April 5, 2009 Revelstoke Mt., BC - WOW

Revelstoke ski area is in its second year of operation with a gondola and 2 high-speed quads serving 5680 vf.  This is a fantastic ski area!  The potential of this resort is enormous and the ski able terrain is truly amazing.  Even though we had a beautiful sunny spring day we were only able to see and ski a fraction of the terrain.  We rode the gondola and a high speed quad to the top and then ripped about 5200vf on advanced terrain (as our warm-up run!).  Some of the lower slopes were melting out, but we skied a different trail on each run and still could not come close to saying that we had skied the whole place.  After 31,000 vf our senior quads, knees and hips wanted relief.  The area has lots of easily accessed “hike to” terrain with skinning out to bowls and chutes plus glades all over the area.  From the top of the gondola, you can climb a couple hundred feet and descend couloirs and bowls that finally bring you back to the North Bowl.  It has some similarities to the Spanky’s Ladder area at Whistler, but this terrain is much more complex.  They offer heli skiing, cat skiing, lift-served and backcountry access.  Wow.

In all the years that I’ve skied at various ski hills, I have never been as impressed with an area as with this one.  It has the terrain to challenge all types of snow riders.  If I was looking for an ideal outdoor town with access to world class winter recreation and wanted to work in an area that is going to grow – Revelstoke certainly has the potential to be the place.

No, I don’t work there or plan to invest there, but I was just very impressed with the mountain, town and surrounding area.  Remember, we are retired snow sluts who live in a campervan whenever we’re visiting ski areas.

Scotty, you need to find a project in this area then you can develop a whole new set of friends and we can come and visit you.  In fact, I think you would make a wonderful “Mountain Ambassador” especially with that “unique” accent.   

Here are a few photos of the easily accessible terrain.

Photo 1- Traverse right off gondola and traverse or skin out

Photo 2 - Close up of terrain in photo 1

Thanks, Zap. Looks awesome. 2010 is my 50th b-day year and I'm compiling a wish list of places to ski--this is on the list just behind Chamonix.

on the trip list for next year.

My wife and I skied there in December and agree with your opinion of the area. It's amazing how much terrain is accessible with basically 3 lifts. Seems like they actually had a sub-par snow year this season as well.

A friend spent some time at Revelstoke last year (the great snow year) and said the only way he could ski packed snow there was to ski directly behind the the grommer snowcats. RMR is high on my list, too.

Man this place keeps coming up on the radar.  I had some friends who spent a few weeks there this winter and came back with a twitch, a wild look in their eyes and babbling about huge vertical drops.   Also, I found a hostel in town for $24 CD and a free shuttle to the Mt.


Thanks for stoking the fire Zap and I'll definitely get over there for a few weeks next year.