Rossland

Kootenay Rockies

British Columbia

Canada

Lone Star Motel

Red Barn Lodge

Angela's B&B and Guest House

The Josie Hotel, Autograph Collection

Red Mountain Village

Prestige Mountain Resort Rossland

Red Mountain Resort

Ram's Head Inn

Red Shutter Inn

Mountain Shadow Hostel

Lone Star Motel - Rossland, BC

Rossland Lions Community Campground

Nowhere Special Hostel

SureStay By Best Western Rossland Red Mountain

The Flying Steamshovel

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Rossland Bike Retreat

resort.fhr.heroTitle

Red Resort

Red Mountain

Marc

Scott

Pow Monday the 16th. Nice conditions lasted into Tuesday 

Spring like conditions today with soft almost slushy snow. Full sun all day. 

Joe Latkowski 

Monday saw snow all day long. Wonderful powder conditions. 

Thursday January 29, 2026 

Red Mountain, BC

JABSportsUSA

Day 18 of 18

9am Conditions:
28 degrees (F) base.  27 summit.  It snowed!  Again.  3 official inches overnight.  Doesn't sound like much - but it helped - big time.  I got to the top of Grey Mountain fairly quickly (2nd chair).  Immediately to the left opens up a wide Green that transitions to a very friendly Blue.  I rarely do this - but it was just too tempting.  3-inches fresh powder over a flat groomer.  No one in site.  I completely let it go and bombed it.  At that speed - three inches has you up and surfing quickly.  Even with no crowds the runs were skied-out by 12noon - but as KeithTheElder says "must be present to win".  I was.  

LESSON BY JAB:
My snowboard boots won't be the only accouterment that doesn't make it to next season.  Ed The Red - couldn't twist a good question out of him - but I like this dude .  Originally from Toronto then Vancouver.  Been in Rossland / Trail, BC for #23 years.  He explained the difference between Trail and Rossland.  I get it.  Gentrification is spreading its ubiquitous tentacles here in Rossland.  Live in Trail for a fraction of the price - it's only 8-miles away.  His exact statement / questions was "it starts with T then 3 letters and ends with a P".  Ed, I'm sorry - I can't go there as I've pushed far over the ledge already.  Ed The Red with his insider knowledge did clear-up a few things.  "I work outside everyday - I'm never cold."  "The mountain bikers are pushing Red to consider a 'high speed' lift for SilverLoad.  A fixed grip lift is $2 million-ish / a high speed is $8 million-ish".  "Yes January is the best snow month - you hit a stretch of bad luck".

Ed - I'll introduce you to Mr. Don't-Waste-That-Chili guy.

Last day tomorrow - Friday 1/30/26.  Probably only ride a half day.  Need to get back to Rossland to work on logistics for travel back to The Motor City.  So this will be the ultimate post.

BAD:  
Slow fixed grip lifts.  Strangely the last 10-days or so - I didn't notice it.  One lifty stated - "they've changed the gearing and motors on all lifts and they're significantly faster than a traditional slow-fixed-grip lift".  Not sure I buy that - but maybe.

GOOD:
A White desert.  There's not a soul at this place.  Least crowded resort I've ever been to.  Now -  I'm sure a good powder day draws crowds - but not on this trip.

Great job = Red Grooming Crew.  They recognized very early that off-piste and steep runs were un-ski-able.  They groomed everywhere.  Even grooming over mogul runs.  Thank you.

People of Rossland, BC - awesome town.  Better people.

LAST TIME TO DO SOMETHING FOR THE FIRST TIME:
Last three years I've done trips of 40; 30; and 20 days.  What's best?  mmmmmmm - I'm not sure.  I might need a full season to answer that question.  Will I come back to Red Mountain?  I think so / maybe.  If they add one new high-speed  - yes.

1st BEER: 
Sourdough Cafe - Tail Out Brewing Co. / Party Laps Hazy IPA 

PENULTIMATE RUN:
Top of Grey to Base.

Tunes:
The Black Crowes - Amorica  
Green Day - Insomniac 
 Honeymoon Suite / Big Prize (W.I.R)
Motley Crew / Dr.  Feel Good (John 5 - JSK and I will see you July 20, 2026 @ Pine Knob).

iTunes algorithm take over: 'Dreams - Van Halen'

RockOn

JAB


JABSportsUSA

Wednesday January 28, 2026 

Red Mountain, BC

JABSportsUSA

Day 17 of 17

9am Conditions:
25 degrees (F) base.  21 summit.  It snowed!  It's first appearance of the trip.  I would say a solid = 1 inch.  I'll take it.  The forecast looks promising for Thursday and Friday.  Hopefully a good way to end the trip.  The problem with only one inch - now all the rocks and roots are covered.  It's been easy to navigate the obstacles - until today.  My fancy new board is beat to h#ll.  The one inch was a quick Botox and filler injection - but the mountain needs a full facelift.  Hopefully coming the next two days.

Ran out of coffee and cream yesterday.  Just as well - both needed a serious upgrade.  Got off the bus in town for some shopping.  Why I didn't think of this earlier - The SilverFox has taught me a "great many things" — like Windsurfing, Kiteboarding, Tennis - and ohh yeah - Snowboarding — but — the most important lesson he taught this young padawan - Baileys as coffee cream.  I only have three more days and all they had was a giant bottle - which I bought.  What will I do?

1st BEER: 
Sourdough Cafe - Guinness

PENULTIMATE RUN:
Northern Belle to Base.

Tunes:
Guns N' Roses - Use Your Illusion II  
Triumph -    Just A Game (W.I.R - "I don't ask for much, the truth will do just fine" --- far—-very far—-from a 'poor man's Rush')
Pop Evil - War Inside of Me

iTunes algorithm take over: Boston - 'Cool The Engines'

RockOn

JAB

Tuesday January 27, 2026 

Red Mountain, BC

JABSportsUSA

Day 16 of 16

9am Conditions:
18 degrees (F) base.  23 summit.  Zero fresh snow.  Here's a sentence from the official Red Mountain morning snow report:

 "just a heads up but the groomers are where it's at! Smooth, fast, and all kinds of fun. Stick to the corduroy for some killer groomed run skiing as off-piste runs and steep terrain are not recommended at this time" 

That's reasonably honest.  If it's flat to somewhat-flat and facing the sun - your edges have a chance.  Everything else = no way.

READER MAIL!
Sorry about that - these have trickled in over the last week.
ARE YOU WORKING OUT?
For the third year in a row, I brought gym clothes.  For the third year in a row, they haven't left my suitcase.  I walk by a decent gym every morning on the way to the bus.  It's relatively infrequent to get injured working out.  That said - it has happened.  I'm not risking it.

ARE YOU USING A I TO WRITE THE BLOGS?
What gave it away?

WHAT PROTECTIVE GEAR ARE YOU WEARING?
Helmet.  I can't remember the last time I rode without a helmet.  
I wore a right elbow pad one day.  I should wear it.  Right elbow's been tender to the touch for over a decade.  I'll wear it tomorrow.                           -
I am wearing a fancy new knee brace.  I don't think there's any statistical efficacy of a knee brace.  There's a little mental impact.  This is very common in the Terrain Park - Slide up to a feature to get in line.  Everybody in line bends down and tightens their boots / bindings - I do too.  When I bend down - ahhh - I feel the brace —'mmmmm - maybe I shouldn't do this.'  Which has happened.  Big picture - no - I don't think a the brace does anything.

1st BEER: 
Rafters - Abandoned Rail Porter.

PENULTIMATE RUN:
Top of Paradise Chair to Base via Ridge Run.

Tunes:
John Mellencamp - Freedom's Road  "Well I can stand beside ideals I think are right  and i can stand beside the idea to stand and fight".  Thank you John - I'll see you July 16, 2026 @ Pine Knob.
INXS - Shabooh Shoobah
Bryan Adams / Cuts Like a Knife (W.I.R)
Mark Tremonti / The End Will Show Us How.

At the end of the day - once I finish an album - if there's less than an hour before last chair - I'll let the iTunes algorithm take over.  The first random song is always interesting:

AeroSmith - Last Child --- Just in case you think Brad Whitford always sits in the 'Second Chair' to Joe Perry.  Have a listen.  Better yet go to y o u t u b e :AeroSmith / Last Child Live / Sunrise FLA 2004.

My flock - consider yourself --- informed—---even more.

RockOn

JAB


Monday January 26, 2026 

Red Mountain, BC

JABSportsUSA

Day 15 of 15

9am Conditions:
12 degrees (F) base.  19 summit.  Zero fresh snow.  Not an inversion day - but still funky temps. (taken each morning from the Official Snow Report).  Wherever you were on the mountain - it was warm.  All morning on the Paradise Chair - which from Day 1 has had the best snow.  Afternoon on the Grey Mtn. Chair.  Conditions are challenging - but doable.  I rode all day.  1st on.  Last off.  If you're Apres-ing right now  - drinking your White Zinfandel and basking in the thought that you got the most runs in today -------- you didn't.

OnTheSnow:
OnTheSnow OnTheSnow OnTheSnow - I love you.  You had every reason and permission to shut me down after yesterday's post - but you didn't.  You did the Right Thing.  Not The Permissible.  Where have we heard that?  See JSK - I am rubbing off on people.  Thank you OnTheSnow.

A FEW MORE NUMBERS:
MotherLoad Chair Travel Time       13 minutes
Grey Chair Travel Time               13 minutes
Skis:Snowboards Parad. Lng. 1:15pm     42:14  75% skis
# of MB Sprinter Conv. Vans in both lots    5
# of Ford Transit Conv. Vans in both lots    4
Guinness can cost                                  $10CAD
Crowds                                                       0 
Lift Lines                            0

LESSON BY JAB:
Let's call him Mr. Don't-Waste-That-Chili.  I sat down with my $13CAD bowl of Chili for lunch.  A moment later - directly across from me sat Mr. Don't-Waste-That-Chili.  It's his 30th consecutive winter in Rossland.  Skis "over 50 days a year".                 "I'm from Detroit and here for three weeks".  The conversation quickly went to 'conditions'.  I said "it's been tough - but I'm still having fun".

For the next 20-minutes he berated me - "you came here for that long in January?" / "It's our worst month" / "I tell all my friends to come in Feb - been saying that for #30 years" / "you need to plan better" / "people from Detroit don't know $&(@ about the Mountains" (that was my favorite).

Now when I say 20-minutes (as measured by Detroit Watch Company Great Lakes Diver GMT), I mean 20-minutes.  He finally came up for air and took his first spoon-full of now tepid-chili.  I hated to do this - but it was such low hanging fruit.  I went to  = OnTheSnow / Red Mountain / Overview / scroll all the down = "well you've been wrong for at least 20-years -January's been Red's snowiest month for the last 20-years".

He stared at my phone for a good 30-seconds.  Stood up.  With his tray.  With his tepid chili.  Walked across the room to the trash.  I yelled "hey Mister Don't Waste That Chili."  In the trash it went.

1st BEER: 
Sourdough Cafe - Guinness. 

PENULTIMATE RUN:
Top of Grey Mountain to Base via Long May You Run / Rinos Way / Easy Street / Norther Belle - 14 minutes.

Tunes    L O C A L    B A N D    D A Y    PART DUEX:
"You Wanted the Best - You Got the Best" = 
QandA (Houston, TX) / Goldfish in A Glass (Spotify)
Mrs. Jones / Mirrors in the Trees (Mrs. Jones Detroit Spotify) 
Mrs. Jones / Live at The Old MIAMI
Anciients / Voice of the Void ( Vancouver, BC iTunes)
Elsie Binx / This is Elsie Binx (Elsie Binx Detroit, Spotify)
Elsie Binx/ Radio (Elsie Binx Detroit, Spotify)

My flock - consider yourself --- informed.

RockOn

JAB

Only groomed trail ok ,i have hit so many rock on it ,Damage my ski.20 trail no more , the rest of mountain  it open but very bad, ice ice ice, dangerous  209 $for this is a joke . The guide Catherine  Was very good.

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