Kicking Horse Resort
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| Kicking Horse Mountain Resort | |
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| Location: | |
| Nearest city: | Golden |
| Coordinates: | Coordinates: |
| Top elevation: | 2,450 m (8,033 ft)[1] |
| Base elevation: | 1,190 m (3,900 ft)[1] |
| Skiable area: | 11.14 km² (2,750 acres)[1] |
| Runs: | 106[1] (Beginner 20%, Intermediate 20%, Advanced 45%, Expert 15%) |
| Longest run: | "It's A Ten" (10km long) |
| Lift system: | 1 gondola, 3 chairlifts, 1 surface lift |
| Terrain parks: | 1 |
| Snowfall: | 7 m (23 ft)/year |
| Web site: | KickingHorseResort.com |
Kicking Horse Mountain Resort (KHMR) is a new ski resort village located 14 km outside of Golden, British Columbia. It features what is currently the third highest vertical drop North America, at 4,133 feet (1,260 m)[1] it is only 6 feet (1.8 m) shorter than Jackson Hole. In total the resort includes 2,750 acres (11.1 km²)[1] of skiable lift-served terrain. The resort was named after the nearby Kicking Horse Canyon and Kicking Horse Pass (further east), discovered in 1858 by John Palliser.
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[edit] History
It started life as Whitetooth Ski Area, a smaller facility owned by the town of Golden, but was bought out and expanded in 1999, to be reopened under the new name on December 8, 2000. The majority of the skiable area consists of two large bowls (Crystal Bowl and Bowl Over) that combine about three-quarters of the way down the mountain into a single flatter area, with a fairly flat ski-out to the lifts at the bottom. One run, It's a 10, is 10 km long and connects the runs in the main Bowl areas. In 2001 a new chairlift was added to allow access to a third bowl (Feuz Bowl), which generally sees less traffic.
[edit] Lifts
The hill is served primarily by a high speed gondola, the Golden Eagle Express, that rises from the base area to the peak. Two smaller chairlifts also operate from the base area, a fixed-grip quad (Catamount) and a fixed-grip double (Pioneer - a relic from Whitetooth days). Another fixed-grip quad (Stairway to Heaven) serves the upper areas to the north of the gondola, including the third bowl. Uphill capacity is generally limited, however, and most skiers need to return to the summit via the gondola at the base of the mountain. The limited terrain park is compensated by the natural terrain and exceptional backcountry access.
[edit] Winter Activities
Kicking Horse is frequented by skiers, snowboarders and telemarkers.
Annual snowfall ranges from 254cm (100") at the bottom of the mountain to 700cm (275") at the summit. The slopes are well known for the light and dry snow, dubbed Champagne Powder. The resort is open for skiing from mid December to mid April[2], and for mountain biking and sightseeing from late-June to early-October.
[edit] Ski Terrain
The gondola accesses CPR Ridge, Crystal Bowl and Bowl Over. Crystal Bowl is large and open, providing intermediate skiing and is the easiest way down from the gondola. Bowl Over is also open but much steeper and often has more moguls than Crystal Bowl. In 2007, a trail was made to allow for advanced intermediate skiing into Bowl Over. CPR ridge is situated between the two bowls. One side of the ridge, the Crystal Bowl side, provides some of the 75 inbound chutes available at Kicking Horse. These chutes range from advanced to expert skiing. The other side of CPR Ridge is a series of glades.
Stairway to Heaven is a fixed chair lift that is situated at the bottom of Crystal Bowl and accesses White Wall, Feuz Bowl and Redemption Ridge. White Wall is a quick hike right of the chair and is rated expert skiing for some rock bands and large cornices. Feuz Bowl is advanced skiing, quite similar to CPR ridge. Stairway to Heaven follows Redemption Ridge. On one side are chutes into Feuz Bowl and the other side is a series of glades back into Crystal Bowl.
Terminator Ridge and Terminator Peak are situated on the left side of Bowl Over. On the left side of Terminator Ridge the slackcountry can be accessed. On the right side a few steep, narrow, expert chutes come back into Bowl Over. Accessing Terminator Ridge is difficult and the hike is over an hour.
[edit] Backcountry Access
Kicking Horse has exceptional backcountry access. South of the resort, Super Bowl can be accessed by hiking up Terminator Ridge[3]. North of the resort, Rudi's Bowl and many other backcountry assets are accessible [4].
[edit] Summer Activities
[edit] Grizzly Bear Refuge
Kicking Horse Mountain Resort is also the home to a 22 acres (89,000 m²) acre Grizzly Bear "Refuge"[2]; two orphaned cubs (Cari & Boo) were taken there in 2003, but one died (Cari) during the first winter. Boo can often be seen mid-winter from the Gondola, if he decides to take some exercise, but can be more reliably seen on a 'bear tour' during the summer months, provided he has not escaped (as he did for several weeks in 2006).
[edit] Mountain Biking
Kicking Horse is open during the summer for downhill mountain biking accessed by the gondola. Kicking horse provides the longest descent in Canada for mountain biking[2].
[edit] Upcoming Development
Chairlifts are planned for access of bowls on either side of the current ski area boundary. The mountain village accommodation is rapidly expanding.
This year most development will be done on 'softening' Kicking Horse. Kicking Horse has been known for its advanced terrain and wants to become a more rounded resort[original research?].
[edit] Resort Village, Accommodation and Dining
The resort village is currently being built out at the base of the ski area. The resort is currently owned by the Dutch company Ballast Nedam.
The Eagle's Eye Restaurant is at the top of the gondola where it achieves the "most elevated dining experience in Canada". At the base there is a coffee shop, sushi restaurant and a daylodge.
The resort provides lodges, hotels, townhouses and cabins. Two hotels, Mountaineer and Glacier, are located right at the base of the mountain. Two lodges, Copper Horse Lodge and Vagabond Lodge are close to the hill and are still considered ski-in and ski-out. There are many townhouses and cabins available for rent on the mountain.
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f Doyle, Mike. Kicking Horse Resort.
- ^ a b c Kicking Horse Mountain Ski Resort, British Columbia
- ^ A Guide to Backcountry Skiing Golden BC - South
- ^ A Guide to Backcountry Skiing Golden BC - North
[edit] External links
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