Kicking Horse BC Jan 2008

kingslug · Feb 4, 2008, 12:43 PM

For our last day in BC we headed up to Kicking Horse, BC's newest mountain. We tried the day before but heavy snow turned us around. You don't want to screw up on these roads. KH is considered the Jackson Hole of Canada. I still think JH is better but KH is no joke. Over 4000 vert accesed by a Godola and a few chairs, this place is pretty huge and completely different than Panorama. At the top it's all ridges and huge steep bowls. You can drop off either side of them but better know where you are going. Steep cliffs, rock bands and chutes lurk everywhere. We found this limited us as we simply did not want to die! We did hop into the areas that we could at least see. A little intimidating as you're skies are pretty much hanging in mid air as you drop in. I wish I had had wider skies as they get a lot more snow up there, over 300 inches a year and this was a very good year for them so far. Once you get down to the middle of the area it get more conventional and easier. Nice glade runs, open bump runs and greens and blues to the bottom. The Stairway to Heaven chair at the top was a good respite from having to come all the way down. A sketchy traverse led you into some deep tree shots while a groomer at the bottom of it allowed my wife to keep an eye on me. the areas are so wide that you can ski powder while someone can ski a groomer right next to you. With almost 3000 acres there was no way to see it all in a day. The access road there was recently upgraded, it's no longer the scariest road in North America but you do have to drive it carefully. If you're up to it it's worth the trip. Figure about 2 1/2 hours from Calgary. With all the expansion going on in BC I doubt it will remain as desolate for very much longer.

dmc · Feb 4, 2008, 1:09 PM

I dig the horse... My 2003 trip... need to get back..

dmc · Feb 4, 2008, 1:59 PM

Did you hike out to the KH slackcountry? it's sublime.. Bowl after bowl...

Apparently if you go out far enough your run into heli excursions... And they get pissed...

keep the pictures coming.. Can't get enough of that place!

Warp Daddy · Feb 4, 2008, 2:31 PM

Awesome shots -- glad u guys had a great experience !

I'm envious

kingslug · Feb 4, 2008, 3:43 PM

We didn't do any hiking as I was with my wife and she's not into the steep stuff. I found the bowls right off the Godi pretty good as they where. I was on my Eastern ski so it was hard in the deep stuff. I would love to snag a guide and have them show me around some day. She liked panorama a lot so I think we will go back some time...and I'll hit the Horse a little harder.

[img]http://forums.alpinezone.com/gallery/data/840/kh16_2_2_.jpg[/img

andyzee · Feb 4, 2008, 6:38 PM

As soon as I saw this thread I started counting down, it kind of went like this:

DMC in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, ............

Slug, you're having too good a time. First Utah, now BC, you suck! Nice pics though.

kingslug · Feb 5, 2008, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andyzee

As soon as I saw this thread I started counting down, it kind of went like this:

DMC in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, ............

Slug, you're having too good a time. First Utah, now BC, you suck! Nice pics though.

It's the only way to deal with working in NYC......................getting far away. Utah got 95 inches this week.....insane!

dmc · Feb 5, 2008, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andyzee

As soon as I saw this thread I started counting down, it kind of went like this:

DMC in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, ............

Dude... Place is amazing..
It was one of the best trips I've had in the last 25 years.. It just is my kind of terrain i guess.

kingslug · Feb 6, 2008, 12:16 PM

I would to rent a guide for the day and really see the place. I didn't want to travers too far out as I had no way of know waht lay ahead.

andyzee · Feb 6, 2008, 5:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmc

Dude... Place is amazing..
It was one of the best trips I've had in the last 25 years.. It just is my kind of terrain i guess.

Don't doubt, maybe I'll check it out one of these days. Have to end my love affair with Utah first

Feb 4, 2008, 12:43 PM	#1 (permalink)
kingslug Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: looooooong island ny Posts: 1,519	Kicking Horse BC Jan 2008 For our last day in BC we headed up to Kicking Horse, BC's newest mountain. We tried the day before but heavy snow turned us around. You don't want to screw up on these roads. KH is considered the Jackson Hole of Canada. I still think JH is better but KH is no joke. Over 4000 vert accesed by a Godola and a few chairs, this place is pretty huge and completely different than Panorama. At the top it's all ridges and huge steep bowls. You can drop off either side of them but better know where you are going. Steep cliffs, rock bands and chutes lurk everywhere. We found this limited us as we simply did not want to die! We did hop into the areas that we could at least see. A little intimidating as you're skies are pretty much hanging in mid air as you drop in. I wish I had had wider skies as they get a lot more snow up there, over 300 inches a year and this was a very good year for them so far. Once you get down to the middle of the area it get more conventional and easier. Nice glade runs, open bump runs and greens and blues to the bottom. The Stairway to Heaven chair at the top was a good respite from having to come all the way down. A sketchy traverse led you into some deep tree shots while a groomer at the bottom of it allowed my wife to keep an eye on me. the areas are so wide that you can ski powder while someone can ski a groomer right next to you. With almost 3000 acres there was no way to see it all in a day. The access road there was recently upgraded, it's no longer the scariest road in North America but you do have to drive it carefully. If you're up to it it's worth the trip. Figure about 2 1/2 hours from Calgary. With all the expansion going on in BC I doubt it will remain as desolate for very much longer. __________________ Lets go! I'll drive. Last edited by kingslug; Feb 4, 2008 at 1:02 PM.

Feb 4, 2008, 1:09 PM	#2 (permalink)
dmc DMC TUX Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Hunter, NY Posts: 6,065	I dig the horse... My 2003 trip... need to get back.. __________________ "The snowboard track is the most aesthetic and ephemeral passage that man can leave on a mountain" Stephen Koch ------------------ DMCs Interactive Tuckerman Ravine Map

Feb 4, 2008, 1:59 PM	#3 (permalink)
dmc DMC TUX Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Hunter, NY Posts: 6,065	Did you hike out to the KH slackcountry? it's sublime.. Bowl after bowl... Apparently if you go out far enough your run into heli excursions... And they get pissed... keep the pictures coming.. Can't get enough of that place! __________________ "The snowboard track is the most aesthetic and ephemeral passage that man can leave on a mountain" Stephen Koch ------------------ DMCs Interactive Tuckerman Ravine Map

Feb 4, 2008, 2:31 PM	#4 (permalink)
Warp Daddy skiing with 'ma boyz and grandboyz Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: On a Big River near the 'Dacks Posts: 1,899	Awesome shots -- glad u guys had a great experience ! I'm envious __________________ Life Ain't No Dress Rehersal

Feb 4, 2008, 3:43 PM	#5 (permalink)
kingslug Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: looooooong island ny Posts: 1,519	We didn't do any hiking as I was with my wife and she's not into the steep stuff. I found the bowls right off the Godi pretty good as they where. I was on my Eastern ski so it was hard in the deep stuff. I would love to snag a guide and have them show me around some day. She liked panorama a lot so I think we will go back some time...and I'll hit the Horse a little harder. [img]http://forums.alpinezone.com/gallery/data/840/kh16_2_2_.jpg[/img __________________ Lets go! I'll drive. Last edited by kingslug; Feb 4, 2008 at 3:54 PM.

Feb 4, 2008, 6:38 PM	#6 (permalink)
andyzee Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Home Posts: 6,989	As soon as I saw this thread I started counting down, it kind of went like this: DMC in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, ............ Slug, you're having too good a time. First Utah, now BC, you suck! Nice pics though. __________________ 10-18-12-16

Feb 6, 2008, 12:16 PM	#9 (permalink)
kingslug Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: looooooong island ny Posts: 1,519	I would to rent a guide for the day and really see the place. I didn't want to travers too far out as I had no way of know waht lay ahead. __________________ Lets go! I'll drive.

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