Name: ⛷️ Seeking 12 Intrepid Powder Hounds: Bluebird BC (MLK 2026)
Start: 2026-01-16T14:00:00.000Z
Location: Red Mountain

**Why It Matters 🎿**

*"Never have I experienced powder so deep and so fresh."*
—Big Red Cats guest, after one day​

That's the Powder Highway in five seconds. Now imagine five days of it.

**And this year's forecast looks perfect.** The 2025-26 winter is shaping up with a weak La Niña pattern—historically associated with above-normal snowfall in the interior mountains of BC. RED Mountain is among the resorts meteorologists expect to see "the most consistent snowfall" this season.​

January in Rossland: 26°F average, 300+ inches annual snowfall at RED Mountain, and prime timing for La Niña storm cycles. The snow falls dry, light, and deep—what locals call "Kootenay Champagne Powder."​
This isn't a resort vacation. It's an expedition to one of North America's last under-the-radar powder stashes—during a winter when conditions are forecast to deliver.

**The Trip (Jan 16-21, 2026) 📅**

**Friday:** Fly to Spokane ($400-ish). Drive 2.5 hours through snow-draped forests to Rossland—population 3,700, elevation 3,410 feet.
Check into [Ram's Head Inn](https://ramsheadinn.ca/), a cozy mountain lodge steps from the chairlift. Unpack. Breathe mountain air. Feel civilization fade.​

**Saturday-Monday:** Ski [RED Mountain Resort](https://www.redresort.com/history/)—Western Canada's oldest ski resort (est. 1947), now spanning 4,200 acres across three peaks.
Use your **Ikon Pass for FREE skiing** (or buy advance tickets if needed). Terrain breakdown: 18% beginner, 31% intermediate, 51% advanced/expert. Translation: tree skiing heaven with 300+ inches of annual snowfall.​

**Sunday:** The main event. **[Big Red Cats cat skiing](https://www.bigredcatskiing.com/)**—20,000 acres spanning 8 peaks, offering "some of the best glade and tree skiing in the world".​

Here's what makes Big Red different: They run ability-specific trips. Expert. Advanced. Intermediate. Even "Uber Expert" for the adrenaline junkies. Translation: You won't be held back by beginners, and you won't be terrified trying to keep up with sponsored athletes.​

The package includes professional guides (safety-certified, terrain-savvy), homemade lunch and snacks, avalanche safety gear, and approximately 10-12 runs through untracked powder. We'll coordinate ability levels when we book so everyone's grouped appropriately.​

**Cat Ski Day Cost:** \~$540/person​

**Weather insurance:** $42 (highly recommended given non-refundable policy)​

**Monday-Tuesday (Choose Your Adventure):** Ski RED Mountain Resort again, OR drive 90 minutes to [Whitewater Mountain Resort](https://whitewatermountainresort.com/) in Nelson—12 meters of annual snowfall, 180+ acres of expanded terrain, and that legendary Kootenay powder.

Nelson itself is an artsy, counterculture town with over 40 restaurants, hot springs, and après-ski activities that rival those of anywhere in North America. (Pro tip: You can also book additional cat or heli-skiing for these days if you want to go deep.)​

**Total ski days: 4** (RED Mountain Sat-Mon + Big Red Cats Sunday, OR mix in Whitewater)

**Wednesday:** Drive back to Spokane. Depart with powder-stained memories.

**The Numbers 💰**

**All-in cost: \~$2,000 per person** (Including flights and hotel)

* Accommodation: $150/night double occupancy × 5 nights = $375​
* Rental car share: \~$80 (split 3 SUVs for 12 people)
* Lift tickets: **$0 with Ikon Pass** (or $300-400 if purchasing)​
* Cat skiing: $540​ - 1 day
* Flight $400 Southwest, United - Alaska Air via Seattle - cheaper
* Food/drinks: $300-400
* Weather insurance (recommended): $42
* Heli Skiing options available or more Cat skiing if you prefer
* Red Mt has Cat skiing inbounds $20 per ride ​
* [Check out their Trail Maps](https://rr-assets.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/RED-Trial-Map-25-26-Web.pdf)

**To secure your spot, a** $200 refundable deposit is due within 48 hours of your RSVP. The deposit is fully refundable until January 2, 2026. I'll email payment instructions within 24 hours of your RSVP

**What Makes This Trip Different 🏔️**

1. **Ikon Pass utility**: Turn your pass into a BC adventure instead of another weekend at Copper
2. **Fly Alaska Airlines (via Seattle - cheap)** and get a free ski ticket to use on Red Mt for blackout day Saturday, Jun 17th
3. **Small group intimacy**: Exactly 12 people = one full cat, real friendships
4. **Historic terrain**: RED Mountain hosted Canada's first World Cup in 1968; Nancy Greene won here

Powder Now !

Colorado Pow Lovers Meetup Group

Peter Ruh

⛷️ Seeking 12 Intrepid Powder Hounds: Bluebird BC (MLK 2026)

Red Mountain

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