The flakes are already flying up north in Canada. And your skis are calling, saying, “Hey you—this winter can we please do a B.C. adventure? I miss soft and fluffy snow on my bases.” Besides, you need to clear your head out, with everything that has built up over the past months (or years).

Let the powdery snow work its magic to refresh the mind, let your soul run wild, and harness all that’s good. Let it all come back. Point ‘em north and explore all the hidden gems we have to offer.

But first, let’s go through what crossing that border looks like these days, followed by a few key places to shred this winter along British Columbia’s Powder Highway.

Don’t Let Paperwork Get in the Way of Powder Dreams

It’s a sweet drive north to Canada from Spokane and North Idaho as farm fields give way to forested hills before you reach one of the many border crossings.

In this evolving COVID era, reaching one of the Kootenay’s quiver of powder pleasers along the Powder Highway (Whitewater, Red, Fernie, Kimberley, and Kicking Horse) requires you to show proof of vaccination and get a COVID PCR test showing negative results within 72 hours of your planned arrival into Canada.

Before you head out, visit ArriveCAN online to enter your proof of vaccination with approved vaccines (Moderna, Johnson, Pfizer and AstraZeneca).

Stop Staring at Webcams—Let’s Do This

There are many ways to experience a Kootenay escape this winter. Here are a few favorite options.

1. Family Escape

To make it easy, the key is slopeside stays. Kimberley’s Trickle Creek Lodge comes complete with a pool and condo-style accommodations, including a kitchen to whip up delights. Right out front is the learning area, separate from regular skier traffic—voila, the kids are taken care of at Kimberley Alpine Resort.

Throw in those epic kids’ trails through the woods for the little rascals, which they’ll dare you to follow them into, and the kids will be over the moon. Don’t worry, there are endless gladed trails for tree skiing and real killer fall-line runs for the ‘rents’ to get their fix here.

2. Snow Dreams

Living in a snow globe is so sweet. To experience it first-hand, head to Fernie, B.C., with its cool authentic mountain town that has it all, from craft shops, to epic eats and some of the best artisan coffee in existence. Let’s focus on Fernie Alpine Resort though, as it boasts the most alpine bowls, biggest vertical, and deepest snow in the Canadian Rockies—of course, that’s why you’re here, isn’t it?

3. Steeps, Chutes, & Champagne

It’s still a secret, so keep it to yourself. Kicking Horse Mountain Resort is the real deal. We’re serious. Honestly, until you try this place, you won’t know what you’re missing. So don’t go another year without experiencing the most chute skiing in North America (over 80 chutes!).

Just think how many people talk about Jackson Hole’s similar terrain when it only has a handful of chutes, and nothing to match the caliber and variety that this Horse has.

But it’s not all gnarly terrain. There are tons of groomers and intermediate trails too. Kicking Horse is also home to the 5^th biggest vertical in North America and Canada’s highest restaurant to boot, perfect for that cheers, eh!

Some Don’t Miss & Additional Details

Be sure to check each ski resort for their COVID safety update section before you go, so you are aware of any required protocols. Currently at ski resorts across British Columbia, all will require proof of vaccination to enter restaurants, and some have that mandate for all indoor facilities.

Be prepared with a mask for lift lines and gondola rides too. But double check the latest before your departure, because as of this writing, many are still working out final details and protocols.

A Few Sweet Kootenay-Local Secrets

Enjoy ski-in and ski-out. Only 50 feet from the lift at Fernie Alpine Resort, stay at Lizard Creek Lodge with its newly-renovated main lodge. You won’t mind the sweet slopeside pool and hot tub either.

Get in your Pod. A new pod hotel experience is now open at Raging Elk Adventure Lodging. Save money, ski more, and enjoy this fun environment in downtown, Fernie, B.C.

Purcell Heli Skiing. Same incredible terrain, awesome guides, and now new ownership are part of the CMH family. They are one of the few daily adventure heli skiing options, so book a date for heli skiing after you have skied a couple days at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort. That’s what we call a perfect powder combo.

Powder Matt is a professional ski bum and writer from Kimberley, BC, who lived in his car for 63 days one winter so he could ski every day. He wrote about skiing the Kootenays during the COVID border closure in the March-April 2021 issue of Out There.

This story was originally published in the Out There Snow special section in the November-December 2021 print issue.

Find more stories about skiing in British Columbia its Powder Highway in the OTO archives.

The post Return to the Kootenays: Ski & Ride Again in Canada appeared first on Out There Venture.

Headlights popping around the building-sized snowbanks, as the early herd arrives. Locals, mostly from Nelson, arrive for the first laps of the day. It’s the Kootenay Pass coffee hour rush—unload gear and savour the powder-ticipation. A busyish, local feel where you see some you know, or friends of your powder friends, and it feels good. Not too rushed like Teton Pass rush hour. So cool that so many new peeps are taking avy courses, spending extra time to learn about gear, and going out with experienced friends. Everyone shared the snow joy of many days of freshies in January. A simple art, letting nature craft and define memories.

Starting and ending with ritual. The West Kootenays called. Food still rules in Nelson where they’re taking ‘to go’ food to a higher level. With travel restrictions in place and mostly adhered to, it was local freshies at RED and Whitewater. To join the white circus, one had to start early, get your joe quickly, and hopefully find that coveted parking spot. So many locals took to schussing here, and with COVID, everyone drove in their own car, complete with a household bubble. So car space became a premium.

Old school après happened in the parking lot too since most stayed away from the day lodge. Tailgates down, growlers out, people re-parked to social distance guidelines, tunes blaring. It was déjà vu, back to the 70s and 80s we went. Flakes fresh, vertical slayed, everyone local and old school.

Pandemic Deep Thoughts from the Powder Highway

We won’t ever forget this great ‘reset.’ While there have been plenty of tragic outcomes to focus on, the pandemic has also helped us realize we have the opportunity to dream. And what better place to begin dreaming than being surrounded by powder? Using your imagination and, (when it’s safe to do so) making it a reality, is sorely needed now more than ever. It can provide a deeper sense of freedom for our souls.

There’s also an opportunity here to reflect on the power of powder. Together, we can still celebrate the little things. Caring for each other and being humble is why this place up north makes me realize it is such a good place to be, or in your case, dreaming about (for now).

Resilience is so good. Here along the Powder Highway of British Columbia, there’s a mega snowfall amount each year. The peaks are so big they protrude through the clouds, mountain faces rugged and pock marked. The trees in places are thicker than frozen peanut butter—yeah, we stand by that bold statement. You could say that if you ski tour here, you work for it. You can’t give up. With over 70 feet of snow falling in places along this road, you also need to learn, listen, and adapt in order to travel safely.

Always friends. Contrary to what some say, ‘no friends on a powder day’ is a highly dangerous mantra. Friends are so vital in all we do, especially outdoor time. Not only do we depend on friends for safety, like extraction from tree wells or the shovel of life when incidents occur, but they also celebrate those turns along with us. They’re right by your side, or at least tagging along, for those long laps of over 4,000 feet of fall line and thigh-burning fun, like the ones at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort in Golden, B.C. So go ahead and let ’er buck with the best of ‘em. But most importantly, always remember to give back. Give back to those who matter in your life and, just as vital, surprise and delight those you don’t know. Acts of kindness are always welcome, as are the massive smiles they send your way in return.

Couch surfing. Ski bums share; not just their couch, but also a round of local craft beers for old and new friends after a long day on the slopes. When you scan the local brew house, like Fernie Brewing Co, search out that Lone Wolf IPA in the crowd and make them feel part of your pack. Offer up and toast a glass in true ski bum style by taking care of others and taking turns together.

Be open. I am so grateful and fortunate to call this powder paradise home, but not everyone can live and play in a wild place, with the largest concentration of ski touring lodges, cabins, ski areas, heli and cat ski operations in North America. It is truly off the charts, but there are people, all types and all ethnic backgrounds, that may not be able to or don’t have the opportunity to explore such places. So, if you can, share this sport, give others a chance to experience the benefits of outdoor time and nature.

Live simple. Maybe this one goes without saying in the COVID days of conserving toilet paper, but this is the spark that can help us make worldwide changes that benefit everyone. When I roll into Kimberley, B.C., my day instantly becomes brighter knowing that this little community built the largest municipal solar power installation in Canada. What’s more? This whole town is crazy about biking all year long for play and work. And to top that all off? It has one of North American’s first pedestrian-only, no-car main streets in a mountain town. We can all find simple ways to use less, reduce our carbon footprint, and live more simply to ensure these same bike trails and ski runs will be around for generations.

Be a do-gooder. Do-gooders should be everywhere now, especially as we rally to help others come back from COVID and take massive steps to get goodness back in our everyday lives. So volunteer, deliver meals, get active in your local environmental cause and become more involved by doing something every day that leads to positive change.

[Feature photo: Kicking Horse, B.C. // Photo: Powder Matt Mostellar]

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