Mountain Spirit Resort & Spa

I’d heard more snow was in the forecast but didn’t expect 15cm of fresh snow on our back step this morning. We rushed up to the hill by about 9:15am and thankfully the car park was only one third full. As usual, up the quad and over to the Easter chair was the priority. First thing we noticed was more runs were open. Anton’s was a must. As a snowboarder (aka slowboarder) I am not a fan of moguls. Being able to ride down Anton’s before the moguls are formed for the season was a pleasure… spotted with a few head-over-heels tumbles. All’s good – it’s fresh powder!

Anton's: people were laughing aloud, shouting "wahoo" between tumbles into the powder!

Rumours were rumbling in the small crowd of locals gathered at the top of the Easter – the Black Forest area might be opened. By the next circuit of the Easter, it was! Patroller Gord Towers had the pleasure of taking down the ropes by Dean Left and opening up all the runs across to Vortex. I’m thinking they’re saving more fun on the far runs for next weekend! We hit Magma first. It was powdertastic. Taking long sweeping turns floating above the snow I managed to stay on my board for most of the run. Next run, Twist. Awesome! It was rapidly becoming an epic powder day, the like of which I’ve never experienced this early in the season. It was so good, we did another loop round and hit it again. I say “we” today as I managed not to be ditched by my husband off the first chair, and he showed his true gentlemanly soul by both waiting for me AND pulling me along the couple of slow spots on the Ridgeway (he skis and I board, you see?).

Anton's Run, Sunday 12th December 2010 (Preview Weekend at Kimberley Alpine Resort)

I check my watch as I’m feeling exhausted. It’s 10:35am. Time to head around to the front via a secret new favourite run I’m not even going to mention. You have to come and discover the  best runs for yourselves. It had me hooting an a-hollering yet again – what an amazing season preview weekend. If this is the preview, this season is indeed going to be epic at Kimberley Alpine Resort!

This year Kimberley welcomed 198 bocce teams, 62 soccer teams, 41 parade entries, 21 runners in our Nature Park Race, dozens of volleyball players, many brave skateboarders, dozens of kids of all ages at the KidsFest with Rainbow the Clown and of course hundreds of homecoming reunion participants and countless additional folks who just came to enjoy all of the activities!

The Bocce Pits were alive with music featuring: The Hollers, Surf Dragons, Counterweight (shown above), The Moonshine Reefer Band and Slackjaw.  Thank you as well to our intrepid MC Hushton Bryant.

The Saturday Night Disco extravaganza with Billy Jive and the Funktastics had everyone dancing and cheering as their images were projected on the big screens.

Congratulations to all winning bocce teams and a Huge Thank You to the draw-masters Brock McClure and Jeff Kiever and their team!  The skies opened up during the final play-downs on Sunday afternoon but the teams and referees valiantly played on through the rain and hail to complete their games.  Only at JulyFest!!!!

Photo credit Francesca Royall and Steve Blake.

Here’s another great place to hike and to cross country ski (for free) if you’re in Kimberley. It’s just a short drive to Bootleg Gap Golf. You can explore this area from Bootleg Gap itself or from a little further outside Marysville. If you keep going past Bootleg Gap’s entrance you’ll see a pull-in on your right. These trails are accessible from this pull in. You’ll cross the rails to trails paved path. Keep going and walk through the meadow to reach the top of the hoodoos, with views of the St Mary’s River, Bootleg Gap, and of course, the hoodoos themselves.

If you have vertigo don’t get too close!