Steady snowfall preps Harper Mountain for busy Christmas break

KAMLOOPS – Snow is packed, the fire is lit, and Harper Mountain is fully operational in time for the holiday season.

Owner-Operator Norm Daburger says the skiing opened up on Sunday, and the start of operations has been busy.

“Interest has been amazing. I think everyone is looking for a winter experience these days, and the phone’s been ringing off the hook, and emails and Facebook – it’s all hopping.”

The hill opened a bit earlier than last year, which saw a later start to the ski season. Daburger says they never really know what kind of weather will come to the mountain around opening day.

“You just tend to deal with whatever comes. The snow – some years there’s lots, some years it’s early, some years it’s light, but we’ve never had a year where it hasn’t come.”

Operators are glad to have service ready for visitors making their way up on Christmas break, with a few improvements made to the ski runs.

“Regulars, seasons pass holders, you probably have about 1,000 members, and then you have a lot of people who we consider regular and family who don’t buy a season pass but come regularly.”

The ski hill has been operating for nearly 50 years, and with the tube park, day and night skiing, and the fireplace in the day lodge, Harper Mountain has gained a loyal following.

The winter atmosphere also draws in visitors from out of town, out of province, and out of country.

“We get more and more people from out of town and out of country all the time that come through,” Daburger says. “We have a few foreign staff that work, and they’re excited to come enjoy the snow. A lot of them, they’re seeing snow for the first time.”

Night skiing, and Harper’s holiday hours begin this evening, and aside from Christmas Day, the hill will be open every day until January 5 of the new year.