Red Mountain really is a skier’s Mecca. Devout Western Canadians make the pilgrimage to Rossland B.C. for the powder, for the people and for the purity that is Red. 111 years old, the mountain has been around the block a few times. People started coming for the gold but when that ran out, they stayed for the white.
The lucky few, from the area, born practically wearing skis, know that Red is one of the best-kept secrets in B.C. It just seems to snow and snow and then….oh wait…snow some more. But when you actually start to worry that the snow will be too deep to get through, you head up the mountain and see that not only does Red have hoards of snow, they have stockpiles of steeps.
Left beautifully natural, you truly feel lost in the wilderness on the mountain. Glades hug the sidelines and steep cliffs dot the boundaries. Powder pillows float you over any debris as you rock your way down and around this expert paradise. Think you’re a good skier? Watch out for the six-year-old overhead as she drops in on you after clearing the cat track. People in these parts know a little something about skiing.
Many Canadian racers started out here and Red is in fact the first ski resort in Western Canada. The community work hard to protect the cult of skiing and they do so responsibly within the stellar environment that they have found themselves.
The town of Rossland is small but inviting. People are very welcoming of guests and happy to give you some advice on where to go to ski or drink.
Rossland is located in remote B.C. While it may be a bit far to get here, there’s something to be said for being in wilderness more than a stones throw from the big city. You can fly to Spokane and drive 2.5 hours, to Kelowna and drive 3.5 hours or fly from Calgary or Vancouver to Castlegar, the nearest airport and only a half hour away.
For peeps serious about skiing - you will be spoiled by the terrain. A range of badass skiing trips can also be arranged: head out with a guide on the mountain, go cat skiing or heli-skiing. They also have truly serene trails for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
You really get a taste for the best of what Canada has to offer skiers. Natural surroundings like no other and an absolute sense that you are peacefully co-existing with nature as you head out exploring the steeps and the deeps.
And while Rossland may be small, it’s a very pretty town and you will be sure to make some friends. They have a new Après ski bar, Gabriella’s to check out and a range of restaurants.
And hey, a trip to Red Mountain won’t break the bank. While a day at Whistler can extend your student loan payments for another year, you can get in a real ski vacation in these parts and still afford to eat next week.
