Rogers Pass and Revelstokes

[Gratefuldad]

I looking to schedule a 4 day backcountry trip to Rogers Pass in the Selkirks. The tour is a guided tour and may include one or two nights in a hut. Prior to the BC skiing I'm planning on hitting a few days inbounds. The BC guide recommended Revelstoke. If you are not familiar with this resort do so. When their expansion plans are complete it will be the number 1 resort in N America, which is why you must go now. Currently it has a 5600' vertical with only three lifts servicing 3,000 acres of mostly glade skiiing. Black diamond runs from top to bottom. The gondola rises 3500' and its all glades. They also have several guided BC options from the reort. The best of all is the 500-700" of snow a year. Future plans will increase the resort to 6,000, 10,000 acres with 20 lifts. Unfortunately the snow will remain the same. So before everyone learns about it and the hotels start going up visit it so you can tell people you were there BEFORE it became #1, which is when you want to go.

SO if anyone has any experience with either of these skiing destinations input will be greatly appreciated. I promise to bring back a lot of photos of both

[icelanticskier]

never been to revelstoke, but have toured around nelson, squamish, and skied a bit around sunshine. i've got no beta from my trip other than my last visit (to that area) being a road trip from maine in 95' at age 22 living out of a yota pickup and stopping at roadside attractions (mountains with snow on them), parking the truck and skinning up into them. plenty of options. a friend of mine spent last winter at revelstoke and had good things to say. tough to go wrong out there. i really enjoyed the kooteneys, kooteney pass, ymir, garibaldi over by squamish.

rog

[Gratefuldad]

never been to revelstoke, but have toured around nelson, squamish, and skied a bit around sunshine. rog

I skied Sunshine a few years ago. Only place Ive skied that required avalanche gear and a partner to access the back area. The steepest inbound trials Ive ever skied. Also did three days of heliskiing in the Selkirks near Panorama. Time to try the BC now. Originally I was going to do the Wapta Traverse which is a 4 day hut to hut tour. Changed to Rogers Pass because that will be more vertical versus traversing 5 glaciers

[apingaut]

I've skied Rogers pass for a few day.

There is a hotel up there with a restaurant. Breky was good, packed lunches were ok, dinner I don't remember. If I were going back I would pack in food for lunches and 6000 beers.

Skiing was awesome. Ranger station next to the hotel was very helpful for best skiing options.

[Gratefuldad]

I've skied Rogers pass for a few day.

Ranger station next to the hotel was very helpful for best skiing options.

I'm new at AT touring so I will be going on a guided tour. Several different courses are offered over the 4 days that I'll be out. Hopefully soon I will feel comfortable to go "guideless" out west. Still need some guidance here also but I'm ready to give it a shot. First practice run this weekend.

[icelanticskier]

Originally I was going to do the Wapta Traverse which is a 4 day hut to hut tour. Changed to Rogers Pass because that will be more vertical versus traversing 5 glaciers

i hear ya. i'm all about max down for minimal ground covered. i like to tour, but am just as happy looking at mountains from my car window as opposed to touring around up through them when i'd actually rather be lapping a wonderful slope somewhere close to the road. mountains are mountains are mountains........

yer gonna have a blast!

rog

[tweb]

I went to RMR last February, really cool place. I did a day of guided skiing through the resort. It was pretty nice. They have amazing sidecountry. PM me if you want more info about the resort.

[mainwaring]

grateful dad,

i did some guide / guide in training for CMH at revelstoke almost 18 yrs. ago for a short time. at that time, revelstoke was a small mining town / outpost on the columbia. CMH ran their operation out of a local hotel. now that area has grown exponentially as a tourist destination (in Canadian ski town terms, not Jackson Hole style). back then, sunshine and lake louise were the go to resort areas in AB. as you noted, each area has mountain ambassadors that are tasked to show you the area - an amazing offering! reportedly revelstoke mtn. has the same concept.

rogers pass, BNP, mt. assiniboine - there are tons of options all around this area for guided backcountry, hut-to-hut, heli, etc. plan your trip and trust your guides - they are almost all amazing outdoor enthusiasts in my experience! the more you learn about the area, the more you can develop to come back and plan tours in the future. you can certainly plan your own hut-to-hut options for spring touring when avy risk is lower and you have more experience out there.

[apingaut]

I'm new at AT touring so I will be going on a guided tour. Several different courses are offered over the 4 days that I'll be out. Hopefully soon I will feel comfortable to go "guideless" out west. Still need some guidance here also but I'm ready to give it a shot. First practice run this weekend.

No where did I suggest ditching your guide.

Regardless if you are guided or not, I recommend stopping in to the ranger station and learning something. It is well worth the stop and if you stay up there you will need entrainment.

[Gratefuldad]

No where did I suggest ditching your guide.

Regardless if you are guided or not, I recommend stopping in to the ranger station and learning something. It is well worth the stop and if you stay up there you will need entrainment.

I will do that. Never can get enough education. I'm staying at the Glacier Park Lodge. DO you recall if that is where you stayed?

Thanks for the advise.

[Gratefuldad]

grateful dad,

back then, sunshine and lake louise were the go to resort areas in AB. as you noted, each area has mountain ambassadors that are tasked to show you the area - an amazing offering! reportedly revelstoke mtn. has the same concept.


Skied Sunshine and LL four years ago. Loved skiing Delirium Dive. Hiking up and over the ridge and climbing down into the cutes was exciting. Patrol warned us that conditions were extremely dangerous due to wind blown pack. He didnt realize we were from the east. Just like skiinig tuxs. LL reminded me of Vail with half the people.

[Gratefuldad]

i hear ya. i'm all about max down for minimal ground covered. i like to tour, but am just as happy looking at mountains from my car window as opposed to touring around up through them when i'd actually rather be lapping a wonderful slope somewhere close to the road. mountains are mountains are mountains........

yer gonna have a blast!

rog

Agree. Its all about the vertical. WE may spend two nights in a hut but we will just do laps above the huts. Going to the huts will alow us to get higher into the apline which will mean a longer run back to the hotel on the last day.

[pulverschwein]

Uberjealous. Revelstoke / Rogers are definitely on my list and you're totally right about now being the time before Revelstoke gets spoilt.

Skied in / around Golden a couple, three years ago - I think that's about 1 1/2 hrs away - about halfway between Banff and Revelstoke, so you'll pass through if you're flying to Calgary. TR is yonder: http://timefortuckerman.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7832&highlight=kicking

Have a blast, take picks and be smart - that thar is one scary, delicate, deep releasing continental snowpack that's been known to take out dozens at a time, often real experienced folks too (like Craig Kelly and the 6 souls lost and 8 others trapped with him near where Revelstoke resort now exists back in 03).