Great snow when it comes, although it does not come every year to the degree it does in Terrace-due West, as the crow flies. Powder quality is always good but off-piste gets skied out quickly. Tree runs are far too tightly spaced to qualify as true free-ride terrain. The black runs are a dog's breakfast of moguls that of course are not maintained. The fall line is good everywhere. Lineups are rare. Other mountains in Southern BC present better value, for sure, but having said that the area also boasts numerous back-country options.The resort is not a resort, it's a large community hill without the acreage to call itself a resort. If the original owners had the vision to properly glade the chair side over a 20 year period with properly spaced tree skiing then the hill would probably be considered a minor classic. The Bulkley Valley is a great area to ski overall.
The ski hill is fun and challenging up to intermediate; not a lot of tough stuff for experts looking for day long adventure. It qualifies as a fun local hill with lots of benefits for easy access, varied terrain and few lineups. When the powder is hitting the mountain all day and night before you ski, it's awesome! And within 30 minutes of home. But when it hasn't snowed for 2 weeks and just been cold and clear, then it gets to be groomer/skied out boredom. Can't have it all, otherwise there would be 5,000 people on the hill if it was that good. Normally, a few hundred people on the hill so no lineups. Sadly, even if there was a high speed quad, it's unlikely that enough people would support it. So we are stuck with what we got!! I enjoy it and really appreciate the effort that the staff put in to make it fun and exciting! I see a few of their names doing reviews here!
After skiing at many resorts over the years, while ski racing or just recreational skiing, I have come to the conclusion that Hudson Bay Mountain is one of the best out there. The slopes are uncrowded with consistently great ultra dry powder, and the tree skiing, especially, is great. The staff and locals are friendly and there are plenty of expert riders here to shred with. Think Rossland B.C. of the north. It's truly a unique riding experience and the long trail to town from the summit is one of only a few like it in North America. The trail to town is similar in length to the Horstman glacier to Whistler village run.
We discovered this place after visiting many BC resorts and fell in love with many things.
1. The snow is almost always dry and often powder which stays for many days.
2. The easy access to town for supplies.
3. The locals are always helpful and friendly.
4. While there is limited on-hill accommodation, those that are available are excellent self catering, almost 5 Star.
5. While the day lodge is not new, it has been refurbished recently and the food is reliably good, and the service, particularly in the lounge area, is excellent.
6. The runs are well groomed and have plenty of un-groomed powder close to the groomers, which is good for groups who like different skiing.
7. In short, we love the place so much we bought a cabin there and visited every year for the last 12 seasons!
Hudson Bay Mountain is a small ski hill (by BC standards) with limited terrain, but excellent snow and few people. This is a great place for families and is very close to Smithers. For the powder hounds, you can often find untracked powder days after a storm if you know where to look - ask a local and you may be lucky enough to get a guide. Accommodation and food is limited on the hill, but many options are available in town.
"Disgruntled" leaves a harsh review but it is based on facts. Three other reviewers here are all staff at the skill hill so their glowing reviews are a bit biased. It was nice of them to use their real names though.
[note from the editor: names of individuals are not included in reviews.]
November 28, 2013
Brendon Vanstone
from
New Zealand
I've come to Hudson Bay Mountain a bunch of times now. I love it over here and compared to NZ the snow is in a separate scale of awesomeness all together. The powder I've seen here on my trips has been nothing like I've seem before. I didn't even know how to ski this at first; snow hitting my waste in places it was so deep. Even though it's a commercial hill it has the feel of a club field like we have back home, due to the staff and fact the lifties remember you and talk to you while you are loading. The price is hell of a lot less than we pay also. This terrain would cost us 80 bucks back home, and we have no tree runs! I will be back. Great party town also.
Sorry folks but the truth be told:
A great hill to take the kidlets up and be entertained for the day. Terrain is at best for beginner to intermediates with very little steep turns. You can mosey out of bounds for some gladed steeps; which some locals took upon themselves to clear out. It's good for about 4-5 turns before you have to make the traverse back to the chairlift.
The chair itself could be in a museum and probably will be there in the next couple of years. New paint and padding was the incentive of hbm to up the price for lift tickets and seasons passes to an extent which rivals with some of the bigger hills down south.
For comparison, you can get a seasons at Revelstoke which boasts over 5000 vertical ft. with great terrain and multi-highspeed lifts for another 50 bucks compared to the easy breezy terrain and 1 triple chair and two T-bars at good ol Smithers... justified? I think not...not only are the prices outrageous, so is the marketing team which puts out photos promoting the mountain which aren't even on the mountain!
The motto is "it's all about the powder errr..money... and to try to get people to buy the ridiculous condos which are on the shady side of the valley for a pole in and pole out experience via a flat road or I mean "run" sidewinder. Realism is not a concept for the 'team' at Hudson Bay Mountain Resort...
Don't get me wrong, it's better than nothing, but when there are no other options around. It's hard not to compare and say something when you know you're getting hooped in the Bulkley valley.
Formerly Ski Smithers but now Hudson Bay Mountain; it is such a fantastic mountain with amazing views, incredible snow and awesome people!
Don't take my word on it check out Hudsonbaymountain.com
and if you haven't already experienced what everyone is talking about try it for yourself!
Great from beginners to advanced.
When they say "its always been about the powder" it's no lie! I have never experienced better snow, better people and better terrain that at Ski Smithers!