New Revelstoke Ski Area

[JC]

Given the fact that work is starting on the new Mt. MacKenzie ski area in Revelstoke, what's the word on the terrain and snow quality?

Mt. MacKenzie receives a lot of snow, but slopes opened up during the initial phases will have Southern exposures Does that imply good snow up high, poor snow down low? Will the Northern latitude, relatively high peak elevation (for Eastern BC anyway) and heavy snowfall mitigate the exposure issue to any large degree?

What is the terrain like vis-a-vis some of its Eastern B.C. neighbors? The vertical drop will be massive, but is there a good variety of terrain and does the mountain have some nice steeps?

 

[Patrick]

Given the fact that work is starting on the new Mt. MacKenzie ski area in Revelstoke, what's the word on the terrain and snow quality?

Mt. MacKenzie receives a lot of snow, but slopes opened up during the initial phases will have Southern exposures Does that imply good snow up high, poor snow down low? Will the Northern latitude, relatively high peak elevation (for Eastern BC anyway) and heavy snowfall mitigate the exposure issue to any large degree?

What is the terrain like vis-a-vis some of its Eastern B.C. neighbors? The vertical drop will be massive, but is there a good variety of terrain and does the mountain have some nice steeps?

I know that the town of Revelstoke receives alot of snow and the mountains surrounding it, much more.

If you check last year's Mackenzie discussion, Tony had an opinion on snowtotal and exposure.

I should really drag my BC friend into FTO, he lived a few years in Revelstoke and he would be the best to comment on terrain potential if this new area.

Here the the link to last year discussion:

http://www.firsttracksonline.com/boards ... .php?t=278

 

[Tony Crocker]

I went snowcat skiing for 2 days on Mt. MacKenzie in February 1999 and I was not that impressed. We started at the small existing Powder Springs day lodge around 2,000 feet and spent over an hour climbing to the top at about 7,500. During the day we yoyoed runs down that front (south) face to a horizontal cat road a little above 6,000 feet. Terrain was about half above treeline but the trees closed in around the time we reached the cat pickup, surprising because they remain well spaced to much lower elevation at the other 4 cat/heli operations I have visited between Revelstoke and Nelson.

1999 was a record snow year up there and I saw sun about half a day of that week, so obviously snow quality was outstanding on these runs. That's why they kept us on the south side, where they had about 6,000 acres. They also had 2,000 acres cat terrain on the north side, but they save it for when the south side snow deteriorates. At the end of the day you ski all the way down that south face. Snow was good to about 5,000 ft., OK to 4,000, ugly between 4,000 and 3,000, and a relief to hit Powder Springs' groomers from 3,000 to 2,000. Note again that this was in a record snow year.

I suppose you can say I'm spoiled, but I just liked the other places (Selkirk-Tangiers, CMH Kootenay, Great Northern, Retallack) for terrain a whole lot more. I have heard the 1,800 vertical of back side (north-facing) terrain on MacKenzie is better, but until that part is accessible I wouldn't be in a hurry to get up there. Kicking Horse, even with its current layout flaws, is better than what I saw at Mt. MacKenzie.

I'm hoping a lot more for Jumbo than Mt. MacKenzie. Jumbo may help keep a few ski streakers going too .

 

[JC]

I think Jumbo may be quite a ways off, although it sounds like it has great potential if it does move forward.

 

[Patrick]

Most of the stuff you ever wanted to know about Mont Mackenzie Development Project:

http://www.skirevelstoke.com/

The work that is currently done...

http://www.skirevelstoke.com/mountain.htm

The Master Plan with future trails, village, etc

http://www.skirevelstoke.com/project.htm

Other stuff (some interesting things here also).

http://www.skirevelstoke.com/media-press.htm


Like Tony mentioned, by looking had the planned trails, much of the trails seem to have a south-west exposure and below tree-line. However some trails will have a northern exposure.

I will not get into a Jumbo vs Mackenzie debate. The Jumbo terrain is definately more interesting, BUT the negatives for support and the environment are greater.