The snow isn't falling on the North Shore mountains yet, but that hasn't stopped some winter revelers from flocking to the hills.
Drier than usual conditions this winter have meant little to no recent precipitation, with some of the ski hills only getting a light dusting of snow last Thursday night.
"The weather is unusual but not unprecedented," said Emmalee Brunt, communications coordinator for Mt. Seymour. "So we're staying positive."
"Our base right now is sitting roughly about 38 centimetres," she said. "Typically we like to say we would open with a minimum of 85 centimetres."
Brunt said while the tobogganing and beginner areas are open, other runs are closed due to lack of snow.
Rene Papier, a North Vancouver resident, brought his sons Jonas and Connor to Mt. Seymour Friday for snowboarding lessons.
"We've been here for four or five days already," said Papier. "The skiing conditions are probably the worst of all the days. It's a hard ice." Papier said despite the less than desirable conditions, the kids are enjoying it.
For both Cypress and Grouse mountains, the ability to make snow has meant some runs are up and running.
Jacqueline Blackwell, public relations manager at Grouse Mountain, said having the largest snowmaking system on the North Shore and offering a variety of other winter activities has meant a decent season despite the weather.
Grouse is currently sitting with a snow base of 72 centimetres and has produced 53 centimetres of snow using their snowmaking equipment.
Joffrey Koeman, director of sales and marketing for Cypress Mountain, said they currently have all of their 37 snow guns pumping. "Natural snowfall's been definitely lower than the average year," said Koeman. Cypress currently has seven runs open, compared to last year when the mountain had 100 per cent of their runs open for use, according to Koeman. "I guess we've been spoiled the last couple of years with great snow levels," said Koeman. "It's a later start than usual."
