Fortress Mountain Resort facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fortress Mountain |
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| Location | Kananaskis, Alberta Canada |
| Nearest city | Calgary 115 km - (71 mi.) |
| Coordinates | 50°49′40″N 115°12′06″W / 50.82778°N 115.20167°W |
| Vertical | 700 m - (2500 ft) |
| Top elevation | 2500 m - (8400 ft) |
| Base elevation | 1800 m - (5905 ft) |
| Snowfall | 600–900 cm (236–354.5 in) |
Fortress Mountain is a cool ski resort located in Kananaskis Country, Alberta, Canada. It's about 115 kilometers (71 miles) west of Calgary. This mountain area is special because it's surrounded by beautiful places like Spray Valley and Peter Lougheed Provincial Parks.
The land Fortress Mountain is on has been used for skiing for a long time. The first agreement to use this land was made in 1967. This was even before Kananaskis Country was officially created! Today, Fortress Mountain Holdings Ltd. owns and runs the resort.
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A Look Back: Fortress Mountain's Story
Fortress Mountain has had a few different owners over the years. Before Fortress Mountain Holdings Ltd. took over, companies like Banff Rail Company and Resorts of the Canadian Rockies (RCR) used to own it. In the 1970s and 1980s, Aspen Skiing Co. was in charge.
Fortress Mountain on the Big Screen
Did you know Fortress Mountain is famous in Hollywood? Many movies have filmed exciting scenes here because of its amazing snowy landscapes!
- In December 2009, parts of the movie Inception were filmed at the resort.
- In December 2011, the cast and crew of The Bourne Legacy came to shoot scenes.
- Other movies filmed here include The Claim, Van Helsing, Brokeback Mountain, RV, and The Revenant.
- You might have also seen Fortress Mountain in many television commercials!
Past Ski Lifts at Fortress Mountain
Ski resorts use different types of lifts to get skiers up the mountain. Fortress Mountain once had some interesting ones.
The Unique Curve T-Bar
In the 1980s, Fortress Mountain had a special ski lift called the Curve T-Bar. It was designed in a unique way. This lift worked in a big loop that went over a ridge. This meant it could pull skiers up both sides of the ridge using just one motor and one cable!
While it was a clever idea, it also had a downside. If anything went wrong with the lift, both sides of the ridge would be shut down. There weren't many other lifts like it in the Canadian Rockies for this reason.
Moving a Lift to Blackcomb
There was also another smaller lift at Fortress Mountain. It ran next to the Curve T-Bar on the back side. This lift helped skiers get from the bottom of a far chairlift back to the front side of the mountain. One summer, a manager named Hugh Smyth, who worked at both Fortress and Blackcomb, took this smaller lift apart. He moved it to Blackcomb mountain and set it up on the Blackcomb glacier. This made the high mountain glacier at Blackcomb easier for skiers to reach.
What's Happening Now at Fortress Mountain
Fortress Mountain is currently undergoing redevelopment. This means they are working to improve the area.
Cat Skiing Adventures
Since January 2011, Fortress Mountain has offered "cat skiing." This is a special way to ski in fresh, untouched snow. Instead of chairlifts, skiers ride in large snowcats (like a snow plow with a passenger cabin) to reach remote, snowy areas. They use a Pisten Bully 300 snowcat that can carry 14 passengers and a Bombardier BR400 that holds 12 passengers.
Access and Safety Information
Work is being done to fix the bridge over the Kananaskis River and the main road leading to the ski area. Roads inside the mountain property are also being repaired. The old T-Bar lifts have been removed, along with the old rental shop and staff buildings.
The land at Fortress Mountain is managed by Alberta Environment and Parks (AEP). While some parts are leased for exclusive use, most of the area, including the access road and bridge, is open to the public.
If you want to visit, especially for KPOW! cat skiing or hiking, it's a good idea to contact Fortress Mountain Holdings Ltd. first. This is because they actively control avalanches on the property and the access road. They can tell you about the latest conditions and any closures to keep everyone safe.
