Sampling the cross country skiing at Mt. Washington on Vancouver Island

Raven Lodge is an impressive facility

by Keith and Heather Nicol

     Although winter has gotten off to a slow start at Mt Washington, the cross country skiing has been very good based on the days we have been skiing. We have been impressed with grooming which has made the most of the snow and we have been blown away by the great views from Raven Lodge and the trails. And we have been told that some of the nicest skiing is in Strathcona Provincial Park which we haven’t sampled yet since those trails need a bit more snow cover to fully open. We can’t wait to try Paradise Meadows and the Lake Trail when they open up. Overall Mt Washington has developed 55 kilometers of cross country ski trails and another 22 kilometers of snowshoe trails. Another bonus which we are looking forward to trying is taking the Hawk Chairlift which allows you to access some cross country trails higher up on the mountain. There aren’t many places where your cross country ticket lets you ride a lift! Raven Lodge is a full service facility where you can rent gear, register for a lesson, have a meal, relax in front of the fire and even have a sauna! For more information see: http://www.mountwashington.ca/

Trails are groomed for skating and classic skiing

The mountain vistas from the lodge and trails are very scenic