Where would YOU build a new ski resort?

topic:Drail said:
This week yet another new ski resort proposal was made public in BC. This time around it is Bridal Veil Mountain Resort outside Chilliwack, which has pros and cons, but ultimately misses the mark in terms of much needed new terrain for real skiing. Over the years BC has had many new ski hill ideas pop up over the years, yet from a skiers perspective they all fail.

Jumbo was a hilarious bust and as someone who has been around all corners of the proposed resort it would never have worked.

Valemount has potential from a skiers perspective, yet it's location in proximity to any population base/airport puts doubt in its success.

Brohm Ridge is just silly. Besides the fact that a ski hill already existed (and failed) there, it is too low, ski terrain is less than ideal, and Squamish doesn't want it. Easy pass.

Zincton was a great idea before they got too ambitious with a village and beefed up infrastructure plan. What's next? A resort on silvercup ridge at trout lake?

Closer to home in Nelson, BC, a new tenure proposal just came up for ski touring in Sitkum, Kokanee/West Kokanee, and Redfish drainages. While I am not opposed to this per say - it is heavily utilized by the local sledding/sled skiing community so potential tension is inevitable.

This has had me wondering. This season across north America has made it very evident that we need new ski hills, yet playing the fine balance of appeasing NIMBY's, economic pressure, accessibility, snow amounts/quality, and most importantly terrain limits viable options extremely.

We are skiers, and as much as we want ski hills everywhere, I'd like to think that was have a certain level of awareness in terms of what would actually work vs skiing pipe dreams and/or real estate developers wanting to use a chairlift to nowhere just to sell condos to the rich.

Here in British Columbia we have an unlimited amount of potential terrain, yet a serious lack of population which makes a truly viable location for a new ski hill very limited. The best I have personally come up with is a cat ski tenure on gray creek pass (east shore of Kootenay Lake in the Purcells). Besides the Valemount proposal, I honestly can't think of a viable location for a good new ski hill.

So my topic of discussion: in all of our ski nerdism: do any of us have a legitimate location for a new ski hill that would both please the investors as well as offer a proper skiing experience for proper skiers. Is it even possible to build a new 'Jackson Hole' in todays world?
Click to expand...

It's absolutely ironic how much more snow Valemount gets than Jasper...... And then Blue river to Valemount.

But that being said, not enough people and it would probably put them and jasper in a tight spot numbers wise.
 
14281137:Rusticles said:
It's absolutely ironic how much more snow Valemount gets than Jasper...... And then Blue river to Valemount.

But that being said, not enough people and it would probably put them and jasper in a tight spot numbers wise.
Click to expand...

How is it ironic? The caribou range is part of the inland temperate rainforest. The rockies aren't known for their big snowpack.
 
Gallatin valley could use a new ski hill, there used to be one on the front range but trying to reopen is so tied up in so much bureaucratic crap that it would be a massive pain.
 
14277176:doubleblackjack1 said:
Probably the white mountains up in NH. sick terrain up there and massive vert for east coast
Click to expand...

Honestly I hope that doesn't happen, I love all the classic backcountry up there, also most of it is unskiable, thats why there are only a few backcountry lines.
 
I would want another Silverton, but even more remote. A remote location in the Selkirks could be cool, 1 single chair that goes up 2.5k vert and accesses 50k acres of patrolled backcountry in northern Idaho, Montana and in the southern BC Selkirks. Big objectives, with lots of lift accessed touring and bootpacking. A heli and some snowcats would also be there for people who have the money and want to lap. There would be a sick, but affordable base camp with 2 bomb restaurants, make it like a must do classic trip that everyone has on their bucket list. We don't need another Jackson hole because even though it has the best terrain it attracts so many jerrys, and gets really crowded whereas this will feel like your on your own in the mountains but without have to spend hours and hours touring.
 
Salmo ski hill, dont build anything new just put in a ropetow park and that place would be so epic.

**This post was edited on Apr 30th 2021 at 5:00:57pm
 
14284068:JupitahJosh said:
Salmo ski hill, dont build anything new just put in a ropetow park and that place would be so epic.

**This post was edited on Apr 30th 2021 at 5:00:57pm
Click to expand...

True! Driven by there a few times and it looks like it would be rad.
 
14284081:skiP.E.I. said:
True! Driven by there a few times and it looks like it would be rad.
Click to expand...

Its so dope, I've gotten stupid deep pow turns there and I'm pretty sure its community owned. Tickets are under $30 and its all staffed by highschool kids who don't give a fuck. Love that place.
 
Someone should build a few chairs in the Ruby Mountains. There’s a Heli op out there and backcountry is starting to realize how cool those mountains are. It’s only a few hours from SLC and Reno/Tahoe, but there’s nothing out there. 15 peaks over 11,000 feet and annual average 300in of dry desert pow each year. Tons of glacial bowls and big mountain terrain. The trees are gnarly ancient bristlecones and Aspen groves. It would be a super unique destination.

Some cool photos can be found at the Heli op website:https://helicopterskiing.com/the-skiing
 
14284068:JupitahJosh said:
Salmo ski hill, dont build anything new just put in a ropetow park and that place would be so epic.

**This post was edited on Apr 30th 2021 at 5:00:57pm
Click to expand...

They'd need snowmaking, but it would be sick. Not sure if they could pull from Erie Lake, but if they could.....
 
14284088:JupitahJosh said:
Its so dope, I've gotten stupid deep pow turns there and I'm pretty sure its community owned. Tickets are under $30 and its all staffed by highschool kids who don't give a fuck. Love that place.
Click to expand...

You can rent it out for pretty cheap as well for private parties.
 
14284144:Drail said:
They'd need snowmaking, but it would be sick. Not sure if they could pull from Erie Lake, but if they could.....
Click to expand...

Maybe if they did big jumps, but for just a midwest style rail park there's plenty of snow. They could be like the skibowl of interior bc.
 
if I were to build a new ski area I wouldn't. I feel like there are enough and we should leave what remaining natural areas have be
 
14284151:JupitahJosh said:
Maybe if they did big jumps, but for just a midwest style rail park there's plenty of snow. They could be like the skibowl of interior bc.
Click to expand...

Red already has a rail park with small jumps and it is highly under utilized.
 
Honestly bc, Alberta, Colorado, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming or California. I would want cliffs, lots of powder and pillows, steep chutes, more free ride and a good park
 
True, just shocking how much the snow changes in a 30 minute drive

14281282:Drail said:
How is it ironic? The caribou range is part of the inland temperate rainforest. The rockies aren't known for their big snowpack.
Click to expand...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top