Page 51 in the 2025 Snow Sports Recreation Guide

Hello Mount Washington!

Over the last few months, our team and I have embarked on new adventures as we prepare for the 2025/26 season together. Many of you have reached out with support regarding recent changes within our management team. Your encouragement means a great deal to us, and we are excited to have a dynamic group of leaders, driven by skiing and riding, who are dedicated to delivering your resort experience.

I have been incredibly fortunate to be part of this special mountain community for nearly 25 years. That time has allowed me to connect with multiple generations of pass holders, our mountain clubs, and village owners. It is not lost on me that our team has the honour and privilege of hosting Vancouver Island’s skiing community every single day they visit throughout the winter.

Like many of you, my journey in skiing began years ago as a kid with a family day on the slopes—sliding down a small community hill and making laps on an old rope tow with a grin from ear to ear. Over time, that passion grew into a career that has given me the chance to contribute to the operations, growth, and culture of this mountain and the ski industry as a whole. 

The roots of my career are embedded in snow sports. Welcoming new families and guests to discover the mountain for the first time is truly where my heart lies. Mount Washington is more than a place to recreate; it’s a gathering place for adventurers of all kinds. Whether it’s snowshoeing or skate skiing in Strathcona Park, or getting stoked at the Sunrise Chair on a powder day, I couldn’t be more excited to be part of the opportunities ahead.

When I first arrived at Mount Washington, I couldn’t have imagined the lifelong relationships, experiences, and memories this place would bring me, from working alongside some of the most dedicated staff in the industry to sharing unforgettable moments with our guests and community members. 

“Looking ahead, my vision for Mount Washington is rooted in three priorities: enhancing the Washy guest experience, strengthening our community connections, and ensuring this special place remains the destination for Vancouver Island’s skiing and mountain community. Every decision we make as a team will be guided by these principles, because our guests and community are the heart of all we do.”

This year, you’ll see visible improvements across the resort designed to make your time here even more enjoyable. We’re upgrading sections of the Alpine Lodge— including restaurants and washroom facilities—to better serve your breaks and après gatherings. We’ve continued summer grooming of alpine and Nordic terrain, invested in more snow making, new snowcats, and added a Pisten Bully winch cat to help our operators deliver the best possible surface in all conditions.

These are just a few of the many projects underway, with more details to come. Our summer offerings will continue to expand with enhanced events, summer camps, and continued investments in the Bike Park, building on the success of 2024/25. We are also developing a 5–7 year plan that includes additional snowmaking, lodge upgrades, hospitality improvements, and lift enhancements. Looking further ahead, we’re already planning future projects focused on expanding family offerings, improving base area flow, investing in sustainable practices, and celebrating the unique Island culture that makes Mount Washington so unique. Our goal is simple: to ensure that skiing is alive and thriving here for generations to come.

None of this would be possible without the incredible team I work alongside. Our group of Directors brings more than 110 years of combined Mount Washington experience. Many of our staff members have been part of the resort for a decade or more, and their dedication shines through in every interaction. Like you, our team shares a passion for the outdoors, the mountains, and the people they meet each day.

For me, success isn’t measured only by the quality of our snow or the variety of our trails. It’s about investing in and growing the sport of skiing—the source of the smiles, laughter, and stories that echo from our lifts, lodges, and patios. Creating those moments is what motivates our team and what keeps our guests returning year after year.  Mount Washington Resort has always been about more than recreation—it’s about community. It’s about the parents teaching their kids to ski, friends swapping stories after a powder day, and the visitors discovering the beauty of Vancouver Island for the first time. Together, our team will continue building a mountain community that reflects these values and celebrates the spirit of adventure that unites us all.

As we look toward the 2025/26 season and beyond, I invite you to join us in shaping the future of Mount Washington. Your support, passion, and feedback are invaluable, and I’m excited to share this journey with you.  Thank you for being part of the Mount Washington community. See you for some hot laps this winter! 

Sincerely,

Mike Manara, General Manager