Hope everyone had a great Christmas and have a Happy New Year tonight.  We have had a busy time at Vagabond Lodge with some great guests from all over the world.  
We have also had a cold spell the last few days of minus 18C which doesn't make for the best conditions.  But that is all going to change starting tomorrow.  The weather forecast is calling for snow off and on for the next week which is just what we need now to get the whole hill in great shape.  They are calling for about 30 cm in the next few days.  
Here is a link to the weather report.  Today there is a temperature inversion happening with a lot warmer temperatures at the top than the bottom. And that usually means a weather change.  
The first part of January is always a great time for skiing in my mind.  Usually nice cold snow and if we get what they are predicting there is going to be a lot of powder.  And it is also the quietest time of the ski season.  If you are looking for a ski getaway this is the time since the hill will be yours.  Give us a call Toll Free in Canada 1 866 944 2622 or International 1 250 344 2622.  You can also email me at info@vagabondlodge.ca

Yesterday I made my first trip up to the top of Terminator Peak which is the first mountain to the south of the top of the resort.  It involves about a 20 minute climb but well worth it.  And it was great yesterday with boot top powder and fresh tracks by me.  Patrick from Selkirk Sports here at Kicking Horse joined me today and it was even better with about 10 or so cms of fresh snow overnight.  Great start to the season.  

It has been a different type of start to our season. On the resort's "Sneak Preview" Weekend  a few weeks ago, things were looking great. Good coverage from top to bottom.  And then we got the rain.  Not just a little rain, but about 5 days or downpour which basically washed away most of the base we had at the bottom.  But the good news was while it was raining at the bottom it was snowing heavily at the top.  About half the hill(top) is very good with mid season snowpack.  And then as you get closer to the bottom it became sketchier and sketchier.   They were actually downloading skiers on the lower chairlift we have at the resort.  I took a few days off from skiing(downloading is not an option for me).   I made my way back up to the top a few days ago to see for  myself.  As I mentioned above the top is great.  NO issue.  We get spoiled here, I will admit. We have guests from Norway who went up for their first runs yesterday and said it was their best first day of skiing ever and they ski regularly in Norway and in the spots in Europe. Right now there is one small patch that you have to watch for near the bottom with some bare patches and rocks.  Feuz Bowl was outstanding yesterday.  
The other good news is the snow is starting to come again.  We have had a few cms of fresh snow over the past few days and more is expected tonight and over the next week and it won't take much to get the lower part back into shape.  
I understand we are basically the best skiing right now in North America and it isn't bad.  
The photos are from yesterday. 

Kicking Horse was open this weekend for a "Bonus Weekend."  I had to check it out and went for a couple runs yesterday.  It snowed lightly most of the day and visibility at the top was pretty limited.  The snow at the top was very nice.  At the top of catamount chair it got pretty sketchy to the bottom.  It was nice just to get the legs working again.  We are pretty excited about the new look Cork's Restaurant that is next door to Vagabond Lodge.  One of our favourite eating spots in Golden "Whitetooth Bistro" has gone into partnership with the Copper Horse Lodge and is operating the restaurant.  A group of us went for dinner last night and enjoyed the evening.  
Kicking Horse opens for the season this Friday December 12.  Snow expected throughout the week. If you are looking for a last minute Christmas gift, why not a stay at Vagabond Lodge.  Give us a call toll free in Canada 1 866 944 2622 or international 1 250 344 2622. 
You can also email info@vagabondlodge.ca

It's time to play catch up.  We actually went away for a vacation for a couple weeks and now its time to figure out what is going on here at Vagabond Lodge.  Kicking Horse is having a "Sneak Preview" this coming weekend December 4/5 and then will close for a few days and then will open for the season on December 12.  We had quite a dump of snow last week.  The resort received over 80 cms in a week.  But then it ended up raining at the lower elevation for  about a day which wasn't great for an early opening.  But better to have the rain now than in January or February.  But don't worry there is still some great snow.  This footage is from some friends who went to the top of Rudi's Run which is just outside the ski area boundary on Saturday(just a few days ago).  As you can see there is a lot of snow and they were able to ski to the bottom. And it looks like more snow throughout the next week.  So it is time.