Gibson Pass Ski Area

Gibson Pass Ski Area
Location of Gibson Pass Ski Area in British Columbia
Location	British Columbia, Canada
Nearest city	Manning Park, East Gate Hope, 75km West Princeton, 75km East
Vertical	417 m 1417 ft
Top elevation	1789 m[1] 5868 ft
Base elevation	1357 m 4451 ft
Skiable area	57 acres 140 hectares
Runs	34 total 30% Novice 40% intermediate 30% expert
Longest run	1943 m 6375 ft
Lift system	5 total 2 double chairlifts 1 T-bar 1 handle tow 1 Tube Cable Tow
Snowfall	546 cm 215 inches
Website	Manning Park Resort

Gibson Pass Ski Area, more commonly known as Manning Park Ski Area or simply Manning Park, is a small ski area located within E. C. Manning Provincial Park. The hill itself is not owned or operated by BC Parks, instead by the current park facility operator, Manning Park Resort. The land is used through a lease with the provincial government.

The hill has two tandem, single speed chairlifts, a handle tow, a T-Bar, and a tube cable lift. Facilities at the hill itself include a day lodge and restaurant, rental shop, ski patrol cabin, and a daycare.

Rental shop and base of the Orange Chair

History

The Hope-Princeton Highway was constructed in 1949, allowing easy access to the park. A small motel was constructed near the site of the current Manning Park Resort. Throughout the years, multiple different layouts and locations were tried for the ski hill, and many proposals (including a bid for the Winter Olympic games) were put forward, but ultimately the Gibson Pass location was a success.

Facilities

All facilities are located at the base of the chairlifts and the top of the handle tow. There are eight buildings onsite at the ski hill, not counting lift operation buildings and disused buildings. There is no permanent lodging at the ski hill, but power hookups are available for RV's. The parking area is two-tiered and unpaved, and ploughed by Manning Park Resort. Power is supplied to the ski hill by a diesel generator located near the base of the Blue Chair.

Building	Use
Day Lodge	Restaurant Lunch Room Lockers Flush Toilets
Ski Rental Building	Ski equipment rentals
Ticket Building	Lift Ticket Windows Seasons Pass Office
Snow School	Ski and snowboard lessons
Ski Patrol Cabin	Base of operations of the Canadian Ski Patrol System
Twin Tow	Old rope tow control building, sometimes used for races,events and ski club meetings.
Bistro	Daycare
Generator/Maintenance Building	Diesel Generator Equipment Storage

Lifts

Manning Park resort currently has five lifts: two nearly identical tandem single-speed chairlifts of 1967 and 1970 vintage ("The Blue Chair" and "The Orange Chair," respectively), one handle-tow as the upper lift in the novice area, a T-bar as the lower lift in the novice area, and a cable tow for the Polar Coaster. The novice area is split into two vertical sections. Restraining safety devices are installed on the Blue and Orange chair.

Trails

Alpine Trails

Green	Blue	Black
Wagon Trail	Race Course	Black Bowl
Old Wagon Trail	Blue Face	Muncher's Delight
Horseshoe	Chit-Chat	Blue Streak
Loop	Orange Streak	Hokey's Hollow
Cross Over	Tower Six	Tree Well
Junction	Mogul Hill	Gravity Bowl
Handle Tow	Featherstone	Big Spruce
T-Bar	Featherstone Special	Gully
	Shadow	Timber Cruise
	Coming Home	Snag
	Fool Hen	Lower Snag
		Sun Step Traverse
		Sun Step
		Apple Bowl
		Outer Apple Bowl
		Apple Bowl Hike

Nordic Trails

Green	Blue	Black
Beaver Pond Trail	Lone Duck Trail	Graduation Hill
Little Muddy Trail	South Gibson Trail	North Gibson Trail
Campground Loop		Cascade Lookout Trail
Mini-Loop		Blackwall Peak Trail
Strawberry Flats Loop

Transportation

The ski hill is located approximately ten minutes from the Manning Park Lodge off of Highway 3. A free shuttle is available every day of the week between the lodge and the ski hill.^[2]

Free shuttle between Manning Park Lodge and the day lodge of the ski hill.

See also

• East Gate, British Columbia
• Manning Provincial Park

References

1. "Mountain Stats". Manning Park Resort. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
2. "Free Shuttle Bus Service". ManningPark.com. Manning Park Resort. Retrieved 16 January 2015.