Joanne McQuarrie, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter | [email protected]
Ski buffs have another month to ski at Marmot Basin, and with new terrain being opened, there鈥檚 more area to ski on.
With an operational plan put in place, Marmot 1 Left was opened on March 9.
鈥淭his year, snow conditions aligned with our safety and operations team (having) time to devote to it,鈥� said Brian Rode, vice president for Marmot Basin.
鈥淲e were able to do the work to get that terrain opened. It hadn鈥檛 been opened to the public before.鈥�
With the opening, there will be an additional 10 hectares, or about 25 acres, of terrain to ski on.
鈥淲e鈥檝e created ski patrol access into that area,鈥� Rode said.
鈥淚f somebody is in need of assistance for any reason, this is a relatively quick way in there.鈥�
Rode assured having the new terrain opened is alongside recommendations about the integrity of caribou and mountain goat populations in the area.
鈥淭here are no issues with respect to wildlife in this terrain at all,鈥� he said.
鈥淭here鈥檚 no impact on wildlife because it has always been actively managed.鈥�
Rode noted that this terrain has always been in the Marmot leasehold and the Marmot 1 Left and other ski runs are below the three peaks.
鈥淲e鈥檝e always been active above to make sure the ski runs below those peaks are safe,鈥� he said.
鈥淭his is above the tree line. All operations are in compliance with and support the recommendations from both our caribou and mountain goat studies, which have been approved by Jasper National Park.鈥�
About the terrain being opened with just a couple of months left in the ski season, Rode said, 鈥淲e鈥檙e getting a good start on it for next year and giving people time to ski it now.
鈥淲e鈥檒l be more prepared to open it next year.鈥�
Kirsten LeBlanc, group sales supervisor with Marmot Basin, said in an email on March 26 that Marmot Basin had 鈥渨onderful conditions鈥� this year with spring snow bringing them 13 centimetres in the last 48 hours.
Since then, Marmot Basin has had another 24 centimetres of snow.
鈥淚t鈥檚 wonderful to see people taking advantage of good conditions, getting outside and enjoying the wide open spaces,鈥� LeBlanc said.
Marmot Basin is open until May 2.
