Places & Faces: Kicking Horse

The cool factor and street cred immediately kicks in when Kicking Horse’s GM, Mike Rubenstein, follows patrol procedure and grabs a self rescue bag of rope as he gets on a lift. This routine lives on from his extensive patrol and avalanche background, and he remains intimately close to the operations and avi terrain assessment.

The Resorts of the Canadian Rockies ski area soars above Golden BC as Trans Canada Highway traffic flows in the valley. The top to bottom Golden Eagle gondola brings riders 4300 vertical feet into the alpine, where the Stairway to Heaven quad helps gain access to immaculate groomers through the sub alpine, and 5 alpine bowls with limitless lines. The big mountain alpine is most often talked about, but the lower elevation terrain offers a diversity of slopes including gentle groomed grades.

The ski-in ski-out village is also complemented by a great Nordic trail network. At the top of the gondola is the Eagle’s Eye Lodge.  Not only is it a daytime lodge in the winter and summer months, and a venue for things like Wine Masters dinners, but it also offers an exclusive overnight suite and dinner package.

Signage is strong at KHR and includes explanations of the terrain past the patrolled ski area boundaries.