Nordic Skiing: A Revy Local's Take
By Nora Hudges
As a Revelstoke resident, I came for the alpine skiing and stayed for the abundance of adventurous activities, including the community’s beloved nordic ski club. When I have a day off, I make a beeline for the nordic centre, usually with my dog in tow.
The club maintains a 30-kilometre system of groomed trails, including nightly lit trails, a dog-friendly loop and snowshoe trails!
For The Chill Days
I'll take my cute pup along and we’ll skate ski Roadway Ramble to Easy Al’s and tackle the hill on BCIT. We race side by side back to Roadway Ramble and call her back for the on-leash section of the trail 200 metres before the parking lot. Then, with tongue, free-flying, and happy, laboured pants, she taps into her skijoring roots, ramping up to a steady trot, sending us sailing smoothly back to the lot.
For the 'Feeling Adventurous' Days
I’ll take the Main Loop to the Micky Olsen Loop, warming up my frigid joints on a short blue-rated section of trail. These trails are the perfect option for a nighttime excursion as they are part of the 6 kilometres of lit trails. The Micky Olsen Loop is cruisey. The wind whips past my ears, and the cold stings my cheeks as I awkwardly sidestep the corners with speed. Adding on Evelyn’s Choice for an extra 1.1 kilometres of scenic XC bliss will make your loop pretty close to 5 kilometres. And if that’s still not enough, I’ll do it twice.
The Magic Of Night Skiing
Although we recommend taking a day to explore, the Revelstoke Nordic Centre makes it easy to explore its trail network at any time with late-night rentals on Wednesday and Friday until 8 P.M.
There are 6 km of lit trails for night skiing from dusk until 9:30pm every night. Lit trails are Mickey Olsen Loop, Evelyn’s Choice, Dynamite, Titan, the Terrain Park, and the Stadium.
For the daunting days
If you really want a challenge, make your way up the Main Loop to Log Roller.
At the top of Hydro Hill, a steep daunting descent, tuck your polls — and if you’re like me, get in your strongest pizza power stance — and send it. The hill winds down Hydro Way to Beaver Lake Road. From there, it’s easy to meander your way back to the nordic centre via Cedar Ramble, BCIT to Roadway Ramble.
About The Club
One of Canada's oldest nordic ski clubs with roots tracing back to 1891, but in 1989, they diverged from the alpine branch and now operate as a registered non-profit. Located seven kilometres south of Revelstoke down Highway 23, the trailhead and lodge sit at an elevation of 640 metres.
