HERDING KITTENS TO THE MOUNTAINS
September 30th
Group text – 11 members
Chelsea: Hey guys, just to circle back to the conversation we had around the campfire this summer at Grandma’s – are we all in for a family ski trip this winter?
No response.
October 9th
Chelsea: Hi cousins and siblings! What are we all thinking in terms of booking a ski trip this winter? It was great seeing you all for Thanksgiving – would be great to think about planning this trip… what does everyone think?
No response.
I’m not going to say outright my family is dysfunctional. However when it comes to planning a big ski trip with cousins, aunts, uncles, nieces and 
nephews, we are anything but functional. It’s a friendly, happy group but trying to coax it in a specific direction is like herding kittens. Feral kittens.
After chatting excitedly about how fun it would be to all stay close together on a mountain where those skiing could catch great laps, new skiers could snag a lesson, and those watching the littlest ones could hangout together and feel apart of things we hit a lull. It seemed too good to be true. Juggling schedules of ten adults and another ten children is daunting at best, and finding one place that would meet so many unique needs was a tall order indeed. Upon a little research though, we quickly learned Kimberley Alpine Resort makes planning a trip like this, dare I say, easy. With it’s beautiful, reasonably priced ski-in–ski out lodging at Trickle Creek Lodge including fully equipped kitchens, heated outdoor pool and hot tubs, on-mountain restaurants, and Western Canada’s longest night skiing run Kimberley Alpine Resort was the perfect destination, and heck of a good time.
Nestled in the Purcell mountain range in the East Kooteneys, the city of Kimberley is equal parts charming and laid-back. With just over 7000 residents the city has a small-town feel, yet with it’s dedicated Alpine style car-free main street, it also has entertainment that rivals a much bigger centre. It’s a place where festivals, live-music, street dancing, and parades all meet, where one can walk from shop to shop, and hop from one restaurant to the next each specializing in some wonderful delicacy. We definitely ate our weight at both the Stonefire pizzeria where the kids sat entranced in their, “front row seats,” watching pizza dough skillfully tossed in the air, and also at the Buckhorn & Main, a great family friendly dining spot located on mountain in Trickle Creek Lodge.
The ski hill reflects a natural extension of the city – amazing snow, laid-back feel, and an odd sensation that you’ve been there before with its homey and inviting vibe.
Our group of twenty got to know the friendly staff that truly made the experience. No one was ever in too much of a hurry to lend a hand, and staff 
were always looking for ways to help out. The kids each received little tutorials on how to ride the T-bar more effectively by the lift operators, (unfortunately eradicating some hilarious crashes), and the experts in the rental shop willingly shared their expansive knowledge on ski-set-up. There is so much terrain here for kids to enjoy adventures, from dedicated kids trails, to finding the ‘dummies’ hidden on the slopes (a great game to play), to just making laps together on the main run.
After taking an easy driving day out on Saturday, it was really fun to be able to get some skiing in that evening. The lights of the city below were breathtaking, and it was a perfect end to the day and start of the trip.
After excitedly jumping on the lift for night skiing Saturday evening, a few in our group decided lessons for the kids would be a great idea, which proved their weight in gold. The instructors embodied all the excellent attributes we found to be standard at the resort thus far – kind, knowledgeable, patient and confidence-inspiring. The proof was really in the pudding as we watched the kids rip down the very run that had given them trouble the night before laughing and whooping the whole way.
Beyond the resort providing a great destination for a big group to enjoy each other and the beautiful British Columbian Mountains the skiing was nothing short of epic. We found fresh turns, some beautiful glades, and lovely rolling runs that the kids (or the inner-kid within the adults) found little jumps to pop off along the way. With an average snowfall of 13 feet and the resort sprawling over 1800+ acres, it wasn’t surprising that there was great skiing for everyone. Kimberley also offers over 30 km of groomed fat biking, one of the best Nordic Clubs in Canada for those who want to cross country ski and myriads of trails for walking and snowshoeing right from the base of Kimberley Alpine Resort.
Those taking turns with the smallest kids spent time splashing and playing in the pool, and soaking in the hot tub watching and cheering on those 
getting their ski legs under them on the green chair while they waited to get tagged out and take a turn on the mountain.
If that weren’t enough already, opposite the ski mountain sat a beautiful skating pond surrounded by the breathtaking mountains, and warmly lit by lampposts to provide skating time well after dark. It was a very iconic Canadian scene.
There was one problem with our get-away to Kimberley. We had too much fun on the hill, we didn’t check out the cool climbing gym in town, or the Lussier Hot Springs out of town. I guess I better start texting now, so our clan can get a jump on planning for next year.
Photos & Words by Chelsea Mackenzie Photography
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Book your vacation at Trickle Creek Lodge! Check out our Hot Deals & Packages page, reservation specialists are standing by to assist.
- Published in News
BUCKHORN & MAIN SPRINKLED WITH A FEW KIMBERLEY FAVOURITES
Delicious smells wafting from the kitchen and friends laughing on the patio make up the summer vibe at Buckhorn & Main Mountain Eatery. With potted flowers outside and rustic cabin-like styling indoors, the restaurant weaves itself seamlessly into the mountain landscape. Buckhorn & Main is connected to the Trickle Creek Lodge at Kimberley Alpine Resort and is the perfect jumping off point for your next summer get-away. The reason you’ll want to come back year after year though, is because of people like Food and Beverage Manager – Shawna Crawford.
Shawna’s been with the resort since 2000 when the restaurant first opened as Kelsey’s. She fondly remembers celebrating Mother’s Day there with her then 18-month and 4 year old daughters. Her girls were raised in the small community of Kimberley and largely at the hill. This fuels her passion for patrons to experience the same friendly and comfortable environment her own family had growing up in the area.
In spite of being the gateway for an endless number of activities, Kimberley has maintained it’s small town, off-the-beaten-path feel. Locals have an inherent pride of where they are from and extend the invitation to visitors to enjoy their town as locals too. When the restaurant ended it’s franchise with Kelsey’s and launched Buckhorn & Main Mountain Eatery it was only natural that it was named after one of Kimberley’s own favourites, the beloved fixed-grip lift the “Buckhorn” and the longest night skiing run in North America the, “Main.”
With the restaurant, golf, biking and hiking trails, swimming and hot tubs all on the hill, staying at Trickle Creek or the Polaris Lodge make for a nice locale to go out from but that’s only the start of activities in the area.
You’ll feel yourself slip into holiday mode walking around the Bavarian style Platzl with it’s quaint boutiques, coffee and bike shops and restaurants where it’s not uncommon to take in live music or a game of open-air Ping-Pong.
Must-see activities include the short, easy walk along the meandering river in Marysville (just south of Kimberley) to take in the views of a 30-meter waterfall. Enjoying an ice cream across the street at Lickity Split before heading to the skate and bike-park for the kids to play is a sure favourite. The area is surrounded with bike trails, from easy 2 km loops like Happy Hans that’s great for even the smallest of pedalers accessed easily from the Nordic Centre parking lot to the Bootleg Bike Trails for the downhill enthusiasts.
Thankfully the Spirit Rock Climbing Centre is open most nights until 10 pm allowing you to sneak a climb into an already activity-filled day. There are routes for everyone from seasoned climbers to beginners, and with the auto-belay system the whole family can have fun together.
Lastly, make time to unwind with the scenic 83 km drive north of the city to take a short hike at White Swan Provincial Park to soak in the natural, rocky pools along the river that make up the Lussier Hot Springs. It’s the perfect way to end a perfect trip.
- Published in News, Uncategorized
