Whitewater Ski Resort
Encyclopedia
Whitewater Ski Resort is a ski resort
near Nelson
in southern British Columbia
, Canada
.
The resort is situated in Ymir bowl, beneath the 2400 m high Ymir Mountain, in the Selkirk Mountains
. The Selkirks receive plentiful, dry snow, and the location in a high alpine bowl provides an annual snowfall average of over 10 m. The elevation of the parking is 1605 m and the highest lift accessed point is 2000 m. While Ymir Peak is not included within the ski area boundary, lifts climb both shoulders of the bowl, and provide easy traverse routes along ridges to the top. In addition to its snow, the resort is renowned for its tree skiing and steep runs; only 20% of the runs are beginner, while 40% are intermediate and the remaining 40% are advanced.
The resort consists of three lifts: one triple chair lift (installed in 2010),two antiquated double chairs, a handle tow, and lodge with an award winning cafeteria, a rental shop and guest services.
The Summit Chairlift accesses the south ridge of Ymir bowl, and offers a wide variety of gladed blue and black runs. The Silverking Double chair runs up the north ridge of Ymir bowl, and provides access to the resorts only beginner runs. The Summit lift was purchased from the Spokane world fair, while the Silver King was purchased from Whistler
, where it had previously been the Olive chair. From the top of either chair, skiers who are properly equipped can traverse the ridges towards Ymir Peak, and then choose from a multitude of lines that lead back to the base area.
New for the 2010-2011 ski season, the Glory Ridge chair, a triple seat fixed-grip, opens up the Backside area with much of the terrain now within the resorts boundaries. Along with the construction of the lift, much of the surrounding area was logged to create more open and ski-able glades. With the addition of the Glory Ridge chair, Whitewater now belongs to the list of ski hills offering 2000 vertical feet. This lift was built by Dopplemayr and was purchased from Vail, where it had been initially installed in 1980.
Because of its steep terrain and plentiful snow, Whitewater is frequented by many back country skiers; this situation however, creates a significant avalanche hazard, and avalanche control is among the company's largest expenditures. Skiing began in Nelson in 1932, with the Silver King Skiers, following Danny McKay's success in the National ski jumping contests. In 1974, a coalition of locals residents backed the creation of a new resort in a more suitable location, and Ymir bowl was chosen.
Alpine skiing and backcountry skiing are available at Whitewater.
Heliskiing and catskiing are available out of Nelson.
that something needed to planned to meet increased demand. Also in demand is the need for more beginner and intermediate terrain. All future development of base facilities and terrain expansion will depend on demand.
Skiable terrain is expected to be extened into Ymir bowl and adjacent Qua Creek Basin. 4 new lifts in total are planned with 1 lift in Ymir Bowl, 1 lift to access the Qua Creek Basin, and 2 lifts in the Qua Creek Basin.
Ski resort
A ski resort is a resort developed for skiing and other winter sports. In Europe a ski resort is a town or village in a ski area - a mountainous area, where there are ski trails and supporting services such as hotels and other accommodation, restaurants, equipment rental and a ski lift system...
near Nelson
Nelson, British Columbia
Nelson is a city located in the Selkirk Mountains on the extreme West Arm of Kootenay Lake in the Southern Interior of British Columbia, Canada. Known as "The Queen City", and acknowledged for its impressive collection of restored heritage buildings from its glory days in a regional silver rush,...
in southern British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
The resort is situated in Ymir bowl, beneath the 2400 m high Ymir Mountain, in the Selkirk Mountains
Selkirk Mountains
The Selkirk Mountains are a mountain range spanning the northern portion of the Idaho Panhandle, eastern Washington, and southeastern British Columbia. They begin at Mica Peak near Coeur d'Alene, Idaho and extend approximately 320 km north from the border. The range is bounded on its west,...
. The Selkirks receive plentiful, dry snow, and the location in a high alpine bowl provides an annual snowfall average of over 10 m. The elevation of the parking is 1605 m and the highest lift accessed point is 2000 m. While Ymir Peak is not included within the ski area boundary, lifts climb both shoulders of the bowl, and provide easy traverse routes along ridges to the top. In addition to its snow, the resort is renowned for its tree skiing and steep runs; only 20% of the runs are beginner, while 40% are intermediate and the remaining 40% are advanced.
The resort consists of three lifts: one triple chair lift (installed in 2010),two antiquated double chairs, a handle tow, and lodge with an award winning cafeteria, a rental shop and guest services.
The Summit Chairlift accesses the south ridge of Ymir bowl, and offers a wide variety of gladed blue and black runs. The Silverking Double chair runs up the north ridge of Ymir bowl, and provides access to the resorts only beginner runs. The Summit lift was purchased from the Spokane world fair, while the Silver King was purchased from Whistler
Whistler, British Columbia
Whistler is a Canadian resort town in the southern Pacific Ranges of the Coast Mountains in the province of British Columbia, Canada, approximately north of Vancouver...
, where it had previously been the Olive chair. From the top of either chair, skiers who are properly equipped can traverse the ridges towards Ymir Peak, and then choose from a multitude of lines that lead back to the base area.
New for the 2010-2011 ski season, the Glory Ridge chair, a triple seat fixed-grip, opens up the Backside area with much of the terrain now within the resorts boundaries. Along with the construction of the lift, much of the surrounding area was logged to create more open and ski-able glades. With the addition of the Glory Ridge chair, Whitewater now belongs to the list of ski hills offering 2000 vertical feet. This lift was built by Dopplemayr and was purchased from Vail, where it had been initially installed in 1980.
Because of its steep terrain and plentiful snow, Whitewater is frequented by many back country skiers; this situation however, creates a significant avalanche hazard, and avalanche control is among the company's largest expenditures. Skiing began in Nelson in 1932, with the Silver King Skiers, following Danny McKay's success in the National ski jumping contests. In 1974, a coalition of locals residents backed the creation of a new resort in a more suitable location, and Ymir bowl was chosen.
Alpine skiing and backcountry skiing are available at Whitewater.
Heliskiing and catskiing are available out of Nelson.
Future Expansion
With a 6% per season increase of skier visits over the past 15 years, Whitewater Ski Resort announced a plan for expansion and improvement in 2002. Usage levels of existing facilities above comfortable capacity is a result of the increase of skier visits especially on heavy snowfall days and traditional holidays. The base facilities were installed over 30 years ago and it was decidedthat something needed to planned to meet increased demand. Also in demand is the need for more beginner and intermediate terrain. All future development of base facilities and terrain expansion will depend on demand.
Skiable terrain is expected to be extened into Ymir bowl and adjacent Qua Creek Basin. 4 new lifts in total are planned with 1 lift in Ymir Bowl, 1 lift to access the Qua Creek Basin, and 2 lifts in the Qua Creek Basin.