Stoked About Revy

As I take off my tinted goggles, my eyes are assaulted by the blindingly white, yet slightly blueish light reflecting off the fresh snow. The noise of tourists on their winter holidays has been absorbed by the pine woods and crevices of the all encompassing Rocky Mountains, and the natural silence is broken only by my own breath. A complete escape from the modern world, and I haven’t even left the boundaries to explore the uncharted wonders of the Revelstoke Mountain Resort’s back country…yet.

The air is crisp in my nostrils; a mix of last night’s snowfall, today’s sunshine, and the pine trees that serve of a constant reminder the approaching Christmas. After absorbing the atmosphere for a few minutes, the snow seeping through my supposedly waterproof jacket and gloves tells me its time to once again start carving my way down the mountain. The fresh powder is so light my arms sink as I try to prop myself up. I struggle for some time before finally standing once again and after strapping myself back into the snowboard, start winding my way through the glades and tree runs littered across the mountain.

Towards the base of the mountain is the Mid Mountain Lodge, offering comprehensive views of the Columbia Valley and my eyes are torn between indulging in this stunning landscape and the wedges and hot chocolate steaming on the table. This lodge is where the story of the settlement around the Revelstoke township and the towering Mount Mackenzie can be found, along with the rather shorter history of Revelstoke Mountain Resort after it was first opened in 2007. Touted as the next Whistler, the infant resort has a lot of hype to live up to, but at 7300 feet and with its 12 to 18 meters of annual snow, its reputation is growing.

Back outside, the line for Revelation, the brand new gondola that begins your journey back to the summit, presents a window of opportunity to glance at the cultural diversity of snow resorts. To name but a few, the bright purples, greens and blues of the latest fashions in snow wear instantly stand out, colourfully donned by those who chase the eternal winter around the world. The looks of pure pleasure and excitement on the faces of first timers and families with children are almost hidden beneath giant goggles and jackets zipped right up to their chins. Old timers, locals or those keen enough to travel and try out the new resort, grumble about the numbers in line but when asked, are quite content with the mountain as a whole.

After switching from gondola to high speed chairlift halfway up the mountain, I arrive back at the summit, gliding gracefully away from the lift and laughing at my companion who has not quite mastered the art of the chairlift exit and faceplanted in the snow. It’s once again time to explore the limitless terrain available.