After almost eight weeks of forced closure during an already short winter season, Hidden Valley Highlands Ski Area (HVHSA) will reopen on Wednesday, February 17.
A provincial government order closed all ski hills in Ontario as of December 26, 2020, a closure that was supposed to last 28 days but was extended when the province was placed under stay-at-home orders in mid-January.
The ski hill will extend its operations to six days per week, with night skiing on four of those days; staff hope to remain open longer into spring than usual.
HVHSA will be open Wednesday to Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Sunday to Monday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. until Sunday, March 21. They will return to regular operations—Thursday to Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Sunday to Monday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. until April 4, or longer if conditions allow.
“We will open on Wednesday with all lifts going, all slopes open and all services we can offer ready in the chalet. We are in the process of discussing options possible for lessons and programs with the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit,” said HVHSA general manager Andrew Rusynyk in a statement.
Lift tickets, rentals, and lessons must be pre-purchased online in advance. Members and season passholders will be required to register their visit to the resort online within 24 hours of their visit.
Face coverings are mandatory in lift lines and while riding the chairlifts, as well as anywhere on the slopes, the chalet decks or the parking lot where two-metre distance from others can’t be maintained including if receiving care from ski patrol—the ski hill has said anyone not respecting this policy will be asked to leave. They recommend that people bring extra masks to be able to replace them as they get wet.
A two-metre distance from others not in the same household must be maintained in lift lines. Members of the same household can ride the chairlift together. For all others, two people can ride the chairlift at one time with the space in the middle of the chair left empty.
Group gatherings are not permitted anywhere on the property, and all visitors should arrive ready to ski or snowboard—changing in the chalet will not be allowed, nor will storage of bags and equipment, and your vehicle should function as your own personal daylodge, note staff.
The chalet will be open only for picking up lift tickets, passes, and rentals, food takeout, washrooms, and emergency warm-up. Visitors must enter the chalet on the level where the services they need are—indoor stairways will be for emergency use only.
“We are super excited to get the slopes open so we can see all your smiling faces enjoying skiing and snowboarding again,” said Rusynyk. “Please make sure you respect all rules and restrictions so that ‘You are not part of the reason we lose our season’.”
For more information and updates, visit skihiddenvalley.ca.
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Paul Whillans says
Yes please, let’s have another reason for people to travel. If the ski hill were a responsible corporate citizen they would ensure that the hill was available only to those whose primary residence is local. Sympathy for the plight of (small) business should offer no cover to those who place personal or corporate gain about the well being of society at large.
Didn’t we all agree that the pandemic doesn’t until citizens do what is need?
Ralph Cliffe says
Jobs are important, but profit comes first even before life and death!
The place will be flooded with out of town visitors?
Debbie Nicholls says
“Will be flooded” should read “the flood gates have opened”!
And there is no Noah’s Ark to save us.
We are looking at July, prime vacation and travel time, before the general public is vaccinated in Ontario. That time frame linked to availability of vaccines.
Took a drive last Sunday to see a very busy Deerhurst and Hidden Valley. I saw no one over 60 years old, just alot of families enjoying a typical winter’s day in Canada.
But nothing is typical now, or is it?
I saw many, many licences plates from areas still in total lockdown.
To these people, thank you for sharing!
Our infection rate is climbing at an alarming rate.
nancy long says
Most of the members at the ski hill are seasonal residents. Of course, they are from out of town. The ski hill did limit the number of lift tickets to be sold daily. That seems to be what the stores in town are doing.