Matt Mosteller, For The Vancouver Sun
Published:  December 7, 2014

Tucked away in the Southeastern corner of British Columbia is a gem of a ski town called Kimberley. You won’t read about it in recent skiing magazines touting top 50 ski towns in North America. It does not have that breath-taking backdrop of peaks framing main street. Many drive in and are not immediately captured in nets cast by glitzed up shops that adorn the streets of many US ski towns and a few Canadian destinations. Hordes of fur topped boots, Canada Goose clad people strut those places not here. Kimberley is ‘Do Town’ a place where the locals are busy immersing themselves in adventure. 5 reasons to visit Kimberley now for a different experience. Warning hanging with friendly outdoor people is contagious.

Glide gleefully. Science says it’s one of the healthiest things to do. Cross Country skiing rules in Kimberley. One of the best places in British Columbia to slide one foot in front of the other. The Kimberley Nordic Club, with over 30 km trackset for cross-country, dedicated snowshoe trails and over 6 km of magical night-time kick and glide.

Canadian Rockies backdrop from Kimberley Alpine Resort

Snow in your pants. Get lost in tree skiing here. With North America’s largest gladed tree skiing project, Kimberley Alpine Resort, offers more skiing than meets your eye when you drive into the base area. It is big, in fact bigger than the famed US ski resort, Beaver Creek, more fall-line vertical than many famous Canadian resorts, this is a place where the skiing and snowboarding will offer up surprise and powder stashes long after the storm. Bet your ski area doesn’t offer that.

Good grub. Your munchies will be taken care of here. Before skiing hit coffee at aptly named SnowDrift Cafe, during your turns hit slopeside for lunch at the Stemwinder Bar and Grill, and after ski nourishment hit one of these three. The Pedal & Tap, a biking spirited place with tummy warming goodness, meat lovers go for Camburger and vegi delight in the Glorious Bowl, Heart Beet, a vegetarian bistro, features filled with local farm fresh, don’t miss the Root Mash or The Old Bauernhaus, a Kimberley classic, you will love the setting, a 350 year old Bavarian farmhouse, mouth-watering features include, like Schnitzel Munich or Buttermilk Marinated Heritage Farms Free Range Chicken Breast. Now that should be enough to make you hungry to try Kimberley.

Mountain cabin is calling you!

Passionate people. You may meet a famed outdoor & adventure writer for the Globe on the trails, a tech star who made the break to a natural life or the bartender at the local pub. They all share the passion for this place. Friendly down to earth folks who appreciate the good things in life and are busy out doing it, live here. Kimberley truly is that place to get yourself embedded in what’s important: the simple things.

Backcountry is out the back door. Kimberley is tucked away, snuggled up tight, hugging Mark Creek. If you don’t look quickly as you drive in from the South you might miss the high peaks of the Purcell Mountains that beckon out the back door. Adventure abounds for snowshoe enthusiasts and ski touring nuts, with 1000’s of peaks, ridges and hidden snow-filled valleys calling you. Be safe, check Avalanche Canada bulletins before you go and best to check in at Kootenay Mountain Works, local bike shop, filled with ski touring enthusiasts, keen to provide local knowledge.

Easy to get to. With the closest airport to skiing in Canada, Kimberley can boast, fly in and ski the same day. A short 12 minutes drive from airport to skiing, combined with a short hour flight from Vancouver on Pacific Coastal Airlines is what you could call ‘easy access!’.

Source: Vancouver Sun
© Vancouver Sun 2014

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