REVELSTOKE- WHAT CANADA IS REALLY ABOUT (British Columbia)

Member Name: GNU BOY

Product:	British Columbia
Date:	06/02/01 (141 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Huge amount of things to do. Beautiful scenery. Friendly people. Very good value for money.

Disadvantages: Some travelling required to get there from international airports. Quiet nightlife.

Mention any of the following things - skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, mountain biking, climbing, visiting national parks- to someone, and they would possibly think of Canada. However, mention the word ‘Revelstoke’ to a person, and you will likely be confronted with a blank stare. It is unsurprising that few people outside of British Columbia have heard of this village, it is populated by only nine thousand people, and is at least an hour’s drive from any other town. However, it is also one of the most exciting areas of North America, with never a dull moment.

Revelstoke is located in the middle of the Southern Canadian Rockies, four hundred miles to the East of Vancouver. As such, to reach the city (although it is the size of a village, it is self-supporting so is technically a city), a drive of up to nine hours is required from Vancouver. Rest assured though, this is not like nine hours on the M1; this is a drive through the Canadian Rockies, some of the most beautiful and spectacular mountains on the planet. They are awe-inspiring to the point that you feel like stopping your car and just gazing at them. Once you reach the village, you are astounded to find that it is surrounded by mountains in every direction. Revelstoke is truly in a valley.

Before planning any trip to Revelstoke, you must first decide what you want to do there. If you fancy mountain biking, canoeing, climbing or visiting national parks, visit in the summer. However, if the thought of skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling or tobogganing sets your pulse racing, go in the winter. If you are not sure when to go, put on a blindfold and stick a pin in a calendar. It is that exciting a place that anytime you go will be a thrill.

The summer months are perfect for mountain biking. Discover where the sport really got its name, as you tear along dirt paths, jump across chasms and cliffs, and swerve not to avoid rabbits, but to avoid bears. The mountains su
rrounding Revelstoke will provide you with endless routes to explore and enjoy.

Revelstoke is well-suited to canoeing; the many streams and rivers in the area are perfect for the beginner or the pro. Beware of the water temperatures outside of summer, though. That water does not freeze over for nothing!

Climbing and hiking can be experienced on the mountains. Trail maps are available for free in tourist information centres, and provide safe routes for the enthusiast. It is quite simple: without a compass or map, you will get lost! The jagged peaks of the Rockies provide a challenge for the adrenaline-junkie climber (pronounced ‘maniac’).

Revelstoke National Park may not be the most famous of all those in North America, but it certainly has wildlife and scenery to match any on the continent. Watch in amazement as a moose runs from a cougar across the path of a black bear! The animals are fascinating to watch, and bear in mind they are in their natural environment rather than in a zoo. The plants are beautiful, similar to those found in Scandinavia. However, the trees around the city and mountains have not been destroyed by logging; in fact, Revelstoke provides a good example to the rest of Canada and Scandinavia (the two chief wood pulp producers in the world) of how to protect and manage resources safely and sensibly.

For the downhill enthusiast, Revelstoke has a large skihill which is as enjoyable for the beginner as it is for the seasoned skier or snowboarder. Equipment rental at the lodge is cheap and of a high standard. For the truly crazed, Revelstoke is home to THE WORLD’S LARGEST HALFPIPE, so snowboarders would be wise to visit here. There is a great village atmosphere on the slopes, and rather than having the commercialised, faceless feel that goes with nearby slopes such as Banff, you soon find yourself learning people’s names and faces.

The city has become a stopping off place for s
nowmobilers. Offering some of the best trails in North America, people come from miles around to experience the feeling of being two inches from the ground and travelling at eighty miles per hour. You can experience the rush of motorbiking, safe in the knowledge that you have a nice layer of soft snow to cushion the blow should you fall off. Local companies offer a day’s snowmobiling tours at a reasonable price, and anyone in the city during the winter should try this thrilling sport. It is estimated that a large proportion of Revelstoke’s economy depends on snowmobilers, and you can see why. There really are a lot of mountains!

There is something wonderfully amateur about doing tobogganing. You do not want to look professional, you want to experience that ‘small boys in the park’ way of doing things. The way to go about
tobogganing in Revelstoke is to go to the local shop; buy a large plastic dish; go up to Mount Revelstoke; build a metre-high jump out of snow; climb to the steepest point you can find; and let yourself fly. Literally, in fact. However, the landings do not bruise as they would in say, England. The snow there is not a white colouring one molecule thick, that covers the frozen grass; it is a thick, powdery layer that breaks your fall, rather than your back. Landing upside down is always invigorating when you can walk away from it.

Revelstoke is required to have an airport due to its location in a valley, so this gives the option of paying a pilot a small fee to take you up high, high above the clouds. In an aeroplane or helicopter, of course. The sight of the clouds below you and the peaks of the Rockies ahead of you is incredible. I experienced reaching this height while snowmobiling, so you can imagine the breathtaking feeling of seeing this while flying.

The weather in Revelstoke is never truly extreme. The position of the city means ‘overcast’ is the key word. The clouds ensure
a steady fall of snow for a good part of the winter, without ever getting too cold to go outside and enjoy yourself. They also mean that sunny days are rare, even in July and August, though a few scorching hours a day at the peak of summer are not uncommon. The cloud layer allows the temperature to stay a few degrees higher than it would be otherwise, meaning the area is warmer than, for example, the provinces of Quebec and Ontario.

Accomodation in Revelstoke is cheaper and of a higher quality than you will find in most of Northern Europe. The local hostel is run by an international, non-profit making hostelling company, meaning you really do get what you pay for. Couple the clean, friendly, secure environment with the fact that you are surrounded by other travellers, and the benefits of staying in a hostel are clear. Fellow travellers, many from other countries and cultures, will be living in the same building as you, meaning friendships quickly develop and you soon gain an understanding of different people and lifestyles. Few things broaden the mind and soul like travel.

Revelstoke is, of course, not perfect. The nightlife leaves a little to be desired, with only two average nightclubs (although you would be happy if your small village had that many!), meaning any true party animals may do better to organise gatherings with fellow travellers. Also, Revelstoke is at least an hour’s drive from any other towns. However, both these proverbial clouds seem to have a lining of silver. You will find yourself so busy doing things during the day, that you are likely to appreciate having a few drinks and relaxing in a relatively quiet bar. Remember too, that few clubs means busier clubs, so meeting people is easier. With respect to the aforementioned hour’s drive, you can easily find yourself at Halcyon hot springs. Relax in a hot pool of water that has come straight from the ground. This is cleaner than it sounds, the water is full of sulp
hates and calcium, both of which are said to relieve the pains of rheumatism and arthritis (though you need not have either of these ailments to enjoy the springs!)

These are only a selection of the activities available in Revelstoke. I have not mentioned Revelstoke Dam, which provides one quarter of the power to the province of British Columbia and is open to visitors. Nor have I discussed the people of Revelstoke, who are among the most friendly, interesting and welcoming of any in the country.

Despite requiring a few hours’ driving, there are some fine locations to visit or move onto from Revelstoke. Vancouver, Calgary, Banff and Whistler are all accessible in a relatively short time, as are the national parks of Banff, Yoho and Jasper. Revelstoke is a fine stopping off point if you are travelling across Canada, since it is located on th Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 1). If, for example, you are travelling from Vancouver to Calgay, you would do well to travel by Greyhound Bus and see this wonderful part of the world, rather than pay ten times as much and fly there.

How much does Revelstoke cost? To fly from London Heathrow to Vancouver or Calgary, then take a Greyhound bus there, might set you back three hundred pounds with a good deal. Staying in the hostel will cost about twelve pounds a night (very cheap for the quality and location). Food is not included at the hostel, but most restaurants charge the same for a three course meal as a fast food restaurant in England does for a burger and fries. Ski or snowboard rental for a full day, plus chairlift pass, will cost less than twenty pounds. Bear in mind this is good quality equipment in all sizes, and fitted by people who know what they are doing. Even a taxi home at night will cost about half what you would pay in the U.K.

It would be hard to exaggerate how much Revelstoke epitomises all that is great about Canada. Whether you are tobogganing off a mountain; chasing
a grizzly bear from a garage; or gazing in awe across the snow-tipped peaks of the Rocky Mountains, there is rarely a dull moment. Do not be put off the apparent obscurity of Revelstoke, it is well and truly established for travellers of all ages and tastes to have a great time. I would love to be able to go into depth about the problems of Revelstoke, but I can’t. This is not a bias or favouritism, it is just the fact that there aren’t any. However you look at it, Revelstoke is a truly wonderful place. You really should go there.

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