ROSSLAND
To share any info your have on backcountry skiing in Rossland, or to get the lowdown from others, check out our backcountry skiing Forums on the region. Three of the four tours we mention here are off Red Mountain Resort. Mount Plewman, is a little beyond Red if you are driving from Rossland. We’ve included Plewman here because it’s a local classic and we wanted to supplement the Red Mountain lift-assisted backcountry options presented (where you can literally be on a summit after a quick skin out-of-bounds) with some ski touring from Rossland.
As with just about any area in the West Kootenay, Red Mountain and vicinity enjoy bountiful dumps and an average annual snowfall of about 12 metres (42 ft). Like routes accessed through Whitewater Resort terrain, lift-assisted backcountry skiers at Red Mountain should pay attention to any signs posted at the base of the chairlifts as well as any at common ski area boundary exit points. You should also know that, where you are going, there is no ski patrol or avalanche control. If you are traveling into the lift-assisted backcountry, please keep in mind that travellers are solely responsible for their own safety. If a rescue is necessary, the skier/snowboarder is responsible for all rescue costs. Check out Red’s policies and current info at the backcountry section on their site. Check in with The Guides’ Office at the base for info on local conditions or to hire a guide. Check out the Kootenay Boundary Avalanche Forecast on the CAA site too. FYI, the Red Mountain-adjacent routes enjoy national cred thanks to the Canadian Open Freeskiing Championship being held on Mount Roberts most years.
Spend some time in Rossland to get supplies, a cup of good coffee or an après-tour beer. It’s a super-picturesque little mountain town.
ROUTES:
1. Mt. Roberts
2. Grey Mountain
3. Mt. Kirkup
4. Mt. Plewman
Backcountry skiing is an inherently dangerous activity that requires experience and knowledge to travel safely. Any of the routes on this site may be dangerous depending on conditions. You are responsible for your own safety in the backcounty—the team behind backcountryskiingcanada.com disclaim any responsibility for any injury resulting from people travelling on routes described on this site. To read our Terms of Use and get all the details, read HERE.
Note that we have included condensed versions of the various route descriptions below. For a more detailed description of the routes—including details on access, ascents and descents—pick up a copy of the “offline” West Kootenay Touring Ski Touring Guide. Just click on this shortcut!
MT. ROBERTS
Mount Roberts tour is an excellent “slackcountry” tour because of its proximity and quick turnaround time—it’s only about 45 minutes to the summit from the trailhead off Silver Sheep in the Paradise Basin.
ROUTE: #1
ACCESS: Paradise/Motherlode Chair,
Red Mountain Resort
MAP: 82 F/4
TIME: 2-4 hours
ELEVATION GAIN: 1066m/3500’
(including 887m/2910’ chair)
ATES RATING: Challenging (2)
GREY MOUNTAIN
Enjoy more chairlft assisted backcountry skiing on this tour. Regardless of the direction you choose for your descent, be aware that, unless you pick the perfect line, trees can be a little scrappy at the bottom.
ROUTE: #2
ACCESS: Paradise/Motherlode Chair,
Red Mountain Resort
MAP: 82 F/4
TIME: 2-4 hours
ELEVATION GAIN: 1005m/3300’
(including 887m/2910’ chair)
ATES RATING: Challenging (2)
MT. KIRKUP
With Kirkup (also lift-assisted), you’ll have the option of skiing off the north or south aspect into different kinds of terrain. If you are feeling energetic, you can even knock off Grey and Kirkup in one day!
ROUTE: #3
ACCESS: Paradise/Motherlode Chair,
Red Mountain Resort
MAP: 82 F/4
TIME: 3-4 hours
ELEVATION GAIN: 1005m/3300’
(including 887m/2910’ chair)
ATES RATING: Challenging (2)
MT. PLEWMAN
You’ll summit Plewman only on your own steam—no lifts here to help. There are options to ski off the north, north east and south east faces. Choose your route depending on avalanche conditions and your comfort level.
ROUTE: #4
ACCESS: Highway 3B
MAP: 82 F/4
TIME: 3-4 hours
ELEVATION GAIN: 670m/2200’
ATES RATING: Challenging (2)
