PlanetSKI Resort Review: Kicking Horse, British Columbia, Canada

The resort lies just over the province border from PlanetSKI’s current base in Canmore, Alberta.

It’s a pleasant drive of under two hours and fortunately the roads were clear.

As was the sky.

British Columbia, here we come.

I have stayed in the resort of Kicking Horse itself a few times.

In the town of Golden 13kms away in the valley below.

And even slept in the car park of the resort in an RV for a few nights while on a multi-resort road trip round some of British Columbia’s finest resorts a few years back – we visited Red, White Water and Revelstoke to name a few.

Kicking Horse is probably my favourite Canadian resort.

Firstly it has some of the finest and most challenging skiing – from the steep shutes and wide open powder bowls, to the groomers.

I think you get the general idea of my view on the resort in the PlanetSKI snow report I filed on arrival this time round.

 

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It was good to be back.

 

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There was snow dripping off the trees as we headed up.

It was time to re-acquaint myself with the slopes.

Sadly Stairway to Heaven was temporarily closed.

No matter we just dropped into Feuz Bowl slightly lower down, and when in the bowl a passing ski patroller said it was only shut at the top section as there were some unexploded avalanche bombs they were dealing with.

Well, we had been warned at the top.

There is one main gondola in Kicking Horse, the Golden Eagle Express, that runs from the base at 1,190m to near the top of the ski area at 2,346m.

Last season it was closed after an accident, but it’s now up and running.

• Investigation after gondola collapses in Kicking Horse

Here’s what’s on offer:

Toby Garrett, from the resort’s management team, sums up what the resort offers.

 

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From the top of the gondola one can boot up towards Terminator Peak (2,410m) and chose from a multitude of black diamond and double black diamond options.

But be warned, some are seriously steep at the top and entry can be tricky.

This season the huge amounts of December snow have filled them in.

I skied this area, T1, often a decade ago.

The Stairway to Heaven chair is a great one to lap – one can stick to the groomers or head into the bowls and trees.

Don’t forget a visit here to warm up and rest weary legs:

Unlike many resorts in North America there are some good dining options on the slopes of Kicking Horse.

Eagle’s Nest is one of my favourite mountain restaurants in North America – especially in a white out.

While at the base Black Diamond serves local fresh food at a reasonable price.

Back in the main gondola a local summed up the resort as we chatted on the 13-minute ride to the summit.

“I’ve lived in Golden since 1995 and you know what, this place hasn’t really changed at all and that’s why I like it,” he said.

“It is a bit of a trek from Calgary so people from the city tend to go to Sunshine Village or Lake Louise.

“Those that do come this way tend to stay on the highway and head to Revelstoke.

“They unveiled a Master Development Plan back in 2009 and I don’t think anything on it has actually been done.

“I like it that way.”

There are details of the 2009 Master Plan in the main base lodge:

Revised Master Plan Unveiled:

Plans for major skiing infrastructure improvements including 13lifts, expansion of controlled recreation area, construction of signature 18-hole golf course and an increase to 18,000 bed units are presented to transform Kicking Horse Mountain Resort from a facility used primariy by day visitors  into a true destination resort.

I checked with the resort and was told the plan is more a statement of possibilities, rather than a detailed roadmap for the future and that every resort has to submit their potential plans to the authorities.

In fact some of the plan has been introduced with additional terrain and property development, but there is no sign of the 13 new lifts.

A few more would be useful so that the 13 minute gondola ride from the base is not always needed.

Kicking Horse has an annual average of 7.5m of snow, and this season by the beginning of February it has already had 6.5m after a record-breaking December.

However, more snow would now be welcome.

Here’s Toby Garrett again.

 

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No article on Kicking Horse is complete without a mention of its most famous inhabitant – Boo the Bear.

Boo was orphaned in 2002 aged 5 months when his mother was illegally shot.

Boo was looked after and it was decided not to return him to the wild as he would be unable to fend for himself.

He resides in a 20 acre protected habitat in the middle of the ski slopes  of Kicking Horse and is something of a tourist attraction in the summer months.

Currently he is hibernating somewhere beyond the wire in his enclosure.

I was fortunate enough to see Boo on a Spring visit a few years back as he had just come out of hibernation.

I mentioned at the beginning of this post that Kicking Horse is probably my favourite resort in Canada.

I may have to change that judgement.

Not because it has deteriorated – far from it.

It has remained as good as I recalled – if not better.

Rather on this road trip I have hit Revelstoke that is just a couple of hours away.

• PlanetSKI Resort Review: Revelstoke, British Columbia Canada

At the end of the Revelstoke article I promised I would judge which resort is better.

After some thought I have decided that Revy and Kicking Horse are equal and they simply can not be separated.

So, I now have two joint favourite resorts in Canada.

If you are intending to visit one, then do make sure you visit the other.

One thing is for certain – it will not be another 10 years before PlanetSKI visits Kicking Horse again.

PlanetSKI’s Canadian Adventures

We are self-funding the Canada trip and retaining all editorial independence so we can post as we see it without influence and spin + do what we want.

Airfares, accommodation, lift passes, car hire and day-to-day living expenses are covered by PlanetSKI.

Though if a resort wants to buy us a beer or lunch it would be rude to refuse!

To find out more about skiing in Canada check out what is on offer from the UK operator Inghams Ski or the UK ski agent, SNO.

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