REVELSTOKE, B.C.
Spring sledding in Revelstoke
It just doesn't get any better than this
 |
LOTS OF SNOW: It has been a stellar season for sledding in Revelstoke, according to Alex Szirmai, operator of Great Canadian Snowmobile Tours in Revelstoke.
—photo courtesy Glacier House Resort |
 |
SNOCROSS CHAMP RIDES REVY: In March, Glacier House Resort was pleased to host Canada's snocross champion, Blair Morgan (above), at the Blair Morgan Fantasy Camp—a charity fundraiser event for spinal research.
—photo courtesy Glacier House Resort |
With long, sunny days and tons of snow on the mountain, Revelstoke, B.C., offers some of the best spring sledding around.
"We've had incredible snow on the mountain this year—a 50-year record," said Great Canadian Snowmobile Tours operator Alex Szirmai. In mid-February, our access road to the lodge, located at an elevation of 2000 feet, had six-foot walls of snow and our cabin on the mountain just about disappeared a week ago. With the peak of the cabin at 18 feet off the ground, I think this is the biggest snowfall I have ever seen in Revelstoke."
Great Canadian Snowmobile Tours guided international guests until April 20. However, local riders will ride until the end of June and probably into July.
It is one of the best times for snowmobiling in Revelstoke. Areas like Boulder Mountain, Frisby Ridge, Turtle, Sale and the Keystone Basin are easily accessible by logging roads and sometimes you only need to go up a few kilometres to unload. The snow is still deep and spring-like conditions allow you to ride just about anywhere.
It is the time to explore the big bowls and hills for which the area is so famous. Plan on riding early in the day when conditions are the best, and avoid the steeper slopes in the afternoon. When riding in backcountry areas that see little snowmobile traffic during the season, riders have to be aware of avalanches that can easily come down as the snowpack warms up in the afternoon; this can also cause wet snow slides.
The grooming on Boulder and Frisby continued until mid-April. It is always hard for the groomer operators to smooth trails with slushy conditions so take your time on the trails as you head up to enjoy the sunshine in the alpine.
Blair Morgan Fantasy Camp
On March 28 and 29, 2007, the Blair Morgan Race Team (BMRT) was hosted by Glacier House Resort in Revelstoke for a fundraising event for Spinal Research Charity. Five participants bid on a two-day trip to ride with Morgan in the mountains of Revelstoke, with all proceeds going to spinal research. Glacier House Resort sponsored rooms, meals and the rides of participants as well as sponsors and the Blair Morgan race team members during the event. Guests even got to try out the new 2008 Rev XP and all enjoyed the jump shows put on by Blair Morgan and Brett Turcott, who made upside-down jumps look smooth and easy.
BMRT manager Jamie Anseeuw—confined to a wheelchair after a snowmobile incident—showed that there is really no limit to snowmobiling, despite being handicapped. Smooth trails provided by the Revelstoke Snowmobile Society made for easy access to the mountain, and there was no limit to playing in the powder bowls, climbing steep hills and trying some fun jumps.
The Spinal Research Organization is a Canadian and U.S. charity organization, which aimed at preventing spinal injuries through public information. It also researches how rehabilitation techniques can be used to lessen the seriousness of injuries and speed up recovery after an incident. It’s great to see Canada’s snocross champion, Blair Morgan, support such a worthwhile charity, which will be an annual event at Glacier House Resort.
For more information visit www.bmrt.com.
|
