Snow Keeps B.C. Ski Hill Closed

PORT ALBERNI, B.C. - There's too much snow for the lifts at Mount Arrowsmith ski hill. A 30-foot measuring pole is buried beneath the snow, along with the T-bar lift.

"There's still too much snow," said hill manager Ken Bilton. "We can't see the lifts."

Mount Arrowsmith was open in December and January. But in February there were 21 days in which the mountain got more than 2 inches of snow a day. In one 30-hour period the ski area got 84 inches.

Mount Arrowsmith spent $60,000 Canadian on roads in early February, Bilton said, before declaring nature the winner. "In some places we've run out of room to put the snow," he said.

Bilton had hoped the mountain would be open to skiers for spring break. There was too much snow. He then aimed to open today. Still snowing.

Now he hopes to be able to see the ski lift by March 26. That's if there isn't another big snowfall.