 Poster: A snowHead
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Date: Jan 29-1st Feb 2012
Our mob: Jan, the walrus and me
Website : www.revelstokemountainresort.com/
Pics: plenty here
Basics : Huddled in the Kootenay Mountains at the foot of Rogers Pass. A remote rail and logging town, surrounded on all sides by very snowy mountains.
The skiing: The headline ‘most vertical in North America’ is certainly true, but it betrays Revelstoke’s greatest assets. The steep, unrelenting fall line skiing, glades as good as anywhere, and especially on the top half of the mountain, copious fluffy snow, all make a great package for powder hounds. Our midweek visit in late January was ridiculously quiet. Powder days with no lines, and untracked pleasure available well into the afternoon. It snowed pretty much all the 3 days we were there. The freezing level oscillated like the Dow Jones, with rain-snow mix at village level, and perfect BC pow a few thousand feet higher. Some runs were simply unbelievably good. Snorkel Glades nearly lived up to their name. Jalapeno was one to treat carefully, and the hike out to North Bowl rewarded knee-deep fresh lines well into the afternoon. Add 1500m vertical top-to-lunch black diamond runs, some groomed, some not, and our Jello-like legs needed much replenishment each evening.
Off-piste : Extensive. Epic. More tree skiing than anywhere I think I’ve ever been. Watch out for cliff bands lurking beneath the freshies. Follow locals, Be careful.
The resort: Upmarket digs are available at the base of the gondola. But there’s not much else there. About 5km away the town is still a pretty much unadulterated BC country town, with only a few concessions to tourists. It’s not exactly crazy, but there’s plenty of choice for apres and food. And there’s now a bus from town to the ski hill, which is a bonus.
Food : I love the Woolsey Creek Bistro for its eclectic, tasty dishes. Frisbee Ridge Sushi has food much better than its name, and the Idiot Bar is a good hang our for pub food. Drink Mt Begbie beer, brewed in town. It’s not bad at all.
Hotel: If you want luxury, stay at the ski hill base. In town there’s a fairly uninspiring bunch of motels. We’ve stayed in the Alpine Inn, Sandman, Days Inn and this time the Gateway Inn. All acceptable, and walking distance to town. Like a Lucinda Williams gig, don’t expect too much.
Costs: A room for two and 2 day tickets at the Gateway was C$260 per night. Not a bargain, but half the price of staying at the base.
Conclusion: Remote, a little wild and rustic, but well worth the effort to get there. Magnificent terrain and snow
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Thanks for posting.
I've enjoyed Fernie and Kicking Horse. Just love that friendly, friendly BC atmo, zero lift queues and off piste women with beards - yes!. Always been tempted by Revel.
Interesting blog too with good info.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Looking forward to checking it out tomorrow. About to make reservations at the Woolsey.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Aw what great pics. Soooo jealous  )
I really enjoyed kicking horse some years ago and would love to re-visit the area. Thanks for posting.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Always wondered how the 'resort' (I use the term loosely, given your description) has bedded in, and if the skiing is as good without the launch hype of a few years ago...
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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We just finished our first day. Quite impressed, even given crap vis that we saw most of the time (or didn't).
Skiing more extensive we thought than KH. Food in Rockford's at base station very good and better priced than KH. Some of us appreciated the waitresses short skirts.
Current conditions rather rubbish on obvious side piste although more westerly (?) aspect glades more fun. Hearing that North Bowl still has some tolerable powdery stuff, but we were not keen to explore with vis down to about 10ft.
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