Green Mountain - The Lost Resorts, Episode 18

What was once a bustling community ski area, Green Mountain served the residents of Nanaimo for 26 years. While it's closure was unfortuinate and untimely, it's legacy continues to live on through those who experienced it. This video will go through the entire history of Green Mountain on Vancouver Island, British Columbia.
The Lost Resorts is a weekly video series that focuses on the history of lost ski resorts in North America. New episodes release every Thursday at 5:15am MST (unless otherwise notified). Join me as we take a look at the lost resorts of North America.
Green Mountain (British Columbia) Information:
Years of Operation: 1962-1984
Run Count: 6
Lifts: 2 T-Bars (Doppelmayr, Harusch), 1 Rope Tow
Music by Artlist.io
Timestamps:
0:19 Introduction
0:49 History
6:08 Topography
7:59 Conclusions

[@rorybrown4695]

The three pictures of the lower lodge, the Thiokol groomer, and the lower T bar with the JCB excavator that was initially used as a power source for the hydraulic conversion were taken by me in March of 1984. It was the last weekend the hill operated. I was hired under a Government Unemployment wage subsidy that the club used that year to get staff to operate the hill. Although I had zero experience working on the operational side of a ski area, I was a ticketed journeyman electrician, a skier with 10+ years of experience, and owned a 4X4 truck with chains. That and being an electrician got me the job. The experience of working there was the start of a 4-year stint working in the ski industry on Vancouver Island and at Marmot Basin in Jasper AB. In the winter of 1984, I went to work at Forbidden Plateau. Then onto Marmot from 1986 to 1988.

[@nol3231]

love your videos. Really well made. Your channel deserves millions of views.

[@Skier72]

Appreciate it!

[@MAGACANADIAN]

I grew up on Nanaimo’s river rd & back before liberals ruined all access to so much amazing country through out that area we use to go 4x4 ing there regularly & one time in a pretty much scary wind storm I was on the top somewhere & I Vancouver island marmot popped out of a hole & some rocks I was about 10 feet from it staring so I called my ex girl friend who was a little distance away facing the rong way but of course that startled it back into the hole & she just missed it but I feel very lucky to of seen it I was surprised with its size & the wind felt like it was going to blow me of the mountain that day PS they should open up the logging road access to nitnat main & lake cow & right by where the connector meets nitnat main there is a logging road that connects to museum main line & knocks off 2 hours of travel to port alburni & THERE IS YOUR NEW ROAD TO TOFINO THE BACK UP ROAD THEY USED LAST YEAR IS 1 HOUR AT LEAST LONGER THEN TAKING THE MUSEM MAIN TO NITNAT MAIN THERE IS NO REASON THEY CANT MAKE A HIWAY FROM DUNCAN TO PORT & tofino PEOPLE

[@mountainhigh4084]

Another ski hill trumped by Mt. Washington ....the access road was so bad you needed a 4x4 with chains which not many skiers could afford and many times that wasn't enough to get you to the ski hill

[@darrensmith9143]

Thanks for the great video. It's depressing how so many of these places were finished off by vandalism. Almost as if there's an organized conspiracy...

[@Skier72]

Very depressing... Green shared many similar characteristics to Mount Cain, which seems to have found it's niche in the market. Overall all 3 closures of the Island's resorts are unfortunate.

[@utahlostskiareas2036]

Interested as to what happened to both the lifts at Green Mountain. I doubt the Doppelmayr T-bar had a chance of being relocated due to the loss of the motor room however the Harusch T-bar was only 10 years old at the time of closure. It would seem odd that a lift like that wouldn't have been sold elsewhere, especially considering that there was clearly a demand for T-bars at that time and brand new Harusch T-bars were constructed up until the late 80s. Could it be that Arrowsmith acquired the T-bar for parts?

[@Skier72]

Harusch T-Bars used to be everywhere across BC (and to a lesser extent Alberta). There are honestly quite a few places the T-Bar at Green could've ended up that I'm not sure exactly where it went. The same could be asked about Akloo's Harusch T-Bar as well (it was only 8 years old). Woodlea (Alberta) had a 12 year old Harusch lift when they closed that went somewhere (who knows where though). I'm pretty sure the lower T-Bar on Mt. Maichen, Yukon is relocated. I have never found an installation record of that lift. Both the T-Bars on Mt. Cain are new installs as far as I can tell. Gwynne Valley in Alberta has an abandoned Harusch T-Bar that I'm wondering where it came from. It was definately not a new build. Perhaps I need to send them an email asking for more information. As to the Doppelmayr T-Bar - the tower design at Green is a fairly unique Doppelmayr design that I've only seen a few times. Maybe if I have time later this week, I'll comb through historical BC lift records and try to find out if any 1985-1986 Doppelmayr T-Bar lifts match.

[@utahlostskiareas2036]

Never knew that Gwynne Valley had an abandoned T-bar! Upon further inspection, it could be plausible that both lifts at Green Mountain could have been sold to Gwynne Valley. The towers, carriers, and top terminal on Gwynne Valley's operating T-bar very much resembles the Lower T-bar at Green Mountain. The bottom terminal at Gwynne appears to be a different design from the one at Green Mountain but that would have had to been replaced anyway. Also interesting that Gwynne Valley lost its original base facilities due to arson in 1991, seems all to similar to Green Mountain. Do you happen to know when Gwynne Valley's Harusch T-bar was abandoned?@@Skier72

[@Skier72]

@@utahlostskiareas2036 I do not know. It appears that liftblog.com doesn't have any stats on both lifts at Gwynne Valley, which usually indicates a reinstall. Maybe I should contact them and ask for information...

[@MAGACANADIAN]

If this helps they used a helicopter & nets & flew it to the closest logging road 15 years ago they cleaned it all up & when I fist went there in the early 2000s it was gone there was just bits a scrap metal & I think I remember like 2 towers at that time but they cleaned it all up now instead of leaving it there as a reminder (like the marmots cared)

[@JamesRegister-np7gn]

Wasn't it supposed to be Mt Pilchuck for this episode?

[@Skier72]

Yes, but plans change. The original schedule I posted isn't official anymore. Pilchuck will be next week

[@JamesRegister-np7gn]

I asked Avery Zucco, another lost ski area youtuber, that he should collaborate with you. See the Lost Aki areas MT Tom video by him.

[@Skier72]

Haha maybe. Collaborations definately take a lot of work and time, but who knows what the future holds.