❄️Cold Weather is on the way!❄️

Cold weather is on the way! An arctic outflow is forecast starting December 26 for approximately 4 days. Temperatures are expected to be -20 or below. It is important to dress warmly for the weather, and watch your exposed skin! Minimize exposed skin with hats, scarves and mittens or gloves. There is a risk of frostbite and hypothermia in cold weather, so be prepared.

The key to winter clothing is to dress in layers. This great resource from MEC outlines how to dress with a good base layer, mid layer, and an outer shell that protects you from the elements. One important note is to try to choose non-cotton fabrics, which get soaked easily and stay wet. Wool or fleece is great at wicking moisture and not getting saturated.

It’s important not to wait to layer up or layer down if you’re getting warm or cool. Staying warm and dry is a lot easier than trying to warm up or dry out.

Frostnip & Frostbite

There is a risk of frostnip and frostbite when you are outside and improperly dressed or with exposed skin. Watch your friends and family for early signs of it, and go indoors to warm up at the first signs of it. Here are some tips for preventing frostbite while skiing.

The symptoms of frostnip include: (Time to take a break and warm up!)

  • Skin that looks red
  • Skin that tingles or feels numb

The symptoms of frostbite include: (Consider seeking medical attention)

  • Skin that is red and then becomes white or grayish-yellow
  • Skin that burns, tingles, or is numb
  • Skin that feels hard and swollen
  • Blisters or sores on the skin (severe frostbite)

Stay warm during this chilly stretch! What better excuse do you need to grab a hot chocolate in the Daylodge, a Hot Apple Toddy in the Pinewoods Dining Room or a delicious boozy hot chocolate by the fire in the Bear’s Den? We also sell hats, mittens and scarves, as well as hand warmers, in the Alpine Guest Service building at the Ski Area, the Nordic Centre and the Country Store.

Safe Winter Driving Tips

Transportation Minister Rob Fleming recently announced the Coquihalla Highway will reopen for commercial vehicles, and the essential travel restrictions on Highway #3 will be lifted for the holidays, so we are able to welcome all visitors to Manning Park Resort starting December 22nd! 

With all the recent press about the highways in Southern BC, we definitely have a healthy respect for our mountain roads! It is important to respect the roads and drive carefully, however, we want you to feel confident to drive Highway #3.

If you’re driving, here are a few tips to ensure you get here safely from ShiftIntoWinter.ca: Click the links to read more.

  1. Prepare yourself for winter driving. (Including planning your route, leaving enough time, checking conditions, and learning winter road skills.)
  2. Prepare your vehicle for winter driving. (Including having winter tires, checking your fluids and wiper blades, packing an emergency kit)
  3. Drive for the conditions. (Maintain a safe following distance, slow down, accelerate and brake slowly, and do not pass unless safe and permitted to do so)

BC Highway #3 requires winter tires from October 1-March 31.

  • The letters “M” and “S”, the minimum legal requirement (mud + snow/all-season tires)
  • The 3-peaked mountain and snowflake symbol (some manufacturers label with both the mountain snowflake and the M+S symbol)

To learn more about winter tire requirements, see here.

Here’s another great way to safely drive the mountain roads – take the bus! Mountain Man Mike’s offers bus service weekly to Manning Park Resort.

 

We have an excellent highway crew that works tirelessly in all types of weather to ensure the roads stay safe for you and your family. This involves plowing the roads when it is snowing, or spreading salt or gravel.

If you encounter a road plow, keep your distance until the plow truck pulls over to allow you to pass. And never pass a snowplow on the inside! 

Once you arrive at Manning Park Resort, park the car and relax! We offer a free shuttle bus between the lodge and the ski area, with a stop at Strawberry Flats. The bus runs regularly throughout the day. Check the schedule here.

Want to learn more about winter driving? Visit ShiftIntoWinter.ca and take the online quiz to test your winter driving knowledge!

WE OPEN DECEMBER 22

We open on December 22, 2021!

With yesterday’s announcement of the re-opening of HWY #3 for non-essential travel next week, we are super stoked to announce that we will be opening with full operations on December 22, 2021! We are so excited to be able to welcome you all back for the holidays, and for what’s going to be another incredible winter season. There is so much fresh snow waiting for you! ❄️

We can’t thank the hardworking highway and transportation teams enough for making this possible.

 

Alpine & Nordic Lift Tickets, Rentals & Lessons Now On Sale

Buy online early & save! Purchase your tickets, rentals and lessons online, in advance, for the best deal and to secure your spot.

If you have any trouble with the purchasing process or have additional questions regarding the booking platform, please contacting us alpine@manningpark.com.

Buy Tickets, Rentals, & Lessons

 

Operational Updates

Polar Coaster Tube Park: The Tube Park at the Alpine Ski Area may not be open for the start of the season. We will update you as soon as we have an estimated opening date.

Skating Rink: The skating rink will not be open for the start of the season. As it is a natural ice rink, it requires a bit more time to harden and form the necessary amount of ice.

Tobogganing Hill: There will be one tobogganing hill available to enjoy this year, in between cabins 28 & 29 in the Lodge Area. Tobogganing is no longer available next to the Nordic Centre.

Hours of Operation: Hours of operation will change and be extended for the upcoming season, stay up to date by visiting our Hours of Operation Page.

Flooding Damages: Due to damages sustained during flooding events, the T-Bar will be unavailable until further notice, and select Nordic trails will be unavailable for use until they are repaired. Exact trail details will be available next week as we work to repair as much as we can.

New Poland Lake & Backcountry Access Trail: New this season, is a brand new Poland Lake & Backcountry Access Trail, starting from Strawberry Flats. Please follow the pink signs and flagging tape to follow this new trail.
We’ll see you soon!

DEC 2, 2021 – UPDATE

Well, it’s been an eventful fall season! We hope everyone has stayed safe and dry in the face of all the wild weather.

We are grateful for all the hard work of the highway and construction crews that are working diligently to repair our roads and keep them safe for us. We encourage everyone to follow DriveBC for updates and to adhere to all advisories and recommendations to limit travel until deemed safe.

Due to additional rainfall and travel restrictions that remain in place for HWY #3 until December 21st, 2021 (where we are located), we are effectively moving our official opening date to December 22nd, 2021 as we continue to support ongoing Provincial Orders and encourage you to as well.

If you have pre-purchased a ticket, rental, or lesson for our initial opening weekend of December 11th & 12th, please contact our Alpine support team at alpine@manningpark.com or follow the prompts to our alpine team at 604-668-5922 to transfer your purchase to an alternate date within our 2021/2022 winter season.

If you have pre-purchased accommodation, please contact our front desk agents at info@manningpark.com or 604-668-5922 to transfer your accommodation to an alternate date.

To our Season Passholders, you will be receiving an e-mail on Monday with more details regarding changes to the passholder perks for this month, pass pick-up, and more.

We can’t wait to welcome you back to the resort and get started on what will be another incredible winter season.

We’ll see you soon,

Manning Park Resort

 

Alpine and Nordic Tickets, Rentals, and Lessons for the Upcoming Season are Now Available!

The snow is falling and we are looking forward to our opening date of December 22! We are stoked to announce that tickets, rentals, and lessons are now available to purchase for the entire upcoming winter season.

Before purchasing, just a few things to keep in mind:

When purchasing tickets, rentals, and lessons, you will be prompted to add guest details for each guest. Please add the details of the guest who will be using the ticket/product.

The following policies apply:

  • All advanced purchased tickets, rentals, and lessons are non-refundable: With 72-hours notice, they can be transferred to an alternate date within this winter season.

If you have any trouble with the purchasing process or have additional questions regarding the booking platform, please contact our support line at 604-668-5922 (ext.1303) or e-mail us alpine@manningpark.com.

For lessons, navigate through our website to find your lesson of choice:

Lessons & Clubs

 

Purchase tickets & rentals

 

Winter Operations Update

The anticipated opening date for Alpine is December 11th, 2021 (Update: Now Dec. 22). Of course, if we are looking good for snow conditions earlier than this, we will let you know about any early openings. Be sure to put in a good word with the snow fairies for us!

We are looking forward to a great, and safe, winter. With that in mind, we have finalized our winter operations safety plans.

For full details of our winter operations, click here: 2021-22 Winter Operations Plan
We can’t wait to welcome you and your family back to winter at Manning Park Resort!

 

Manning Nordic Ski Club

Want a discount on race entries? Want a discount on day passes to ski at Manning Park? Want to order cool gear with bear paws on it? Register for the Manning Nordic Ski Club.

Our main goal for this club is to build a Nordic Community. We’re hoping that we can work with you to help you meet your goals as well.

Having a Nordic Club also allows us to put on races and events sanctioned by CCBC and CCC (now Nordiq Canada or NC).

If you are already a member of another ski club you receive a $19 discount off membership. Just use the same email address you used for the first ski club.

Cost of Membership in the Manning Nordic Ski Club for the season:

Perks of being in the Manning Nordic Ski Club:

  • $5 off entry into Manning Nordic Races
  • 25% off Manning Nordic day trail tickets
  • Feeling good about supporting Nordic Races at Manning
  • Option to buy Manning Nordic Ski Club Gear – Interested in Clubwear? Seen other club members wearing something you wish you had too? Ask us about putting in an order!

Join and build a cross country ski community to facilitate great trail skiing, training, skill development and fun!

 

Become a Member of the Manning Nordic Ski Club

Manning Park Resort Institutes a Minimum $18/hour Starting Wage

Group of beginner skiiers

As Manning Park Resort prepares for the upcoming winter season, they are pleased to announce that, as a component of their ongoing commitment to their staff, the Resort will be raising the starting hourly rate to $18/hour to be more reflective of today’s value. This is effective for all starting positions with the exception of servers and bartenders, which follow provincial wages due to the nature of the tipping industry.

Manning Park Resort is focused on supporting and developing its employees. Over the past year, we have implemented a variety of employee development and assistance programs to support our staff and we are not done yet. The recent implementation of an $18/hour starting wage furthers our vision and commitment to properly support employees with a living wage. When combined with our free staff housing, this presents a strong financial foundation for our employees,” states Jarred Hupe, the Resort’s Assistant General Manager.

In addition, there are currently two new staff accommodation facilities under construction that are slated to be completed before the start of this winter season. Hupe added, “they are 24 brand-new one-bedroom apartment units. Each fully furnished unit comes complete with its own kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and living space. These units will become the standard for future housing.”  All staff housing is rent-free with only a nominal bi-weekly utility fee charged. Another facility soon to be opened is a staff-only recreation and gathering building. 2 New Staff Housing Accommodation Buildings

In mid-2020, it was recognized that there was a need to provide additional services to the staff. Matt Holbrook, People and Culture Manager, headed up the task of getting the On-Site Medical & Mental Health Support that was needed. Holbrook says “every month a Nurse Practitioner and a Counsellor spend a day at Manning Park Resort to take staff appointments. This service is free and has been widely used. Most times the appointments are full.” This program is a first for the destination resort industry and has caught the attention of the entire industry as resorts look at ways in which they can further support staff in remote environments.

In addition to a great starting rate, free housing and support from the Resort Management team, there is endless opportunity for skill development and career progression within Manning Park Resort. Staff are provided with training and certification opportunities to help advance their skillsets and are encouraged to cross-train in departments of their interest.

Additionally, as an outdoor recreation destination, all staff are encouraged to take part in everything the winter and summer seasons have to offer with a free season pass to all activities. In winter, staff enjoy Alpine and Nordic skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing, snowshoeing, and ice skating. In summer, staff enjoy kayaking, canoeing, and stand-up paddle-boarding on the lake, as well as camping, and hiking.

Applications are currently being accepted for winter seasonal and year-round positions through Manning Park Resort’s website and Human Resources department. Apply today!

Work At Manning

__________________________________________________________________________

Manning Park Resort is a year-round destination resort surrounded by an incredible array of recreational activities including hiking, biking, and canoeing. There are many amenities including a variety of accommodations, restaurant, pub, swimming pool, fitness centre, and group facilities. The Resort is nestled in beautiful E.C. Manning Provincial Park, 45 minutes east of Hope on Highway #3.

You Can’t Miss Autumn at Manning Park

It’s that time of year when the leaves are changing, the larches up on Mount Frosty are turning their golden hue, and the stars are shining bright in the autumn sky.

Many people are taking the annual fall pilgrimage up Mt. Frosty to see the golden larches. This 22km high alpine trail offers stunning mountain views and a larch forest. The trees are now in full ‘golden bloom’ and it is prime time to hike up the mountain.  At the end of September to mid-October, the 2000+-year-old larch trees on Mount Frosty turn to gold before their needles fall off for the season. It is a stunning experience! Share your golden larch tree photos on Facebook & Instagram with the hashtag #ManningParkLarches!

The Mount Frosty trail is the only place to view these unique larch trees, but there are other opportunities to see the autumn colours in Manning Park. 

There are great colours in Sumallo Grove along Highway #3, just east of Sunshine Valley, and the Cascade Lookout provides a great overview of the autumn colours around Manning Park Resort. For some longer hikes, try checking out the Lightning Lake trail or Skyline to view some of the great colours.

Sneak away to discover the fall colours of Manning Park! Make it an extra special getaway with a B&B or a Romance package. Learn more about our Fall Deals & Offers.
When you are planning your outdoor adventures this fall, it’s important to be prepared. Autumn can be a great time to explore, but if you’re heading to high alpine environments remember that conditions can change rapidly. Learn how to “get informed and go outdoors” from AdventureSmart.
Happy hiking!

Maureen Mol

We’ve spent many vacations at Manning Park over the years and each trip has special memories. From our first camping trip when we borrowed my Dad’s truck & camper to Thanksgiving weekend camping with friends that included potluck turkey dinners, biking up Windy Joe and more recently staying at the Lodge and hiking the many trails. On one of our summer vacations, our truck broke down as we were driving into Lightning Lake campground. We managed to limp into a campsite and the next day, the gentleman in the campsite across from us came over had a look. He suspected it was the alternator. We knew my Mom was planning to take the Greyhound bus from Mission to Penticton in a few days so we rode our bikes to the Lodge to phone her and ask her to buy an alternator, which she did. When the bus pulled into the Lodge a few days later, we were there to meet it and get the alternator from Mom. She was in her eighties at the time and the alternator was a little heavy for her but that’s what moms do to help their kids! Our campsite neighbour loaned us some tools and we, non-mechanically inclined folks, installed it. It didn’t solve the whole problem but we were able to get home.