Kicking Horse

[Jilly]

I've an instructor friend who's son just arrived at Revy to work for the season. Says it's bad....wished he'd stayed with Sunshine now.

 

[geargrrl]

I went biking in 45 degree temps Sunday. The guys are still doing DH runs at Mt Spokane if that tells you anything.

 

[CalgarySkiGirl]

I'm doing the snow dance and making sacrifices to the snow gods....sunshine only has a base of 88 cm right now. We need snow everywhere!

And I usually download in the gondola at Revy anyway--the bottom has sucked every time I've tried it. So I do an extra run up top.

I'm a snow snob and freely admit it. =)

 

[SkiGAP]

Well I'll keep hoping - good thing the townhouse is a nice place to spend time - but maybe we won't have Kiku conditions...

 

[SkiGAP]

KH info from a local:

"The snow at the top is awesome. Some chutes are in better shape then they were all last year! The bottom is another story. VERY marginal conditions with grass and ice patches. They are recommending downloading from catamount top right now! You can make your way all the way down, but it is definitely a tricky experience."

 

[beckylh84]

Catamount is pretty far down the mountain, so you should still be able to get in some good vert! Will give your legs a little extra rest

 

[Ringrat]

https://kmcmag.com/fresh-content/news-site-updates/kicking-horse-last-mountain-standing/

 

[SkiGAP]

Nice! 1 week to go! Kikus are freshly waxed :-). On Tuesday I head to San Francisco and Oakland for a few days first to meet up with the fam, then we all head up to Calgary together.

I'll appreciate whatever snow we can get...

 

[CalgarySkiGirl]

Not sure how kicking horse is--it was nice when we drove through there at lunch time today, but it's currently snowing in Revy!

 

[SkiGAP]

It was snowing at 3:30am there - I have friend on site now...I still have two days to decide if the Kikus come alone or if they have Auras with them in the SportTube for low-snow days..

 

[beckylh84]

Should be nice skiing up in the alpine at KH the next few days. Hear a storm is rolling in? I've had rude awakenings the last few mornings--waking up to POWDER ALERTs in my email...

 

[CalgarySkiGirl]

Hopefully! We were supposed to get 29cm overnight here in Revy. Got nuthin'.... =(

 

[SkiGAP]

It was dumping a couple of days ago. But now I have a new worry - the cold! Seems the temps are starting to drop significantly and I have gotten soft in the Pyrenees and Alps :-(

 

[SkiGAP]

First day yesterday! Up high it was pretty good, fantastic snow quality and excellent coverage. Most of the terrain seems to be open. On the lower part it is definitely thin, every bump in the terrain makes itself known, and there are tree tops and branches poking though in areas. The Auras handled it well, of course. There is certainly enough to have a great time if we stay high until it is time to come home.

One surprising thing, the lifts are only open from 0900-1530. Seems really short, but it *is* still dark after 8am here, so I suppose it makes sense. We are pretty far north.

Monday is supposed to be unseasonably cold - so we may be taking a day off - I am not the most hard core of frigid-weather skiers. That said, even a few locals and regulars have told me they are avoiding the elements tomorrow so I don't feel so bad!

 

[geargrrl]

Funny, we think they are open more than most mountains! Regionally (Washington, Idaho, much of BC) it is a 9:00 open, maybe 8:30 at a few locations, with a 3:30-ish clos. Consider the length of the day and that ski patrol still has to clear the mountain, which takes a good hour or so after the last person unloads.

 

[Christy]

Ditto. Everywhere I ski it's 9 to 3:30 (sometimes 3) for most lifts, it's 4 for some lifts at Sun Valley. The Whistler gondolas are the exception--you can upload as early as 8:15. The alpine lifts at Whistler close at 2:30, though. I didn't realize this was unusual!

 

[SkiGAP]

Took Monday off as it was -xx F. Today started out as -7F but I went up anyway. The afternoon session I had with my friend who is a local was fantastic, double blacks in the trees, bowls, alleys, and we found some untracked areas. Also, it was warmer up top...This place may not have many groomed runs, but if you like trees and open areas, there are seemingly endless options. Lesson tomorrow morning.

 

[SkiGAP]

So the KH trip is over. I recommend it - when there has been a dump or when there is at least good lower coverage. Even as-is I was enthralled - it is really magnificent terrain. I am back in a Calgary hotel, then tomorrow it's off to Toulouse and then to the Pyrenees next weekend!

 

[SkiGAP]

Two last points: my Kiku bases are in need of TLC from the week of lower-terrain pebbles, and Blizzard had a demo tent up today...(I did not partake - no free-heel bindings)