Powder King Mountain Resort facts for kids

Powder King Mountain Resort, often called Powder King, is a popular ski spot. It's located in the Pine Pass area of the Northern Rockies in British Columbia, Canada. This resort is special because it's the only year-round mountain resort in North America right next to a main highway (Highway 97). Powder King is known for having some of the best snow in Canada!

The resort has 37 ski runs, and many of them are named after Beatles songs. You can find runs like Octopus’s Garden, Good Day Sunshine, and Ticket to Ride. There are runs for all skill levels: beginners, intermediate skiers, and experts. Powder King has three lifts: a triple chairlift that goes partway up the mountain, a T-bar that takes you to the top, and a small rope tow at the bottom for new skiers.

Powder King was once imagined to be as big as Whistler. But now, it's known for being a friendly place with fewer crowds. Its slogan is "Whisper of the North." The resort has a restaurant, a hotel with 35 rooms, and a small community of homes. The Canadian Ski Patrol helps keep everyone safe on the slopes.

Getting to Powder King

If you want to visit Powder King during ski season, you can take the PK Express Bus. This bus runs every day from Prince George and Mackenzie. On Saturdays and Sundays, it also runs from Grande Prairie.

A Look at Powder King's History

Powder King has an interesting past with different owners and plans.

Early Days: Azu Ski Village

The resort first opened for skiing in the 1965-1966 winter season. It was called the Azu Ski Village. In 1968, a T-bar lift was added, and a rope tow came the next year. At that time, the village had a day lodge, a dining room, and places for people to stay. By 1971, the T-bar lift was made longer, reaching higher up the mountain.

Growing as Powder King Ski Village

In 1983, the resort was renamed Powder King Ski Village. There were plans to make it much bigger. These plans included adding more ski runs and new lifts, like a long triple chairlift and another T-Bar. The idea was also to build homes and condos at the base of the mountain. The first part of this big plan was finished for the 1984-1985 season. New lifts were installed, making it easier for skiers to get up the mountain. A hostel with 60 rooms also opened the next year.

New Owners and Changes

In 1991, a new group of investors bought the ski village. A new day lodge was built around this time. The road leading to Powder King was also moved a bit to make it safer for cars. After some challenges, a new group, the Doyle family, took over in 1995. They reopened the resort as the Powder King Mountain Resort.

The Salisbury Family Era

In 2005, Jim and Heidi Salisbury became the new owners of Powder King. Under their ownership, the resort became a training ground for Canadian Olympic ski and boardercross teams. This helped Canadian athletes win medals in the 2010 Olympics! In 2009, a special grant helped to clear brush and thin trees on the slopes. This made the resort even better for its 25th anniversary.

For the 2010-2011 season, eight new trails were added, bringing the total to 37 runs. The next year, a permanent snowboard-cross track was built. In 2012, three new snowshoe trails opened, named Wanderer, Explorer, and Challenger. In 2016, the company bought and renovated the Azouzetta Lake Lodge. Now, guests can stay in its updated cabins, suites, and bunkhouses.

Images for kids

• 

  Powder King

• 

  Scenery of Powder King BC

• 

  Powder King

• 

  More powder snow

• 

  Another great powder day at PK