melting."
The resort has decided to close Glacier Express, Crystal Ridge and the north side of 7th Heaven for the final week of the season as a result, further limiting what's open.
In Alberta, Sunshine near Banff is also gearing up for it's final weekend, which will include staging of the world's original pond skimming contest, the Slush Cup.
On Canada's eastern side, in Quebec, Sommet St Sauveur is re-opening one run which still has some snow remaining down its right side at weekends, while summer lake activities begin below (pictured top). The resort is planning a final weekend celebration called 'La Dernière chaise" on the 22nd.
