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RED MOUNTAIN RESORT
To share any info your have on backcountry skiing around the Red Mountain Resort area, or to get the lowdown from others, check out our backcountry skiing Forums on the region. All of the tours we mention here are off Red Mountain Resort. Mount Plewman and Old Glory, are a little beyond Red if you are driving from Rossland. We’ve created a new page for these Rossland Range tours as they are local classics 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.
(These maps are not meant to be used as a navigational aid but rather a visual indication of the route descriptions.)
ROUTES:
1. Dog's Leg
2. Doggy Style
3. Hour Glass
4. Knife's Edge
5. Centre Chute
6. Y Chute
7. WWF
8. Gun Barrel Chute
9. Gun Barrel Ridge
10. DL's Trees
11. Mt. Roberts South Face
12. Mt. Kirkup South Face
13. Mt. Kirkup North Face
14. White Wolf Ridge East
15. Record Ridge Southeast
16. Record Ridge North
For a full listing of backcountry huts, cabins and lodges check out the Interior Mountain cabins/huts/lodges page over here. If you are looking for maps and guides to the area then check out the following publications in our Backcountry Skiing Canada Store:
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West Kootenay Touring Guide 2.0: $19.95 |
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Rossland Range Backcountry Ski Touring Map: $19.95 |
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.
ROUTES #1 - #10: MOUNT ROBERTS NORTH FACE
Mount Roberts is a Rossland classic. Located adjacent to the Paradise area of Red Mountain Resort, this easily accessed slack country mountain is steep, varied and offers some of the best black diamond runs in the Rossland Range. In recent years, the mountain has been the venue for the North American Freeski Championships. Most routes are on the east face – meaning consistently good snow – and lead to the bottom of Paradise chair, but you can also ski the south and east sides and skin out.
ACCESS: All routes on Robbie are accessed by the same up track. To get there, ski from the top of Paradise down Southern Comfort, past the Paradise Lodge to Badger. A road marked with backcountry signs is on the right of Badger. You can skin up here or skate approximately 200m until the road steepens, then skin up. Follow the road until you’re in sight of the summit. From here a typically well established up track skirts the west side of the peak to the flag pole at the summit (1995 metres). There are alternate routes up but it’s better to ask someone to show you. All lines descend from here.
ROUTE: #1
ACCESS: From the flag pole, ski south around the ridge until you get past the very steep Doggie Style and descend through the trees or the open “dog leg” feature into the open run out below the Hour Glass. From there you can ski fall line and skin up at the bottom and hike north back to Paradise or traverse early across through trees and continue down the run-out/slide path of Centre Chute. Once you reach Centre Chute Cliff, you’ll want to traverse immediately to your left to get to Paradise, or ski lower and hike up an old road to the lift.
MAP: 82 F/4
TIME: 1 hour
ELEVATION GAIN: 395m/1300'
ATES RATING: TBD
ROUTE: #2
ACCESS: From the flag pole, ski south around and above the Hour Glass and The Wall. This is the steep rock face between the hourglass and Dog’s Leg. It’s a committing line that is usually skied with good coverage. Exit as per Dog’s Leg.
MAP: 82 F/4
TIME: 1 hour
ELEVATION GAIN: 395m/1300'
ATES RATING: TBD
ROUTE: #3
ACCESS: From the flag pole, the Hour Glass is the distinctive feature just off the southeast face from the summit flanked by the Knife’s Edge on skiers left and a The Wall on the right. Ski down through the choke point taking note of sluff potential. After, the run opens up with many options/lines from there. Exit as per Dog’s Leg.
MAP: 82 F/4
TIME: 1 hour
ELEVATION GAIN: 395m/1300'
ATES RATING: TBD
ROUTE: #4
ACCESS: From the flag pole, carefully ski the prominent ridge to the left of the Hour Glass and the right of the Centre Chute. Approximately 50 metres down the ridge there is a mandatory 10 to 20 foot air into a small open bowl. From there it opens up into beautiful tree skiing with drop options. After the ridge you can ski right into the bottom of Hour Glass, directly down through the trees or exit left into the finish of Centre Chute.
MAP: 82 F/4
TIME: 1 hour
ELEVATION GAIN: 395m/1300'
ATES RATING: TBD
ROUTE: #5
ACCESS: The venue of the North American Freeski Championships, Centre Chute is a steep, exciting line with lots of options for airs. You can start from anywhere at the top, choosing very steep lines or slightly mellower. Everything funnels into a narrower spot before opening up where you can choose tree skiing or ripping straight down the wide open chute run-out to Centre Chute Cliff. There are some big drops so look before you leap! Exit left at the bottom after the Centre Chute Left.
MAP: 82 F/4
TIME: 1 hour
ELEVATION GAIN: 395m/1300'
ATES RATING: TBD
ROUTE: #6
ACCESS: Skier’s left of Centre Chute, the Y Chute has some great cliffs and offers steep skiing. Line choice is important and landings should be picked carefully as run-outs can be committing. Exit as per Centre Chute.
MAP: 82 F/4
TIME: 1 hour
ELEVATION GAIN: 395m/1300'
ATES RATING: TBD
ROUTE: #7
ACCESS: This wild ridge run is the skier’s left flank of Y Chute. Steep and varied, there are a number of nice drops on this exciting line. Exit as per Centre Chute.
MAP: 82 F/4
TIME: 1 hour
ELEVATION GAIN: 395m/1300'
ATES RATING: TBD
ROUTE: #8
ACCESS: A beautiful run with slightly less committing features and exposure than WWF, Y Chute and Centre Chute. From the north end of the summit, Gun Barrel is the distinctive chute skiers left of WWF. You can ski straight down the barrel, the steeper right side or the fun left side of Gun Barrel Ridge proper. Near the bottom, go right through the open chute to the left edge of the Centre Chute Cliff. If you ski left through the trees at the bottom it gets thick and cliffs out in spots. Exit as per Centre Chute.
MAP: 82 F/4
TIME: 1 hour
ELEVATION GAIN: 395m/1300'
ATES RATING: TBD
ROUTE: #9
ACCESS: The same approximate location as Gun Barrel Chute but less committing. From the north end of the summit, Gun Barrel Ridge is the distinctive ridge skiers left of WWF and Gun Barrel Chute. Ski the ridge to the bottom, go right through the open chute to the left edge of the Centre Chute Cliff. If you ski left through the trees at the bottom it gets thick and cliffs out in spots. Exit as per Centre Chute.
MAP: 82 F/4
TIME: 1 hour
ELEVATION GAIN: 395m/1300'
ATES RATING: TBD
ROUTE: #10
ACCESS: A popular area with less avalanche risk, DL’s can be skied from the summit or just shy of the summit to the left of the skin track just about anywhere. It’s a great place to explore or nab some quick laps using Paradise Chair. DL’s has big trees, many fun features and is slightly mellower than the runs from the summit. Skier’s right just shy of the Gun Barrel ridge is steeper, mellowing as you pick lines to the left. There are some sizeable cliffs too. DL’s exits onto Silver Sheep in Paradise.
TIME: 1 hour
ELEVATION GAIN: 395m/1300'
ATES RATING: TBD
Note that we have included condensed versions of the 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 SOUTH FACE
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: #11
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)
Full route description—including details on access, ascents and descents—in the Guide.
MT. KIRKUP SOUTH FACE
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: #12
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)
Full route description—including details on access, ascents and descents—in the Guide.
MT. KIRKUP NORTH FACE
Access to Mt. Kirkup is from Red Resort after ascending either the Paradise or Motherlode Chairs. From here descend a run called Ridge Road and take a right turn onto Rhino's Run. Ski down 25m where you should typically see an uptrack on the left of Rhino's Run. From the trail head skin Northeast through a minor pass just to the West of Grey Mountain. Continue North along the ridge where the summit ridge of Kirkup eventually veers off to the East. Once at the summit you will find moderate slopes in open terrain which quickly turns to below treeline skiing. Once the terrain mellows you have to gain the east facing ridge of Mt. Kirkup so that you can return to Red Resort or ski it again.
ROUTE: #13
ACCESS: Paradise/Motherlode Chair,
Red Mountain Resort
MAP: 82 F/4
TIME: 2.5-3.5 hours
ELEVATION GAIN: 1005m/3300’
(including 887m/2910’ chair)
ATES RATING: Challenging (2)
WHITE WOLF RIDGE EAST
Access White Wolf Ridge from Red Resort after ascending either the Paradise or Motherlode Chairs. From here descend a run called Ridge Road until you come to White Wolf Junction where you will see an uptrack and signage indicating you are about to leave the ski resort boundary. Skin up and head south into the trees on the famed Seven Summits Trail. This trail leads you up White Wolf Ridge where you will find very gentle gladed slopes. Ski down the way you climbed up and do it all over again, and again.
ROUTE: #14
ACCESS: Paradise/Motherlode Chair,
Red Mountain Resort
MAP: 82 F/4
TIME: 1-1.5 hours
ELEVATION GAIN: 990m/3250’
(including 887m/2910’ chair)
ATES RATING: Simple (1)
RECORD RIDGE SOUTHEAST
Access Record Ridge from Red Resort after ascending either the Paradise or Motherlode Chairs. From here descend a run called Ridge Road until you come to White Wolf Junction where you will see an uptrack and signage indicating you are about to leave the ski resort boundary. Skin up and head south into the trees on the famed Seven Summits Trail. This trail leads you up White Wolf Ridge and eventually Record Ridge. Once you reach the saddle at the south end of White Wolf Ridge traverse it and start skinning West up the ridge to the summit of Record Ridge. Once at the top ski down back towards Red Resort (thats towards the Southeast). The first hundred meters is pure alpine skiing on moderate angled slopes so take the proper precautions. Once you reach treeline things mellow out and you are skiing gladed trees. Eventually you will re-enter the resort boundaries and you can ski some runs inbounds. The sun typically bakes this Southeast facing slope and the wind typically scours it so pick your days accordingly.
ROUTE: #15
ACCESS: Paradise/Motherlode Chair,
Red Mountain Resort
MAP: 82 F/4
TIME: 2-2.5 hours
ELEVATION GAIN: 1030m/3380’
(including 887m/2910’ chair)
ATES RATING: Challenging (2)
RECORD RIDGE NORTH
Access Record Ridge from Red Resort after ascending either the Paradise or Motherlode Chairs. From here descend a run called Ridge Road until you come to White Wolf Junction where you will see an uptrack and signage indicating you are about to leave the ski resort boundary. Skin up and head south into the trees on the famed Seven Summits Trail. This trail leads you up White Wolf Ridge and eventually Record Ridge. Once you reach the saddle at the south end of White Wolf Ridge traverse it and start skinning West up the ridge to the summit of Record Ridge. From the summit descend Northeast (as the name suggests) but be cautious as cornices are common and you'll be skiing wide open slopes. Conditions have to be safe and you need to know your avi skills for this one. Once at the bottom you are in sheep creek, there is no exit so you must climb back to White Wolf Ridge in the trees and then ski back in bounds of Red Resort.
ROUTE: #16
ACCESS: Paradise/Motherlode Chair,
Red Mountain Resort
MAP: 82 F/4
TIME: 3-3.5 hours
ELEVATION GAIN: 1030m/3380’
(including 887m/2910’ chair)
ATES RATING: Complex (3)
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