Resort Sessions

Red Mountain, British Columbia

- Gerhard Gross

On the front of the cabin in RED Mountain’s Kirkup snowcat, some freed spirit has been seized by inspiration, taken a marker, and scrawled the words, “Even if I catch air for only a second it may take days for my soul to land.” It’s a fitting expression for an area known to operate on Kootenay Time, a vortex in southern BC where things run a little slower and priorities are in proper order. On a pow day, the 20-centimeter rule is strictly observed by locals—those who have a steady job in the winter, anyway. For the rest, it’s always on.

Inside the cat, riders Marko Grilc, Frank Knab, Madison Ellsworth, Colin Spencer, our local guide Thom Rodrigue, filmer Leland McNamara, photographer Chris Well hausen, and I are rumbling along on a five minute bump to the top of Kirkup, a sidecountry peak that marks RED’s farthest boundary. As the resort continues to expand, they hope to add a lift to provide full access to the terrain. For the time being, cat rides are just 10 dollars a lap, first come, first serve.

Outside the cat, filmer Colin D. Watt is clinging to the back, then scrambling to the roof, GoPro in hand, looking for a creative angle.

When our driver comes to a stop, we unload and find ourselves a short hike below the crest punctuated by a handful of pine and larch, caked with thick crystals of wind-driven snow, turning them into frozen snow ghosts. Catching our breath at the top, we look out to the northwest and Thom points out Old Glory, with a long, straight ramp leading up its height before a steep slope plunges off the other side. “There’s an old fire warden’s cabin on top,” Thom says. “That’s the highest peak in the whole area, and they used it for spotting forest fires. The Columbia River runs through the valley below. Good fishing.”