Snow problem: Unusual winter is hurting some Newfoundland businesses
Winter activities on hold as parts of province wait for a major snowfall
Snow has been sparse in some regions of Newfoundland so far this winter, and its absence is hurting businesses reliant on heavy snowfall.
Dwayne Mouland, the owner of an Irving gas station in Hawkes Bay, N.L., said skidooing, ice fishing, and spending time at the cabin are all popular things to do on the Northern Peninsula.
In years past, his gas station would be packed throughout January with customers towing snowmobiles.
"The amount of machines there was amazing. I'll count it as high as ... 120 vehicles parked around the parking lot," Mouland said. "There was nowhere to park."
This year is a different story. Even though it's February, much of the island has yet to see a major snowfall.
"There's no recreational skidooing," he said. "If there's no snow, they can't go. People don't move."
Mouland says the weather is hurting businesses in the area, since motels and restaurants rely on the winter weather and the visitors they bring.
"Usually, you get a lot of people coming across the high country and coming here, and of course, they can need a place to stay. They're eating out at restaurants and things, and they're burning gas," he said.
"If it's winter, we need snow."
West coast embraces winter
Business isn't suffering everywhere, though: Corner Brook is currently snow covered, and snowmobilers are hitting the trails.
Craig Borden manages Rugged Edge in Corner Brook, a business that sells and rents snowmobiles and offers tours.
Borden said his business embraces winter. People call to book snowmobile tours from all across the country.
"We look forward to it.... We had a call just in from someone who's visiting from St. John's and wants to come snowmobile here on the west coast," Borden said.
"I totally feel for people that don't have snow in the area. They can't get out and snowmobile."
Fake snow, skiing is a go
The lack of natural snow didn't stop one of the province's ski hills, though. White Hills Resort opened for skiing and snow boarding in Clarenville after weeks of making and maintaining its own snow.
Resort operations manager Rob Carmichael said snow-making is a 24-hour job when the temperatures are good.
Staff worked on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day because the conditions were right. The goal is to make enough snow to last through some warmer temperatures and rain.
"You need to have at least two feet of coverage through the whole thing," Carmichael said. "We have a superior product when we have no snow, and people are skiing when there's really next to no snow on the ground everywhere else."
White Hills opened on Jan. 29 for the season.
No ice to climb
Fake snow is helpful for major ski resorts, but for winter activities on the Avalon Peninsula, Mother Nature is needed, and she's not working in their favour.
Greg Locke is an ice climber. In past years, he started climbing before Christmas — but it looks like he won't start until at least February this year.
He started ice climbing six years ago and says he's noticed winters are changing. Ice climbing requires consistent freezing temperatures, similar to what will freeze a pond.
"Facebook memories are classic. Like, you'll get a picture pop up, and it will be like 10 degrees outside, you go, 'wow, you know, four years ago we were actually ice climbing or something,'" Locke said. "It seems like it's been rainy and wet and dark since November. It's not fun."
Locke photographs ice climbing and sells the pictures to magazines. When there's no ice to climb, he loses business.
"A lot of my work is outdoor adventure stuff, sports, that sort of thing. So photographing the ice climbing is the big part because that means now this year I'm not shooting any ice climbing," he said.
Pippy Park's winter activity centre operated by the City of St. John's is not open yet either. The centre is popular for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
The city's communications manager, Jackie O'Brien, said preparation for the Canada Games and lack of snow is behind the delayed opening.
Adapting to weather
To accommodate the unpredictability of the weather, winter activities are changing.
Don Clarke, a marketing director at retail store The Outfitters, says many people who buy skiing equipment also buy gear for running in the winter.
"A lot of people who like to be active outdoors, you just kind of adapt with what the weather brings and what activities you're doing," Clarke said.
With the opening of White Hills and the eventual opening of local cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in St. John's, Clarke said, The Outfitters will be busy with customers.
"You definitely see a lot of people coming in to get their skis waxed so they can start using them on the ski hill, which was pretty neat," he said. "There's always like a bit of a rush on snowshoes."
Clarke said no snow doesn't have to mean no winter activities. People can run, hike, and travel to find the snow elsewhere in the province.
"There's no bad weather, just bad attitudes," he said. "What the weather is, we adapt, and that's how we act accordingly."
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With files from Leila Beaudoin and Troy Turner