Snurf

For the last 7 or 8 years a buddy and I have done an annual road trip following the snow. We never plan anything and just go where the conditions are best. We limit our range to somewhere within 6 hours driving of my home base (the Okanagan in sw interior British Columbia). This gives us access to everthing from Whistler in the West to Castle in sw Alberta in the East but means we spend more time riding rather than driving.

My buddy arrives Friday night so I'm looking for local reports of where the best snow is in the region I have delineated. We haven't dropped into the lower 48 yet but might be convinced if conditions are right. We usually pick up a couple of standby days on whatever cat operation has deals going during the trip as well.

We only have 12 days in the south this year as we are committed to fly into Terrace at the end of the first week of February to ride at Shames and Hudson Bay Mountains so, again, we want to find the goods without a lot of driving. How are the snow conditions in the Kootenays now? Fernie? Castle? Other recommendations where the snow is deep?

Thanks in advance.

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Riley212

mt baker would probably be worth it. go on a weekday though. too many people on weekends.

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Snurf

Baker's right at the edge of our range so conditions would have to be extraordinary for us to put it on the list. As I said we are heading to Shames Mountain in February and it is having a great year, 350 cm base at mid mountain so far and tons more snow this week. We are flying into Terrace so we'll put up with the 4 hour flight.

We're kind of picky. If we have to sit on our butts we would rather do it in a hot tub or a steam room rather than in a car!

Do you know what conditions are like at Baker right now?

[edit] the website says the freezing level is down to 2000. That's a bit of a concern as coastal concrete is not my cup of tea. I hope the temps drop.

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wrathfuldeity

Baker is a day to day thing...yesterday twas good, today looks ok...bc is usually better if the avy conditions cooperate. watch the temps and precip and forecast

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Snurf

Will do. Just a FYI my buddy from Terrace is just getting ready to fly south and called to say that Shames Mountain put an appeal out in town to ask for volunteers to come up and help them clear the ramps and landings so that they can open this morning. They got 120 cm (4 feet) overnight!

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grafta

My buddy lives in golden... seems they getting a bit over that way

Snurf

Looking good. As I said in another thread, what a great place Kicking Horse is when they get the snow. Definitely on the A list of choices this year.

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grafta

Awesome! Yeah, we gotta get out there too. Just for reference, that photo was posted on Tues 24th Jan