Mini TR: Revelstoke Last Weekend

**dre66** · 02-21-2008, 04:53 PM

ended up spending last weekend in revy.. i have to say the place has huge potential and i look forward to taking many trips there. even though i had gear i was solo for most of it so OB stuff was kept mostly to far skiers right in North Bowl and a bit on the far side of South Bowl(?) - cant remember name, (out by the Cat Skiing Op). Also the reason I don't have any action shots...

The bootpack at the top of Stoke is where it's at. From the top you can traverse to limitless opportunities. I was surprised to find so much untracked stuff so accessible (10 min hike) even a few days after a storm... but than again I'm used to W/B. The freezing level had been high the day before and stuff around midmountain and lower and refrozen overnight so most of it was shit. I spent my entire day lapping North Bowl. There are definitely some fun lines I would like to try out next time I go back up. The light was amazing and the snow was soft and it made for excellent skiing. I'd reccomend any mags remotely close to the area to check it out... bring a slightly bigger crew and touring gear for limitless possibilities.

ps: thanks to all the mags who gave me beta, much appreciated

**PulverSchwein** · 02-21-2008, 06:39 PM

she is so pretty, I could definitely ski there everyday. I was in North Bowl by myself three weeks ago and was just in awe of the beauty and potential of the whole area. Bring on more scenics if you got em.

**dre66** · 02-21-2008, 09:29 PM

yeah North Bowl has potential for sure, once they lift access all those goods up top it'll be a shitshow. I think they have to fix the parking problem but once they do with the new gondola they are hopefully putting in for next year they should have the time and money to get some new lifts up top where it counts.

**lifts4turns** · 02-21-2008, 09:59 PM

I'm going to be skiing this march 22. I know its a little late but I can't help but be stoked for it.

**gramboh** · 02-22-2008, 08:19 PM

Where's the sales centre or whatever located that has a mock-up of what the hill would like full built out? If it's in the lodge I've missed it (twice), just curious since I can't find the plans on the web (if anyone has a link that would be cool).

BT · 02-22-2008, 08:50 PM

Originally Posted by gramboh

Where's the sales centre or whatever located that has a mock-up of what the hill would like full built out? If it's in the lodge I've missed it (twice), just curious since I can't find the plans on the web (if anyone has a link that would be cool).

gramboh, check out this link: http://www.revelstokemountainresort....nfo/media.aspx

Scroll down to the "Resort and Real Estate Fact Sheets" section for the master plan and some other goods.

**Eldo** · 02-22-2008, 10:19 PM

Originally Posted by dre66

I think they have to fix the parking problem...

What parking problem? I have always managed to park in the first few rows in the main upper lot.

What time did you get there?

**dre66** · 02-22-2008, 10:22 PM

830. and I was fine, but by 9 my buddy told me people were already parking down the road. as the resort expands there will no doubt be a bigger need for parking. they are building a new gondola and more parking at the base this summer so that should take care of that. its fine for controlling crowds i guess, but if the resort has whistler-size aspirations they need to have more parking for the masses.

**Eldo** · 02-22-2008, 10:47 PM

Basically the Family Day weekend is the busiest ski weekend of the season. All the resorts around here would have been lined up just as bad. A few years ago the cars were parked four km down the access road at Sunshine.

Besides, anyone who gets to a resort after first chair is a half-miler anyways, so who cares how far they have to walk?

**dre66** · 02-23-2008, 03:18 AM

I believe that, even though the crowds weren't really that bad. Still glad I picked revy over whistler that weekend. Good times.

**Heymski** · 02-23-2008, 03:25 AM

I just finished a three day stint in Revy. Weather was amazing, which meant I got to see the mountain for what it is, although I was let only to imagine what it's like with some fresh snow (we are getting desperate here in BC)

The bottom of the hike up to North Bowl (takes about 15 minutes)

View from the top of the North Bowl Hike: lots of potential here. I still found some fresh lines on this face on Thursday (6 days since it last snowed!)

You can also traverse into North Bowl, but you lose out on the steep stuff at the top (pic above)

Finally, a shot from the lower part of North Bowl. We heard that next year a lift will be put in that ends up just below this point on the north side of Mackenzie

In all it's an awesome mountain. I just can't wait to go back.

**Eldo** · 02-23-2008, 11:52 AM

A tip for anyone who has not been to Revy yet. If you are driving up to the ski hill and people start pulling over and parking by the side of the road before the daylodge, that does not necessarily mean the parking lot is full. A lot of locals with seasons passes park along the road because they can just hike 50 feet up the hillside and be right at the gondola.

I almost parked on the road once before realizing what people were doing. When I drove up to the parking lot it was still almost empty.

Here's the proposed lifts from the Master Plan.

The two red lines are the gondola and Stoke chair.

I was told by the resort back in fall 2007 that the new south lift and bottom extension of the gondola were supposed to be built this coming summer. They didn't say anything about that north lift. I don't see the need for it yet, since it wouldn't access any new terrain.

**sw1tch** · 02-23-2008, 12:49 PM

Thanks for the info. Two more weeks and that place is getting slayed. Hope to have a decent TR.

**Heymski** · 02-23-2008, 01:29 PM

I was told by the resort back in fall 2007 that the new south lift and bottom extension of the gondola were supposed to be built this coming summer. They didn't say anything about that north lift. I don't see the need for it yet, since it wouldn't access any new terrain.

Yeah, not too sure as there are lots of different rumors around. All it would do is prevent from needing to hike out of the North Bowl. I'm pretty sure the lift the guy was talking about is that orange one low down on the left had side. I'd rather keep that area as hike in/hike out. Keep the traffic off

**Dr.Evil** · 02-23-2008, 05:09 PM

Originally Posted by Heymski

Yeah, not too sure as there are lots of different rumors around. All it would do is prevent from needing to hike out of the North Bowl. I'm pretty sure the lift the guy was talking about is that orange one low down on the left had side. I'd rather keep that area as hike in/hike out. Keep the traffic off

I disagree, when I was there early this month I thought there was too much traversing/hiking both in and out to access the goods in and around the north bowl (especially to get out). If it wasn't for the run under the gondola (Kill the Banker) which was ridiculously fun on a powder day, I think I would have been disappointed with the place. After two days there, I was ready to move onto Kicking Horse.

The one statement that keeps on popping whenever anyone mentions Revy is "how much potential that place has", and I agree. Once they put a lift in the north bowl and cut a few more runs off the gondola that place will totally kick ass and be on par with Kicking Horse.

**el hefe** · 02-23-2008, 09:10 PM

North Bowl lift and lower gondi next year. NB lift won't hurt the skiing experience and will add to the amount of hikable terrian that takes you down to a lift. There is a huge bowl to skiers right of where most people are dropping in right now. This will open alot more true alpine terrain accessable without skins.

The terrain pod for the chair is fairly flat and rolly though.

**Eldo** · 02-23-2008, 09:37 PM

Who told you another north lift will be built for next season? Because unless it was someone higher up the food chain than the resort prez it seems like a south lift will be next.

Anyways, I don't see how the next north lift (yellow on the map) would add any new terrain. It doesn't reach further around into the next drainage, so it would just provide access to an area we already ski.

**el hefe** · 02-24-2008, 09:37 AM

Next north one would not be the yellow line, the one that is actually in north bowl (orange). I have been told this by development staff and Mr Simpson's son this winter. I know that originally they were told that south bowl would be a go, I hope this is the case.

The map you posted is from last summer and might be a little skewed.

**teamdirt** · 02-24-2008, 09:59 AM

there is 3 lifts going in this summer. one from the lower base to gondola base. one on the ridge that seperates north bowl from the front side and then one in lower north bowl. all terrain above north bowl will inbounds next year and avi controlled. this year most of the upper north bowl is not controlled with explosives.

**Snow Dog** · 02-24-2008, 10:19 AM

Originally Posted by Dr.Evil

I disagree, when I was there early this month I thought there was too much traversing/hiking both in and out to access the goods in and around the north bowl (especially to get out).

I disagree -- the easier it is to do laps in the North Bowl the faster it'll track out. Doing a little work to get the fresh snow is ok.

**Eldo** · 02-24-2008, 10:55 AM

Interesting. If they have indeed decided to focus on the north side rather than the south that would be a complete change from what the plan was back in the fall.

Maybe they want to keep the south for cat skiing a while longer? Or just realized the north has the best snow, so expand there first.

That furthest north lift marked in orange would definitely open up more terrain since you could go down the next drainage.

Hey, TD, what happened to Whistler? I hope you haven't started skiing at Revelstoke because it sucks. Everone should go to Fernie, much better!

**teamdirt** · 02-24-2008, 12:55 PM

Originally Posted by Eldo

Hey, TD, what happened to Whistler? I hope you haven't started skiing at Revelstoke because it sucks. Everone should go to Fernie, much better!

I agree Fernie is the shit! That Revy hill just isn't going to work out the way everyone is saying-best keep driving to the goods and the Powder Highway!

Whistler is still kicking-more mountains then I can count have been slayed and sledded. In fact the other day we pioneered a high mtn. sled traverse that was recommended as a 4-5 day ski trip. We started at 11am-summitted 7 mtns. crossed 4 remote lakes-went thru 6 passes and got back to the vehicles by 6pm. To many options out here-you can go forever!

Revy wants to develop the north bowl because it will extend the season to the end of April and open up the first real beginner-intermediate terrain on the mtn. We are not talking upper N. bowl but lower(below the cat track out) They will also start building avy control mechanisms this summer to open all the north bowl and leave it as (delirium dive style) hike to access the goods.

**Chrispmoto** · 02-24-2008, 03:31 PM

Yeah, all Mags just keep on driving by Revy. It isnt that good.
South area lift next year...... not happening. That will cut too much into the Cat Skiing, and I think they want to let that go a few more years before adding lifts.
North bowl/ridge chair, beginner/intermediate chair above top of existing gondola, and gondola from the bottom (condo area) to where you board gondola now. Thats the latest.
Also, we are now opened till April 27 (or 29th, I forget).