Spring is here and Smithers' wild powder is calling

Feb 27, 2019

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By POWDER MATT for #SkiNorthBC

Smithers, B.C. – Spring renewal for the soul. Adventurists, take note, look up to a wilder place, full of people filled with a potent Spring energy and sharing the stitchings of a wonderful community. For the snow enthusiast, the community of Smithers is surrounded with multiply mountain ranges, each stacked deep with snow for your enjoyment. Clean out your head, go north for your Spring revival. Pick your powder pleasure – wilderness cat skiing and/or ski touring one of Canada’s coolest backcountry destinations. The laid-back cool vibes of this community ski area is definitely calling you.

Ski Hudson Bay, Stay Smithers. Grab incredible deals here.

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Powder wild: Skeena Cat Skiing

There is no guidebook for life. I find learning happens when you go out, pioneer a bit and do some discovery. Shuttle wild as you move from your vehicle to a cat for a couple hours of spectacular window-of-nature time. Cue up your best Spotify playlist or enjoy the chatter with some very interesting peeps from all backgrounds of life. You’re going deeper. Deeper into deep snow country, to your own private space like colony, complete with Arctic-style safari camp. Each of you with your own lodging capsule and a centre social and dining hub for all to connect and share your flake tales.

Photo: Powder Matt

Like a movie set situated in a vast powder-filled region, you just have to pinch yourself. But it’s real and the wilderness cowboys (your guides) will take you on a crazy ride to far flung reaches, serving up ripping terrain, super heaping scoops of powder and a massive joy will permeate the air inside the cat. The characters of this blockbuster will have you in stitches too, from the wild bunch leader, Jevon to super cool guide, Klondike Ike (Isaac) and tail-gunner, Sustut Man (Tanner). And then there’s cat driving/snow-border star, Mark and bartender, Foggy Goggles plus Chef Chris. Every step with this star-studded, good times crew is powerful and cultivates a myriad of life benefits for each guest.

Photo: Powder Matt

Soulful turns: Hankin-Evelyn – Canada’s first backcountry ski area

It’s local, really awesome and easy to get to. Backcountry skiing and riding enthusiasts should carve a path to Smithers and enjoy this gem. It’s an expansive, non-motorized and purpose-built ski touring area. The dream of inspiring local, Brian Hall, Hankin-Evelyn offers so much terrain with runs for everyone, including gladed runs for beginners and big, burly steeps suited to hard-cores. It's all here.

We had the Local Supply Co. co-owner, Dave Walter, aka Super Dave, a joy-filled, energizer who passionately shared this adventure skiers’ dream-land with us. We knocked off some epic lines with waist deep powder filling our faces and we shared high-fives and ear-to-ear smiles. More good times ahead. Take your time, try a variety of runs and lunch in the super cool warming hut, perched at the top of more after meal descents.

Photo: Powder Matt

Good vibes: Hudson Bay Mountain

Old school cool is in. Shredding at Hudson Bay Mountain, towering over the community of Smithers, is a real treat. Sure, it has great groomers, a variety of terrain and incredible snow, but it is the front-side fall-line that goes on forever. There’s also the most amazing array of uber-cool abodes in the cabin colony and the mountain people who will have you wanting to return even before you leave. Don’t forget to ski into town. Yep, there is a groomed run that is so much fun; point ‘em downhill – the valley floor is calling.

There's plenty of good times before the season ends, which is April 14. Actually April 14 would be a great day to be there. Hudson Bay is celebrating its 50th anniversary and saying farewell to the season, all in one big epic party – SCHNAI DAI! This party demands that you wear gold, maybe sign up for the annual slush cup and get your groove on to great music. Did we say there's prizes for the best costume? Well there is.

Now isn’t it time to go north?

Photo: Nancy Shields

Crafty place: Alpine-themed town

Get cozy with the wonderful locals. Take time to cure your thirst at one of the best of the B.C. Ale Trail and step inside the warm timber-framed structure of Smithers Brewing Company for a variety of great suds and local cheers. Head over to one of the best outdoor shops in a mountain town, Local Supply Co to get geared up for powder play and don’t miss the best in healthy breakfast at Two Sisters Cafe.

Stay in peace

There are so many great places to stay. Check out Ski and Stay packages to pick your place of rest, which are all conveniently located in or around the town of Smithers. And all are within easy access to all of your powder and springtime adventures.