Destination Snow: Red Mountain, British Columbia

In the western Canadian wilderness lies a dreamland for skiers and boarders who love steep slopes and rugged backcountry. Red Mountain resort provides all of that plus the authentic frontier feel of a town that dates back to early mining days. But today it’s all about the skiing.

Red Mountain is situated in the Monashee Mountains of southern British Columbia, just 10 minutes north of the US/Canada border. The town of Rossland, population 3,500, is the base for skiers and snowboarders. The resort is home to two mountains, Red and Granite. There are 1,585 acres of skiable terrain including excellent tree skiing and open glades of powder. Skiers enjoy a vertical drop at Red of 880 meters (2,900 feet).

The advantage is clearly for the intermediate and expert skiers here. Only 10 percent of trails are designated for beginners although they will find wider, gentler slopes in the lower Paradise area. Forty-five percent of the resort’s trails are marked for intermediates, most of which are in the Paradise area, as well. The other 45 percent of the resort’s 83 trails are marked for “extreme caution,” offering thrills for the more adventurous. Freeriders love the woods at Red but there is no grooming or safety patrols so it is best to hire a local guide. A guiding service takes advanced skiers and snowboarders into the wilder areas for three hours. Make reservations ahead of time.

At Red Mountain, expert snowboarders are in heaven, too. They are drawn by the “snowboard anywhere” policy opening up some of the steepest and most extreme terrain in the country. Many snowboarders come to Red Mountain just for the freeriding. The Red Terrain Park offers new features for this season. The park is the only one in the West Kootenay area and is located on the T-Bar slope. On six acres, it provides 15 rails, tabletop jumps, and funboxes. Red Mountain offers ski and snowboarding instruction with a number of different lesson packages.

In addition to downhill skiing and snowboarding, winter visitors enjoy snowmobiling and cross-country skiing. A cross-country and snowshoeing loop connects skiers to the Centennial trail. The Blackjack Cross-Country area is located adjacent to Red resort and offers 30 kilometers (20 miles) of nicely groomed track complete with warming huts, restrooms, and a first aid station.

To start your stay at Red Mountain, visit the new Welcome Center where staff can answer questions and give tips on the best way to enjoy your visit. The Paradise Lodge, located in the Paradise area of Granite Mountain, has been remodeled and its restaurant offers a larger sun deck area as well as more seating and an updated menu. New for this season is Sourdough Alley which features an espresso bar and serves soups, burgers, and sandwiches.

The 2005/2006 season at Red Mountain was set to open on December 3rd, but because of excellent recent snowfall the resort says it will open up early on November 24th on the Red and Silverlode Chairs, the T-Bar and the Red Carpet ski area. The entire resort will open on December 2nd, one of the first full-mountain openings in twenty-five years, according to the Red Mountain management.

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