For the second year in a row, Mother Nature has left skiers and riders in Golden, BC, tapping their poles and waiting. Kicking Horse Mountain Resort’s tentative opening date of December 5 has been pushed back once again due to insufficient snowfall. “We’re close, but not quite there,” the resort team shared in a recent update — a sentiment that feels all too familiar for locals who love an early start to winter.
This marks the second consecutive season the resort has been forced to delay its opening. During the 2024–2025 season, the hill was scheduled to start spinning lifts on December 6, but warm temperatures and meagre early-season snowfall postponed operations until December 13, when the base finally held enough coverage to open safely.
A key factor influencing the early-season outlook is the mountain’s current snowmaking system. About two percent of Kicking Horse’s terrain is supported by snowmaking, with 10 snow cannons in operation. This means the resort primarily depends on natural snowfall to cover the lower mountain and ensure adequate access to and from the base.
Fortunately, Golden’s climate usually delivers. According to the resort’s own mountain statistics, the area averages 252 centimetres of snowfall at the base, 360 centimetres mid-mountain, and about 650 centimetres in the alpine each season. Once winter settles in, Kicking Horse is known for deep powder and the reliable conditions that have built its reputation as one of Canada’s premier big-mountain destinations.
Still, early-season delays test the patience of eager skiers, especially when nearby resorts are already celebrating significant snowfall and early openings. But there is reason for optimism. After a weekend that brought a respectable amount of new snow to the valley, and with more flurries forecast for Wednesday and Friday, the wait may not be much longer for Golden.
And when the resort does open, the team promises they will be ready. “Our teams have been working hard all November to get things ready,” the resort noted. “This includes avalanche control, boot packing, track packing, snowmaking, staff training, and much more. We remain in a ready state, watching the weather daily and planning to open as soon as conditions permit.”
So what should you do while you wait for the ropes to drop? Take the opportunity to enjoy the calm before the storm. Wander along winter trails, revisit local shops, and get a head start on holiday errands. Support restaurants reopening from their shoulder season breaks. Tune your gear, wax your boards, and make sure everything is ready for that long-awaited first day back on snow.
And of course, feel free to do your part to manifest a little extra snow.
Patience may be a virtue, but fresh powder is the true reward.
