BCAA

Raven Eye Photography/Todd Weselake/Kimberley Alpine Resort WINTER 2016 BCA A .COM 15 ski road trip TRAVEL Stop 2: Kimberley Alpine Resort What Kimberley lacks in alpine or rocky terrain, it makes up for in pure character, and some of the sunniest weather in BC – not to mention Purcell Mountain powder. Expect quiet lifts and even emptier runs at this family-friendly resort. The size and layout make it easy to navigate, and the village is full of après options like ice skating, pedestrian- only streets, a railway mining museum, dog sledding and more. Getting there: From Fernie, follow Hwy. 3 to Cranbrook and then head northwest on Hwy. 95A, right into Kimberley. 1.5 hours; 116 km Skiable terrain: 728 hectares and 80 runs (20% beginner, 42% intermediate, 38% advanced). Stop 3: Kicking Horse Mountain Resort Kicking Horse lives up to its wild-sounding name. With wide-open steeps, gnarly tree skiing and more than 85 rocky chutes, it rewards the adventurous. But between it all are sweet cruisers and a minimal lift network, dominated by a gondola, which makes it easy for groups to hang out together even if they don't ski together. MEMBERS SAVE BCAA Members save up to 20% at Fernie Alpine Resort, Kimberley Alpine Resort, Kicking Horse Mountain Resort and more. bcaa.com/ski What's new: Many of the mountain's gladed runs – those among the trees between groomed runs – got a trim over the summer to make them easier to ski. Insider tip: On powder days, advanced skiers and those seeking a challenge should head to the Black Forest, a collection of steeper runs and open trees on the east side of the mountain. Side trip: Check out Canada's largest freestanding cuckoo clock, part of downtown Kimberley's kitschy but fun Bavarian theme. Kicking Horse Mountain Resort is one of the steepest ski hills in North America, with a vertical drop of 1,260 metres; (inset) snowboarders gear up for a run in epic Purcell Mountain powder at Kimberley Alpine Resort. Getting there: From Kimberley, take Hwy. 95A north past the junction with Hwy. 93, through Radium Hot Springs to Golden and the resort. 3 hours; 250 km Skiable terrain: 1,133 hectares and 120 runs (20% beginner, 20% intermediate, 60% advanced). What's new: The resort's inaugural Big Mountain Clinics promise to take intermediate and advanced skiers to the next level, helping them navigate North America's fourth largest vertical drop with ease. Insider tip: Savour a 360-degree view with your lunch at Eagle's Eye Restaurant, the highest- elevation eatery in Canada – located at the resort's summit. Side trip: Restore sore muscles in the 39oC waters of Radium Hot Springs, just off Hwy. 95 in Kootenay National Park.

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