With three mountain ranges; rivers, lakes and creeks; skiing, skating, tubing, shoehorning, heli-skiing, snowmobiling and countless other activities, and dozens of dining possibilities, Golden is a picturesque adventure opportunity. Backcountry skiing was ‘basically born here’.
Kicking Horse Mountain Resort is on the mountainside just above Golden and boasts the Rockies’ highest vertical at 1,260 metres (4,133 feet). You’ll have 106 runs available, 70 inbound chutes and an endless supply of champagne powder spread over 2,750 acres. A colder climate and perfect location means Kicking Horse is one of the only resorts not to use artificial snow cannons thanks to an abundance of all-natural pure powder. Neighbouring peaks include the Mount 7, host of the longest downhill mountain bike race in North America, Psychosis. CNN recently said Kicking Horse was “the best resort to go powder skiing in the world”, we’re sure you’ll agree.
Ski and snowboard runs
There’s the big, wide runs typical of skiing in Canada but Kicking Horse also features gnarly, challenging black and double black runs off its CPR Ridge and Terminator Ridge. The resort is very young so you can expect modern facilities and up-to-date dining. One of Canada’s highest and fastest Gondolas takes you warmly to the summit whisking you 3,700 vertical feet in just 13 minutes. Kicking Horse is set to accommodate the novice skier (19 green runs, one of which is 10kms!) along with the pro. Its varied terrain would break down as: 20% novice, 20% intermediate, 45% advanced and 15% expert.
Talk to those in the know and they’ll call the mountain a true backcountry experience - if you can tame the Kicking Horse (and its immense variety of runs) you’ve proven you can ski or snowboard ANYWHERE in the world. They reckon if you skied the mountain for five days you’ll have covered a million vertical feet. With over 500cms of champagne powder snow settling on it every year, it really would be rude not to try…
Culture
The lifestyles in Golden are as varied as the art. The town has a rich history even though it was only incorporated fifty years ago. A Swiss village built by Swiss guides that were hired by the Canadian Pacific Railroad around 1900 still overlooks the town. And the first organized game of hockey in British Columbia was played in Golden in 1895. Although it remains driven by the forestry industry, adventure tourism is Kicking Horse Country’s fastest growing business. “In Golden, you have people coming to ski, snowboard, climb, snowmobile, hang glide, mountain bike and kayak,” explains Miro Micovsky, director of Tourism Golden. “The concentration of extreme sports enthusiasts is very unique for a town of this size.” The town is also surrounded by an unparalleled six national parks1.
Golden is a refreshingly authentic town. You won’t get the kitsch imitations found in so many well-established ski resorts (like the luxury chalet in St Anton called Montfort, after a peak in Verbier!). The town might be located between two major cities - Calgary’s 3 hours drive east and Vancouver’s 9 hours west - but if you’re looking for crowds of pretentious people in Prada and a nightlife to rival New York, then you need to head for Whistler, my friend. Don’t get us wrong, Whistler’s got some great skiing but Golden is more natural, more down to earth and rural than most ski resorts. It’s just off the beaten track for the most incredible snow and awesome terrain with peaceful slopes.
1Kicking Horse Magazine, Winter/Spring 2007-2008
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