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