About 250 people were evacuated by helicopter from Sasquatch Mountain Resort on Sunday after a mudslide took out a section of the only route in and out of the Hemlock Valley ski hill.
Resort spokeswoman Shelby Lim said there were three helicopters shuttling people off the hill all day, and 80 people were booked to leave the resort on Monday. The helicopter fare was $150, landing at Chilliwack airport.
“Everyone is in good spirits and the community has really pulled together,” Lim said.
The drama began on Friday evening when heavy rainfall washed out a section of Hemlock Valley Road and cut power to the resort, 90 minutes northeast of Abbotsford.
Lim said there were plans for a large racing event starting Saturday, so the lodge was well stocked with food and drinks. However, without road access the ski lifts could not operate because of safety concerns, in case someone had to be taken by ambulance off the hill.
She said the helicopter shuttle service began on Saturday, with about 300 skiers choosing to stay on the mountain because they had homes there or were on a long-term ski trip.
Sasquatch Mountain, formerly Hemlock Valley Resort, has been operating since 1969 and this year opened a four-chair lift.
Lim said power was restored to the resort on Sunday afternoon, just in time for the Super Bowl. She said the lodge was operating on generators before that.
