Kicking Horse Resort
It is located near the town of Golden in the southeast British Columbia. It is in the Purcell mountain range and is one of several ski resorts that can be found in the Columbia Mountains system, a region that experiences a large amount of snowfall every year. The Kicking Horse Resort, in particular, is popular among skiers, especially those who like to ski on champagne powder, a dry and light type of powder snow. The resort's ski slopes are ideally situated with the right amount of moisture, temperature, and sun exposure to allow them to retain snow for a longer time. The resort's facilities for skiers and snowboarders are open during the winter months from December to April.
The area where the resort now stands has long held facilities meant for skiing. Earlier on, the town of Golden operated a smaller facility in the place called Whitetooth Ski Area but this was eventually bought. The ski facility was converted into a larger resort with better amenities around the turn of the century. The newer resort was eventually given the name Kicking Horse after a major river and an alpine-pass nearby. Apparently, the name-change was a good move since it attracted more visiting skiers through the years.
The Kicking Horse Resort covers a skiable terrain of over 11 square kilometers or 2,750 acres. The resort also has one of the highest altitude ski areas in Canada with an elevation of 2,450 meters. It has one of the tallest accessible points in the country at 1,260 meters. The annual snowfall in the area averages at 700 centimeters or about 23 feet. The resort has facilities for all various skill levels from beginners to expert skiers.
People usually have something favorable to say about Kicking Horse Resort. Many of the guests, though, remarked that most of the resort's ski runs were more suitable for intermediate and more advanced skiers, so beginners may not find a satisfying trip in this place. Guest should know that some of the runs do not have clear signs so it is easy for skiers to go to areas well above their skill level.
It is also a small resort and is below the radar of most people who are planning to go on ski trips. This means that the resort does not have a big crowd and long lines to the chair lifts. The hotels, shops and bars, particularly the hilltop restaurant, were a hit for many of the guests. There are also small live performances and ski clinics that non-skiers and skiers, who are waiting out closures caused by avalanches, can enjoy.
One of the resort's biggest hits is its ski gondola, which is very similar to a cable car. It is enclosed all-around to give its passengers warmth, unlike the open-air chair lifts that many ski resorts have. Even though the resort has facilities for all skill levels, its popularity in the skiing community relies a lot on the challenges that its ski runs can give to skiers with advanced skills.