Whitewater B.C. Opinions...

**snowave** · 11-13-2004, 02:58 PM

I think I asked for feedback on this place last summer, but I didn't get too much, so I thought I'd try again now that things are rolling along into winter..

We are heading to BC in Late January..and plan to hit the following...

Sunshine/Louise
Kicking Horse
Red Mtn
Fernie

We were considering going to Revelstoke for some Cat riding, but I hear there are some places near Nelson, which would fit in nicely if we decided to ride at Whitwater for a day.. I also have read a bit on Whitewater, and the good amount of snow they get. The terrain looks "OK", but nothing too spectacular. I suppose I am justy wondering if it is worth a stop for a day. It would also be a nice driving break from Golden to Rossland..
We are not expecting it to rival any of the other places mentioned, but if it is a complete waste of time, I'd like to know.

Things we like..

POW (duh)
Trees
Bowls
Steeps
----------
good vibe
nice town..

If anyone is in these areas around January 22-31, give me a holler, and a beer is on me.
Thanks for any feedback...
Sno

**truth** · 11-13-2004, 03:02 PM

The terrain in bounds @ wh2o is mediocre, but the touring access from the lifts is phenominal.

**gonzo** · 11-13-2004, 03:35 PM

whitewater rules! nothing in bounds like kicking horse, but traversing/touring out from the lifts is well worth it if there is fresh. my personal favorite mountain. super chill. super good skiers. zero attitude. cheap tickets. awesome poutine in the lodge. face ripper bud. etc.

edit: to answer your specific inquiries, pretty safe bet the snow will be good in late jan., the trees are amazing, steeps you have to hike to but there is enough to make ya poop...

paging powderpyg & beaver...

**powderpyg** · 11-13-2004, 05:47 PM

Originally Posted by truth

The terrain in bounds @ wh2o is mediocre, but the touring access from the lifts is phenominal.

Neither are any good, go to Red...it's soo much better, right Beav.

JR · 11-13-2004, 05:48 PM

I did a dozen years there. If they have been getting fresh snow, it's worth the stop, otherwise, move on.

You'll get bored of the skiing pretty quick if all that is available is "packed powder." It used to be that you could get untracked for weeks after a storm but with the new-found popularity of the hill, it gets punched pretty quickly. The inbounds area is actually quite small, but there is lots of stuff that you can access from the lifts which is out of bounds that is excellent. When they do get a good run of snow, you really would have a pretty hard time beating the place for snow quality.

If you wanted to take your touring gear and go anyhow, there is lots of sweet touring close to the hill, but again, that gets punched a lot more quickly these days.

**powderpyg** · 11-13-2004, 06:15 PM

Things we like...

Pow(duh) - No, go to Red, they get at least twice as much...right Beav!
Trees - Use to but, they clearcut the whole area last summer.
Bowls - That depends on what kinda "bowl" your lookin for?
Steeps - Nope, flat as a pancake

------------------------------
Vibe - That also depends on the "bowl" question
Nice Town - Nope, just one of those strip mall hell's

Actually JR is pretty close with his discription. Although what ski area doesn't get tracked out within a day of a storm these days, I've seen worse at bigger resorts.

**Beaver** · 11-13-2004, 06:56 PM

Woo hoo, free beer.

L7 · 11-13-2004, 08:17 PM

Originally Posted by Beaver

Woo hoo, free beer.

This is called thinking ahead, but maybe not so far ahead as scaring the poor feller away.

If you're going down that way might as well check it out. Might be unbelieveable, might be mediocre. OK I never have when I've gone to Red but there were reasons and I'm not a good study case.

**fattwins** · 11-13-2004, 08:49 PM

Take a bit of avie kit. Talk to a local and do some morning hitchike runs.
Most locals are pretty cool and dont give a crap if you ask about stuff.

Touring is sic. from either lifts you can just skin traverse so easy and so much to access.

As others said its not got great inbounds terrain. the blast is fun if you rip it riders left and hit some of the cliffs there. Its a BC access hill

**Boundary Rider1** · 11-14-2004, 05:34 AM

If you couldn't have good day at Whitewater, maybe you would need to re-evaluate what you want from skiing. I think the little area rocks, I would definately drop by.

JR · 11-14-2004, 11:33 AM

Keep in mind that for our Aussie friend ^^^^^^ skiing on a garbage pile in Saskatchewan or a riverbank in Red Deer would probably rank as a memorable day.

**snowave** · 11-14-2004, 12:50 PM

Hey Thanks for the all the advice and info.(even the loving sarcasm was hilarious

) I think we will play it according to the snow. If no new, we will probably Cat for a day or two , otherwise we are passing by there enroute to Red regardless, so...we'll see what happens.. again, give me a holle rif anyone wanta a free beer..

**Odin** · 11-14-2004, 12:58 PM

All these places are in Canadah, Eh?!

**snowave** · 11-14-2004, 04:34 PM

Speaking of beer...

Are there any chill pubs in Golden, Nelson, or Rossland that I shouldn't miss..?

JR · 11-14-2004, 04:53 PM

http://tetongravity.com/forums/showt...164#post257164

**Ferniefreeheels** · 11-14-2004, 04:55 PM

Originally Posted by snowave

Speaking of beer...

Are there any chill pubs in Golden, Nelson, or Rossland that I shouldn't miss..?

In Nelson I used to like the Savoy and the pub in the Heritage Hotel (Mikes Place?) was good. Then there is always the Zoo at the Civic

**powderpyg** · 11-14-2004, 08:35 PM

powda

http://www.skizone.nl/atc/atc.php?ur...blpic29687.jpg

steeps

http://www.skizone.nl/atc/atc.php?ur...blpic29689.jpg

bowls

http://www.skizone.nl/atc/atc.php?ur...blpic29688.jpg

trees

http://www.skizone.nl/atc/atc.php?ur...blpic29686.jpg

There, now I just havta make em bigger!

**glademaster** · 11-14-2004, 08:37 PM

Those are some badass red "x"s there Doug. I don't think I've ever skiied stuff like that before.

Edit: If you want to get an idea of what the terrain and snow inbounds and OB at WH20 are like before deciding whether or not to go, try to check out Sinners and Ski Your Ass Off 2, both shot in and around Whitewater by Bill Heath. Those two flicks should help ya make up your mind.

**powslut** · 11-14-2004, 09:01 PM

If you go cat skiing in Nelson, don't go with Wildhorse. The owner is a complete douchebag.

JR · 11-14-2004, 09:57 PM

Originally Posted by powderpyg

OOPS

Steeps
http://www.biglines.com/photos/blpic29689.jpg
Bowls
http://www.biglines.com/photos/blpic29688.jpg
Powda
http://www.biglines.com/photos/blpic29687.jpg
Trees
http://www.biglines.com/photos/blpic29686.jpg

It is pretty technical, I must admit.

**powderpyg** · 11-14-2004, 10:14 PM

Originally Posted by JR

Steeps
http://www.biglines.com/photos/blpic29689.jpg
Bowls
http://www.biglines.com/photos/blpic29688.jpg
Powda
http://www.biglines.com/photos/blpic29687.jpg
Trees
http://www.biglines.com/photos/blpic29686.jpg

It is pretty technical, I must admit.

Ya, ya, ya, I fucked up, you da man JR!

**snowave** · 11-14-2004, 10:29 PM

I'm stiff now.

I knew I could count on you guys for the lowdown..

Also, thanks for the heads up on the Wildhorse Cat Skiing place. Speaking of the Cat thing... since we're on a roll for info..Does anyone have any suggestions for Cat places in either Revelstoke orNelson? I realize alot of places only do multi-day trips, but we can only do 1 or 2 days, thanks in part to the great almighty dollar begin so strong this year..

JR · 11-14-2004, 10:55 PM

Valhalla Powdercats is a fairly new outfit so they are quite likely to do single or double days.

Retallack may have some open days.

Highland is another new operation. They are about 2 hours north of Nelson. If you planned it so you were on your way to Revy or Golden, it would be on the way.

White Grizzly is about 20 minutes south of Highland so same deal with fitting it with a drive to Revy or Golden. Older operation though so not so likely to get 1 or 2 days. I hear that they have expanded their terrain this year which is good cause they were a bit limited.