Two chairlifts at Big White Ski Resort were closed again on Wednesday because of cold weather.
The resort closed the Gem Lake and Cliff chairlifts on Tuesday, and the two could be shut down until the weekend.
Temperatures at the ski resort east of Kelowna had the mercury at -17 C on Wednesday, with winds of 15 km/h.
The overnight low is expected to reach -22, with Thursday’s forecast featuring a high of -17 and a low of -26, with the same 15 km/h winds.
For Friday, it’s much the same at -15 and -28, with Saturday warming slightly to -12 and -22. Winds are expected to be present on both days.
The resort has a summit of 2,319 metres (7,606 feet), and temperatures at the top usually average 10 degrees colder with the wind.
“The Cliff chair and the Gem Lake chair, they’re the furthest from our patrol hut,” said Big White senior vice-president Michael J. Ballingall.
“And, of course, what we worry about is if there was a mechanical malfunction and we had to lift evacuate — meaning taking people off the lift manually — in these temperatures, it’s just too risky.
“So we closed the lifts.”
Ballingall said they’re hoping to reopen the two chairlifts on Friday, “but if necessary, they will still stay closed until we’re somewhere around -15. Minus-20 with the wind, it gets a little sketchy.
“We’re looking at the temperatures going forward and we’re hopeful for Friday. For sure, it looks like they’ll be open for Saturday.”
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