Yo, winter is absolutely firing in BC right now! I’m talking record-breaking, snorkel-required levels of snow. If you aren't packing your bags for Canada yet, this report from Kicking Horse is going to change your mind.
The Numbers Are Insane
We are looking at a record December up north. The stats coming out of Kicking Horse are straight-up bonkers:
- Season Total: 540cm (213″)
- Base Depth: 181cm (75″)
- Last 7 Days: 87cm (34″)
- Consecutive Powder Days: 17
That is over 17 feet of snow before the New Year! The Stoke Meter is broken.
Cold Smoke & Face Shots
Miles Clark over at SnowBrains dropped a report from the field, and it sounds all-time. We're talking 0ºF (-18ºC) temps. Yeah, that's freezing, literally "witch's titty" cold, but that is exactly what you want for quality. That cold air sucks the moisture right out of the snow, leaving that light, dry, explosive powder that billows over your head with every turn.
Even the pros struggle with the cold sometimes. Miles mentioned battling some serious "I want to go home" vibes at the car—frozen fingers and gray skies can do that to you. But his buddy Ben made the call: "Nope, we ain't goin' home."
Thank god for friends like that. They hiked the backcountry and scored arguably the best deep turns of the season. Moral of the story? Put your boots on. The goods are waiting.
Gear Check: Don't Sink
With 75 inches of base and fresh snow stacking up daily, you cannot bring your skinny groomer skis out here. You will sink like a stone. If you're hitting the BC backcountry right now, you need floatation and safety gear.
My picks for these conditions:
- Skis: You need width. Check out the Atomic Bent 110 for a playful ride that stays on top.
- Safety: Never leave the gates without a beacon. The Mammut Barryvox S is the gold standard.
Next Stop: Revy
The powder chase doesn't stop. After getting their fill at the Horse, the crew is heading over to the legendary Revelstoke Mountain Resort. Revy is iconic for its vert and steep terrain, currently holding a ShredIndex score of 67.1/100 (though the stoke factor feels way higher).
If you're planning to chase this storm cycle into the interior, you better find accommodation fast, because with snow this good, beds are filling up.
It’s been 8 days of straight powder for these guys. I'm feeling grateful just reading about it. Thanks, BC, for delivering the goods!
Source: SnowBrains
