Red Mountain
Rossland, British Colombia, where Red Mountain is located, is a town known as much for its beautiful scenery, as it is for its historical past. Red Mountain is located about 2km West of town in the West Kootenay Mountains smack in the center of the Powder Triangle.
Not only has this old mining town retained its yesteryear character, but is also of historicle importance to the history of skiing in Canada. Rossland has recently completed a facelift that restores the town to its nienteenth centuary past. Red brick buldings and white clapboard houses charictorizr this little jewel. Red Mountain was established in 1947 and not only is this the site of the first ski chair lift in Western Canada but also the hometown of Olympian Nancy Green and scores of other athlets.
Rossland is a smaller town but that doesn't mean you shouldn't get your accommodations before you leave home. One weekend last season I arrived in town about six thirty on a Friday night, weary from skiing Silver Star all day and then driving all the way to Rossland. I found what turned out to be the last room in town, at the Uplander Hotel, because there was a Nastar ski race at Red Mountain all weekend. Now the Uplander is one of the nicest hotels in town but one room in particular, my room, was located right over the stage in the bar below. Every time that bassist hit a low chord my bed would vibrate.
Red Mountain is home to two distinct mountains Red Mountain and the Granite Tower, actually its Granite Mountain, 6800 feet tall and is as a wild a ride up the chair lift as it is down the slopes. And when you arrive at the summit you feel like you arrived at the mecca of local hills. If its a clear day the views go for miles. From Red Mountain you can see East to the town of Rossland laying beneath and the Kootenay Range to the East.
Red Mountain is as genuine a bum hill as you will find. A certain vibration exists there. You can feel it when your at the hill and you can feel it in town. Skiers, boarders and locals all mingling about by the shops and in the cafes lining the main boulevard. Restaurants buzzing with good food and good spirits to warm the hardiest of appetites.
Red gets 30 to 90 feet of snow annually, hard to believe that lift lines are virtually non existent, even on most weekends! Try that in Lake Tahoe! During the weekdays when everybody is in school and a storm drops a load Red shines. Its easy to get first tracks. Locals who dont go to school and are lucky enough not to be working will be there first in line. Powder hogs choking on secret stashes on pist and off. Before you know it you've busted twenty thousand feet of vertical pow, the thighs are burning like a locomotive chugging up Rogers pass and its only lunch time.
Whatever you like boarding or skiing there is plenty of great times, big snow and wonderful people at Red Mountain. Red is also a jewel in the crown of the Powder Triangle. I love Red Mountain.
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