If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
BC ski conditions - Red Mtn and Snowwater update
Went to BC last week and spent two days at Red Mountain. Hadn't snowed in
several weeks and conditions weren't the best to say the least. Mornings were very icy and hard - softened up in the sun and warmth for decent afternoon given the conditions. The Paradise lift area was great - good tree runs in the Ledges area and on both sides of the Southern Comfort run (but obviously tracked out by now) but we made the most of it. Some good steeps on the front face from the Motherlode lift. Not much beginner terrain, but great terrain for the better boarder/skier. I would love to go back again with good snow conditions. Relatively cheap lift tickets and lodging on the mountain. It is about a 2-2.5 hour drive from Spokane. Highly recommend the Gypsy Rose restaurant at the base for dinner. Went to Snowwater Lodge near Nelson for 3 days of heli/cat skiing. Great operation with lodge in the mountain accessible only by cat. No new snow in a week or so, but that meant low avalanche risk. Conditions were decent the first day but there was a crust about 4-8 under the softer top snow. Some great open runs as well as heavily treed so everyone was happy at the end of the day. Second day was really nice as we flew to new territory for peak runs at alpine at the upper stages. Still some nice powder in the trees and non southern aspects due to the higher elevation. These runs were about 2500 vertical. They did a good job of tailoring the runs to the level of our two groups - 4 of us per group with two guides/group. Really nice day. Woke up to 20 inches of new snow Sunday for cat skiing. Best day by far, up to 30 inches or so at elevation. They had good gladed runs with good snow stability. Our group was worn out after 6 runs in the powder. The lodge had a hot tub, full time chef (all food and lodging was included) , and can sleep about 12-14. Owner and guides were stellar. Very professional and safety conscious. I know this time of year it is usually deeper snow and more powder, but they were still able to get us as best as could be expected. They didn't have to work too hard on that the last day though. Most of the heli and cat drop offs were boarder friendly - some traversing but if the skiers broke trail the boarders were fine. Even though we didn't have new snow each day - best 3 days of boarding I have had. Of course it was also my first time in a heli operation. Not for an intermediate - no mellow runs here. Planning to go next year but hope the snow conditions at Red and the rest of BC are more like normal. I would bet some of the resorts are hurting in BC. Have fun. |
Ads |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Great report, thanks.
As I may have mentioned we're doing almost the same trip in one month. Staying in Nelson. Hope to ski Whitewater and Red and then stay on the mountain with Baldface and cat ski for 4 days. I'm hoping for more snow and some solid spring storms before we go! Glad your trip ended with a powder day and you found fun turns in the trees all along. Any other tips for traveling up there? (things to bring or leave home) |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
"todd" wrote in message oups.com... Great report, thanks. As I may have mentioned we're doing almost the same trip in one month. Staying in Nelson. Hope to ski Whitewater and Red and then stay on the mountain with Baldface and cat ski for 4 days. I'm hoping for more snow and some solid spring storms before we go! Glad your trip ended with a powder day and you found fun turns in the trees all along. Any other tips for traveling up there? (things to bring or leave home) Whitewater and Red both have good terrain with nice steeps. Hope your snow conditions are better. One of our group had been at Baldface as well and said it was more of intermediate terrain in powder but a good operation with great people. Please give us an update on your views of it after you visit. I was looking at it as well but they couldn't fit a group our size in until late in the season for this year. We actually had a guide for a half day at Red that really helped us find all the good stuff to help get us ready for our trip. Contact me offline and I will be glad to give you his contact info. Just a half day with him and we knew what the locals did. It was as easy trip. Crossing the border at Northport was simple and easy both ways. Canada recommends a passport or license and birth certificate. US only needed license for coming back in. Remember to get receipts to get your 7% GST back. I found equipment and clothing expensive in Canada even with the exchange rate. Make sure to pack everything. For the lodge bring a pair of slippers and a robe (Snowwater provided these) and we lounged in them. I brought too many non ski/board clothes. Remember the swimsuit for the hot tub. For Nelson they recommended the Prestige Inn (I think that was the name of it). Good luck. |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|