Eaglecrest Ski Area opens lifts to snowless Whitehorse skiers

The Eaglecrest Ski Area is reaching out to skiers in Whitehorse, Yukon, by offering to open its lifts to Mount Sima season pass holders for the rest of the ski season.

Whitehorse's local ski hill will not open this year for a myriad of reasons including low snowfall, broken snowmaking equipment and a broken T-bar lift.

"We don't want the residents of Whitehorse to get out of the habit of skiing and snowboarding," said Eaglecrest General Manager Kirk Duncan.

Duncan said Eaglecrest's offer was done in the spirit of regionalism and helping to ensure that Whitehorse's nonprofit ski area was a long-term success.

"We want Mount Sima to continue to operate and provide a valuable service to the residents of Whitehorse in future years," Duncan said.

Mount Sima's board of directors will spend the rest of the season reorganizing, and its Web site said those who manage the ski area hope to open for the 2009-10 ski season.

"At this point, proceeding is not practical or feasible," the board wrote.

Eaglecrest also looks to better its position by attracting outside skiers to Juneau. Duncan said the city-owned hill could become a destination area for more than just Southeast Alaskans.

Skiers and snowboarders from Whitehorse just show their pass to the Eaglecrest ticket window and get a day pass in return.

"This may be a very good way to fill up some hotels and restaurants," Duncan said.

• Contact reporter Greg Skinner at 523-2258 or e-mail him at greg.skinner@juneauempire.com.