Canada: Taking it to the extreme

Cult local resort Red Mountain could be the next in British Columbia to gain a following in the UK.

Located in southern BC’s Monashee Mountains and known for its extreme terrain, Red has been bought by a group of private investors. A 10-year development plan will expand the skiable area and develop more on-site accommodation.

New runs have been added for the forthcoming season, increasing skiable terrain from 1,200 to 1,585 acres. Among the improvements are a new beginners’ area, a terrain park for more experienced skiers and boarders, and new cross-country trails. “This is the beginning of our growth as a world-class, 4,200 acre resort,” said operations director Jim Green.

Green added that developing the resort’s novice and intermediate terrain is an immediate priority. Even in Canada, Red has a reputation for punishingly steep pistes – it was the home resort of Olympic gold medallist Nancy Greene before she switched allegiance to the up and coming Sun Peaks.

Frontier Travel managing director Sandra Potter agreed that it wasn’t a place to send a first timer, though she noted that beginners’ facilities are starting to improve.

“Red is a great mountain for experts and strong intermediates. We often say it’s like heli-skiing without a helicopter,” she said.

Similar epithets were applied to nearby Fernie, which, even five years ago was a little-known resort virtually unrepresented in the UK.

A powderhound’s paradise, Fernie is now coming of age. Owner Resorts of the Canadian Rockies has invested in another snowcat to help groom some of the deep snow for which Fernie is famous.

New glading has also been added in three areas for those who like to cut in and out of the trees. Next summer will see the start of a major £85 million expansion project.

Fernie is now a stalwart of Canada specialists such as Ski Independence and Ski the American Dream as well as mainstream ski operators Crystal and Inghams. Inghams, sells 10 nights’ self catering at the five-star Lizard Creek Lodge from £500 per person.

Red’s new owners promise more expansion on the resort’s two mountains – Red and Granite – within the next two years with new lifts and a refurbishment of the main Paradise Lodge.

A new skier services centre will be built at the base and more slopeside accommodation and commercial space is planned over the next 15 years.

• Seven nights at the Ram’s Head Inn at the base of Red Mountain lead in at £959 with Frontier, including return scheduled fights.