B.C. ski hills see rain, slush

With warmer temperatures and rain sweeping across parts of B.C. in recent days, many of the South Coast mountains are struggling to stay open due to the lack of snow.

All three hills on the North Shore — Cypress, Grouse, and Mt Seymour — as well as Mount Washington on Vancouver Island closed Wednesday to skiing and snowboarding, citing “inclement weather.”

And while many runs are open at Whistler Blackcomb, social media is filled with videos of rain on the hills and people wading through slush puddles and rocky trails.

Ski photographer and avalanche technician Rick Meloff says despite having the day off, he didn’t bother driving up to Whistler from Squamish on Wednesday.

“Because it’s pissing rain, I’m not wasting my gas. I was going to — I was thinking of going up and just making a video of the rivers of Whistler because they’re everywhere,” he told The Leader Spirit.

“It’s so warm and rainy, they can’t even open the alpine because all the cornices are falling off, because it’s so warm and the rain. So, it’s kind of lousy. That’s why I’m at home, I would’ve went skiing today.”

Conditions at Whistler on Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024. Skier and photographer Rick Meloff says it’s been “rivers everywhere” recently due to the warmer weather and rain. (Submitted by Rick Meloff)

However, despite the deluge of social media posts complaining about conditions all over, Whistler Mayor Jack Crompton told The Leader Spirit on Monday the “snow’s been good lately.”

“This has been a pretty typical year, to be honest,” he said.

“We didn’t get early snow this year but it’s filled in and there’s plenty of snow top to bottom now. Every season is different and because we get big, west coast storms, we kind of ride the weather. So whether it’s a cold snap or a dry patch, we’re really dependent on what happens with the weather. And this year’s good. Skiing yesterday was blue bird and good snow, and there’s snow from the top to the bottom.”

It’s unclear whether conditions vastly changed in between Monday and Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Meloff says he had “a great run” in Whistler on Sunday, “right before the river.”

Photographer Rick Meloff during a ski run at Whistler on Jan. 15, 2024. (Submitted)

With some of the mountains hoping to be able to reopen soon, Meloff also has his fingers crossed for a return, saying it’s happened before.

“When I moved out here seven years ago, it was an El Niño and my friends were all [complaining] … and then in March it started snowing and it didn’t stop until May. So, maybe that will happen this year, but right now, I am not going skiing because it’s rivers everywhere,” he explained.

“It’ll come back, you just got to wait and see. Everybody’s on their phone looking at the forecast coming and listening to whoever they can and, I don’t know, we’ll get more snow we’ll get more powder days. I’m not writing off the season.”

Conditions at Whistler on Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024. Skier and photographer Rick Meloff says it’s been “rivers everywhere” recently due to the warmer weather and rain. (Submitted by Rick Meloff)

If the snow doesn’t return, Meloff says there’s always mountain biking.

He admits he feels bad for people visiting who’ve arrived to a lack of snow but points out, “it’s Mother Nature, you can’t control it.”

“Did they fly here in an airplane? Did they drive up the Sea to Sky? Everybody’s part of the problem, I think. That’s my opinion,” Meloff said.

In addition to rain, the atmospheric river that has been moving across the South Coast has also brought warmer temperatures to many parts of B.C., with records broken in over three dozen communities across Tuesday.