Featured Picture: Ryan Creary
THE TRANS CANADA HIGHWAY, in any other case often known as Freeway 1, stretches from coast to coast to create the nation’s largest roadway. The agricultural mountain city of Revelstoke, B.C. is nestled within the criminal of this large transportation hall however right here, within the Columbia River Valley, the street doesn’t seem like a lot. Hardly surpassing two lanes, it weaves by mountain passes and beautiful nationwide parks, connecting the cities of Calgary—5 hours east—and Kelowna—two and a half hours west.
The humorous factor about coming into the inside of Western Canada is that your world expands and shrinks concurrently. On the one hand, cities are fewer and farther between—the gaps of wilderness make you suppose twice about following indicators to Revelstoke with out first fueling up. Then again, this idyllic mountain city is a powder oasis that gives all the things wanted for a full escape. ‘Watch out,” locals say. “You may get Revelstuck.”—each actually and figuratively. You might get bodily caught on the town when avalanche management shuts down the one main street, otherwise you may simply fall in love with the place and by no means go away.
On my first go to to Revelstoke, I used to be charmed by sidewalks bordered by chiseled, waist-high snowbanks and heritage-style homes that have been adorned with fluffy white mounds. The pure world as I knew it had expanded tenfold, and I by no means seemed again. Mountains dusted by snow in late September, rivers that originate on the base of hanging glaciers and bushes so giant you’d want six folks to encircle it, arms outstretched. I by no means knew what number of espresso retailers a rural mountain city wanted till they grew to become my neighbors. Or how the three blocks at metropolis heart come to life after a Revelstoke Grizzlies hockey sport—excited followers leaping from bar to bar.
Revelstoke is particular in additional methods than one, however the snowboarding is past comparability. Expansive and distant terrain combines with the world’s solely inland temperate rainforest local weather to create a spot that’s not simply distinctive; it’s one-of-a-kind. Think about the amount of precipitation in a rainforest, solely it’s snow. That is the explanation that Revelstoke Mountain Resort (RMR) is residence to a number of world-renowned freeride competitions—the terrain gives an unparalleled snowboarding expertise.
The skilled skiers who name Revelstoke residence would characterize themselves as those who obtained figuratively caught right here. Many resident professional skiers like Izzy Lynch, Chris Rubens, Logan Pehota and JJ Vinet got here to Revelstoke to compete within the many competitions hosted right here and, impressed by the world-class venues and terrain, determined to remain put. Lynch ended up shifting to city after a number of journeys that allowed her to discover the newly opened resort in 2008. With essentially the most top-to-bottom vertical toes of any ski resort in North America and three,121 acres of lift-accessed terrain, averaging greater than 34 toes of snow yearly, Lynch says, “I used to be in love with Revelstoke and knew I needed to make it residence.”
Native movie icon Chris Rubens would agree. He got here for the pillow playgrounds however stayed for the folks. “The easy reply is that I got here for the snow,” says Rubens. “The longer story is I stayed for the neighborhood, the summer season and the unbelievable surroundings surrounding Revelstoke. Even because it will get busier, it‘s nonetheless very easy to search out distant adventures with out touring removed from city. The mountains listed here are sufficient to maintain you busy for a lot of lifetimes of journey.”
Very like the terrain, the ski business right here is severe. Rubens says there’s a purpose why so {many professional} organizations are primarily based right here—from a myriad of heli and cat ski operations to religious public security organizations like Avalanche Canada. “We are able to get some actually difficult avalanche circumstances,” he says. “Whereas these are difficult, it has formed me as a skier, having to actually dive deep into avalanche training. You’ll discover that the typical leisure skier from Revelstoke could be very dialed-in.”
Very like the encompassing mountains, RMR has extra terrain than meets the attention. Whereas a frontside run like Kill The Banker seems thrilling with its steep cliff bands, and Separate Actuality calls to you as you journey the aptly-named Stoke Chair, there’s a lot greater than the entrance face of the mountain in the event you’re up for an journey.
JJ Vinet is aware of the mountain intimately. The skilled freeskier obtained his begin competing within the Freeride World Qualifier sequence and dealing as knowledgeable ski patroller at RMR. He says the steepness is what makes the resort’s terrain so distinctive. “Loads of the groomed runs require winches on the snowcats simply to groom them,” he says. “There’s additionally quite a lot of in-bounds terrain you could hike to, and whereas it could be just a little extra work, it retains the recent snow longer. Once you combine that with the quantity of snow we get and the frequency of these snowfalls, it makes for some nice days.”
I felt the joys of discovering this terrain on considered one of my first journeys. I took a tough left off the Stoke Chair—the mountain’s highest elevate—onto the Lemming Line hike, which, from the chair, seems like a colourful conga line of Arc’teryx-clad figures with skis slung over their shoulders. In case you get there early on one of many resort’s ample pow days, you’ll see a small group of individuals gathered round a solitary patroller who’s guarding the bootpack whereas the avalanche management crew does what they do finest. You higher consider that you simply wish to be there when that rope drops.
The gentle hike doesn’t take lengthy and when you attain the highest, the candy salvation and definition of North Bowl comes into view. At that second, the potential of the general panorama and terrain unfolds—encompassing the rugged peak of Mount Mackenzie, Gracias Ridge and Greeley Bowl. Traverse the bowl to Greeley notch on Gracias Ridge and also you’re nearly assured freshies as you drop into considered one of 5 chutes—Uno, Dos, Tres, Quatro or Cinco—earlier than funneling again into the vast runout of the bowl under the Sub Peak. Take it a step additional and sort out the Yamoto Hike and also you gained’t see a soul as you float by a future of powder pockets and small cliff drops main right down to the Ripper Chair.
RMR has come a great distance since first opening in 2007 and, trying ahead, has bold plans for continued growth. With simply six lifts constructed out of over 20 proposed within the grasp plan, RMR is on observe for regular enchancment. However the great thing about the present structure of the resort is that it retains a wild and free spirit, with virtually zero elevate traces.
Experiencing the abundance of world- famend terrain at RMR is a ceremony of passage for any skilled skier. My notion of the pure world expanded upon shifting to Revelstoke, as did my connection to this place. To me, the hidden ski zones turn out to be much more intriguing when discovering or reaching them requires effort—problem-solving, navigating tough terrain and even realizing the suitable individual to let you know about them. In Revelstoke, the hidden experiences have turn out to be a day by day lifestyle, however I’m nonetheless exploring and discovering, from discovering new zones on the resort to immersing myself within the distinctive neighborhood. On daily basis, the terrain reveals extra, and the key continues to unfold.
Revelstoke Mountain Resort
BASE ELEVATION: 1,680 ft
SUMMIT ELEVATION: 7,300 ft
VERTICAL RELIEF: 5,620 ft
SKIABLE ACRES: 3,121
LIFTS: 6
AVG. ANNUAL SNOWFALL: 416 inches
LOGISTICS
GETTING THERE
By Air
Kelowna Airport (YLW): Referred to as the gateway
to Revelstoke, YLW presents day by day continuous flights from a number of cities within the U.S. and Canada and is a 2.5 hour drive from Revy. Shuttle companies and automobile shuttle schedules are a-plenty to seamlessly arrive on time for recent tracks.
Revelstoke Airport (YRV): Situated a mere two miles from Revelstoke, YRV’s flight worth tags are definitely worth the first rate in the event you’re extra on the hunt for a fast weekend jaunt.
By Land
For many who choose the scenic route from the bottom to start out their ski journey ventures, driving Revy permits the powder fanatics the flexibleness of chasing the storms. Whereas the drive will contain trusty tires and most well-liked 4WD, the journey will outweigh the white-knuckle moments. You’ll want to keep updated with DriveBC for dwell street situation updates.
WHERE TO STAY
The Sutton Place Resort
The one ski-in/ski-out resort on the resort, the Sutton Place Resort presents hosts three on-site eating services—no stroll mode wanted. Their rooms can accommodate all kinds of social gathering sizes from studio-sized rooms to a few bed room condos (additionally pup-friendly).
Stoke Resort
This funky, boutique fashion resort sits alongside the attractive Columbia River and is located smack dab in between downtown Revelstoke and the resort. Add a comfy ambiance, a newly renovated out of doors scorching tub and a complimentary shuttle service to/ from the resort and think about us booked.
VRGE Resort
This resort caters in direction of essentially the most diehard of outside fanatics. The VRGE presents a variety of resort room sizes together with bunk choices and occupies its total third flooring with an open-use kitchen and lounge. Solely a ten minute stroll from residence, you’ll end up within the coronary heart of all of it.
LOCAL TIPS
FOOD & DRINKS
Logan Pehota — EAT ON RESORT “The spicy crispy rooster burger on the Rockford on the base of the resort is a go-to, or the Smash burgers at Mackenzie Outpost on the high of the gondola. You may’t go mistaken with both!”
JJ Vinet — INDULGE IN TOWN “The Village Fool has a laid-back ambiance with a fairly large menu. A go-to must be The Higher Burger with no mushrooms, a aspect Caesar salad and an order of scorching sauce.
JJ Vinet —Monashee Spirits Craft Distillery makes bespoke cocktails and has a HUGE spirits index. I’m a fan of Scotch, and so they have one of many largest whiskey alternatives in Canada. A pleasant peaty Islay is all the time a favourite, however their smoked Negroni is out of this world, and their Monashee Mule, a tackle a traditional Moscow Mule, has obtained to be one of many freshest and finest mules I’ve ever had.”
BEYOND THE RESORT
Ski touring close to Revelstoke on the enduring Roger’s Go isn’t any secret however the terrain simply exterior
the resort is nearer, and equally beautiful. Rent Revelstoke Backcountry Guides to point out you the steep, powder-laden bushes of Montana Bowl, the place the 2024 Pure Choice Tour befell, or crest the Ridge of Kokanee Bowl for breathtaking views of Mount Cartier.
Reap the benefits of being within the heli-ski capital of Canada and e book a visit with with Selkirk Tangiers, Mica, CMH or Eagle Go to discover the terrain that makes Revelstoke, B.C., a must-visit-ski vacation spot.
