Spending multiple days up north in small BC towns with extended family over the holidays can bring on conditions like cabin fever. Symptoms include restlessness, irritability, bursts of random laughter, intense boredom, paranoia; excessive sleep….the list of mental instabilities just goes on and on. On the flipside, embracing small town life outdoors can make your time spent in remote towns all the more interesting. Follow my journal style exploration on how to embrace a local’s way of life in Northern BC - a reminder to adventure-on when the cabin fever sets in and not go stir crazy.
Day 5: Shred Shames Mountain
Nothing quite gets you out of bed on the first day of a new year than a free lift ticket, and Terrace’s Shames Mountain according to Powder Magazine is well worth the effort. “Shames receives 475 inches of annual snowfall, laying claim to one of the deepest, most consistent snow packs in North America and its backcountry access is unrivalled."
The drive from downtown Terrace is a bit of a haul, 35 km up the Shames Valley and required me begging a DD with reliable transportation in order to make it happen. As we packed into a full truck, I realized that despite the pain of getting up with 4 hours of sleep, nothing quite compares to driving up a dark mountain road into new mysterious terrain, the anticipation, the excitement and the feeling of OMG what happens if the truck gets stuck in the middle of nowhere right after we lose cell reception. No Twitter and Facebook, but at least Shames has a tap phone… just in case (feels so archaic in the year 2014). We arrive and it feel like I’m lost, like I’ve been dropped right in the middle of whole lot of white powder far away from civilization. Shames does have a small cottage like lodge (with a bar) and a rental/ locker facility, but ultimately feels like a true rustic ski getaway. I don’t know whether it’s the emergency tap phone or the way everyone piles their lunch coolers into scattered Rubbermaid’s, but it’s unique and small town cool.
Two years ago Shames began operating as My Mountain Co-Operative, and is Canada's first non-profit ski community co-operative. The Mountain staff had left signs up around the buildings stating their wish list items from Santa including everything from bungee cables to Snowmobile helmets, gently infusing the power of karma into the mountain community. It’s no wonder they give back, especially on a day like New Year’s... good snow karma goes along way, especially when they had alot of fresh snow to give back with. A 255cm base, all 28 runs and three lifts open, there is nothing small town about the terrain and the conditions at Shames, especially when I’m coming from the Vancouver area – enough said.
The double chair has a super steep exit ramp and snowboarders should strap in both bindings before unloading if at all possible... I figured that one out a little too late. Overall the mountain’s groomed runs and tree trails were enough to keep me more than happy – but also boast unlimited backcountry with only 225 acres of the 7,800 actually patrolled. Shames has 1600 feet of vertical powder, which is a ridiculous amount of stacked powder to be had.
There’s plenty to shred on the mapped runs, because even on a free day the mountain felt empty. There just isn’t enough of ski population around Shames to put a dent in the amount of powder to be had and stands as a skier’s snow dream come true and the best cabin fever buster yet!
I highly recommend finding a way to Shames Mountain should you ever find yourself lost in Northern BC and according to locals the powder just keeps getting better later in the season.
Enjoy this special blog series geared for those who visit relatives in small BC towns.
