A group of tubers enjoy the summer conditions on Whistler Mountain. (Doug MacFarlane)

Summer temperatures are finally forecast to hit B.C. this week, but up at the top of Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains, the resort is reopening for some out-of-season snowshoeing, skiing, boarding and tubing.

The spring weather on the West Coast has been cool and cloudy this year and the past winter's record snowfall is still hanging on, leaving parts of the alpine as a winter wonderland, according spokeswoman Lauren Everest.

"We've actually opened up an alpine tube park on Whistler Mountain for the first time ever up at the Roundhouse Lodge and for $5 guests get access to three lanes of tubing up in the alpine," said Everest.

"We've also opened up a snowshoeing course also on Whistler Mountain in lieu of alpine hiking that in seasons past we would have had going by this point," she said.

Over on Blackcomb Mountain, the resort recently reopened for skiing and boarding on the Blackcomb Glacier.

Everest said while the goal is to get the alpine hiking up and running when the snow eventually does melt, the tube park and snowshoeing will remain open until that happens.

Marketing efforts target China

Meanwhile, the staff at Tourism Whistler are ramping up their efforts to attract Chinese visitors, following last month's announcement that Canada has been granted approved destination status from China.

The new designation allows Chinese travellers to visit Canada for vacations, rather than just business or education, according to spokeswoman Kim Hood.

"It means we get to show them information on Whistler. We're also allowed to tell them how to book to get here and that's key — we've never had a call to action before," said Hood.

Wooing prospective Chinese visitors includes promoting the area's shopping, sightseeing, skiing and snowboarding — which could make this summer's snow a key selling point.

Tourism Whistler is also planning a trip to China in October to work with local travel agents in their own language to ensure the resort's sales pitch doesn't get lost in translation.

About 169,000 people come from China to Canada each year, but that number is expected to jump by 20 per cent because of the new status, said Hood.