SeniorsSkiing Guide: Revelstoke, BC, Big Boy Mountain

Seniors Can Find Big Bargains At This Big Boy Resort.

It’s hard to realize that today’s Revelstoke Mountain Resort only dates back to late 2007 and now has the greatest vertical drop in North America (at 5,620 feet, 400 feet more than Whistler, locals like to point out). And while it has only a third the skiable acres of Whistler, there are dreams of eventually having 10,000 acres, which would be more than twice Whistler.

Yes, this is a Big Boy mountain.

People come here for the powder, for the cliffs, for the STEEP. Ski run categories (beginner, intermediate, expert) are relative to each mountain. The greens (beginner) here would be blues (intermediate) most anywhere else. And the blacks, well, you do need to be able to ski. But it’s not like there’s NO milder terrain. You just have to look for it. And the cruising is fabulous.

Snow, Terrain And More

Location: Revelstoke Mountain Resort is in Revelstoke, British Columbia, Canada, just off the Trans Canada Highway (Canada Hwy. 1). If you fly into Kelowna, BC, you can grab a seat on one of the four daily Revelstoke shuttles. The drive is 2.5 hours.

Snowfall: On a usual year, the mountain gets 40 feet of dry, powder snow.

Terrain, lifts: 65 runs and named areas, 3 skier lifts, 3,100 acres of skiable terrain. Much of this mountain is serious expert terrain though there are easier runs lower down on the mountain and the Burn Down run on the backside is a true intermediate cruiser.

Vertical: Revelstoke has a vertical drop of 5,620 feet, base 1,680 feet, top 7,300 feet (about 400 more than Whistler)

Lot To Lift Access

There is a large parking lot in front of the hotel, a minute’s walk from the snow. However, people staying at the hotel have only to take the elevator down to the slope exit. Town shuttles—Revelstoke Resort Express—run under the care of an independent local operator. It’s $3 one way, $5 RT.

Culture

The Vibe: Revelstoke Mountain Resort has one large hotel at the base of the slope, somewhat like Alyeska in Alaska. The vibe here is electric…it’s locals on skis (on slope) launching glider wings to fly downhill and the sound of helicopters out your window, landing next to the hotel parking lot late each afternoon with heliskiers. It’s noisy crowds cramming into Rockfort Wok Bar and Grill for 35 cent Monday wing night. It’s hot tubs filled with 30 and 40-something Aussies there for a boys’ powder week. And it’s also the old ski town down the road with its quirky apres-ski bars, its restaurants, its old ski town feel.  Click here for dining and shopping options.

Bottom Line

Thanks to a weak Canadian dollar, which has hovered around .75 of the US dollar for several years, you almost can’t afford not to ski Canada. Ordering tickets online, one day senior rates mid season (month of February) run about $36 to $45 US. A five day pass runs about $167 – $182 US. Hover over the Canadian rates, and US rates show up.

Meanwhile, in town, rates become outrageous. For instance, at Powder Springs Inn the rooms (per room, double occupancy), start at what works out to about $165 US and include lift tickets for each person, free passes to the town aquatic center and free shuttle to the ski area .

Trail Map Click Here
Webcams Click Here