O Canada: Powder and Poutine at Red Mountain
Crossing the Border
We caravanned across the border and (funny enough) through a town called Creston, eventually climbing over a massive mountain pass that gave us our first promising sign: loooots of snow. We descended into the valley and hit Trail, BC, a surprisingly industrial town where Rose and I did a mandatory restock at a Canadian grocery store. We emerged with a stash of Canadian snacks and a six-pack from Vancouver, ready for the next resort.
Our destination was Red Mountain, just outside the cute mountain town of Rossland. For a small fee, they let us camp right in the lot. The convenience of being steps away from the lifts was unbeatable. Once settled and fed, we turned our van into a tiny sports bar. I fired up the Starlink, and we all crowded in to watch the Olympics and play games before the cold mountain air sent us to bed.
Finally: The Good Stuff
After a chilly morning fueled by lattes in the lodge, we finally hit the jackpot. The conditions were exactly what we’d been hoping for: firm, fast groomers and actual fresh powder in the trees. Yay, Canada!
After some runs, we hit Rafters Bar for a proper Canadian refuel: poutine and draft beer. Satisfied, we waddled back to the lifts and spent the rest of the day hunting down powder stashes. It was easily the best skiing of the trip so far, and we stayed out until everyone was completely wiped.
Knowing When to Fold ‘Em
By the second morning at Red Mountain, the fatigue of skiing nine out of the last ten days finally caught up with us. It was a gorgeous, bluebird day, but also a bit of a comedy of errors: Josh and I nearly cliffed ourselves out, Monika’s snowboard bindings needed work, and the energy levels were bottoming out.
Apart from the snow, this has been our favorite resort so far: really similar to where we ride at home with a locals vibe, fun terrain, no lines, and a cool bar. But after a few pitiful runs, Rose and I listened to our legs and called it. We headed into Rossland to knock out the glamorous side of van life – laundry and water refills – before finding a quiet place to park and sleep just outside of Castlegar. Tomorrow begins our trek a few hours north to Revelstoke. We’ve heard big things about the vertical there, so we’re hoping the rest day pays off!
