Summer at Shames

Shames Mountain is a seasonal resort with skiing and snowboarding in the winter months.  The area is open in the summer to informal hiking and the best wild blue-huckleberry picking.  It's a beautiful drive from Terrace or Prince Rupert along picturesque Highway 16 West and then 13 km on the Shames Mountain access road with its ‘drop dead views’. Watch for wildlife on or around the access road.

Hiking is encouraged, but do so at your own risk. Be aware that black & grizzly bears live on the mountain. Dress appropriately as the elevation is deceiving and the temperatures fluctuate widely. The terrain is not for the casual hiker as obstacles do exist on the mountain (fallen trees and branches and uneven trails), please, be cautious.
 

Shames History

Shames Mountain, in Northwestern B.C., is celebrating their 18th year of operation.  Shames is known for its "drop dead views" and more snow than any other lift-served ski area in North America!

Shames Mountain Ski Area is located off Hwy 16 West, 30 minutes west of Terrace or 1 1/2 hours east of Prince Rupert in the magnificent Coast Mountains.  Twenty-two marked trails (over 133 acres) from beginner to double black diamond are accessed by one double chairlift, a T-bar and a handle tow. Natural glades offer 86 acres of awesome tree skiing. Shames has a vertical of 1600 ft. (488m) within the ski area boundaries and spectacular backcountry skiing like you've never experienced before!

Shames Mountain evolved as the result of a concerted effort by two groups of local visionaries. One group was those who searched out the site. The other group was the 150-plus local investors who saw it through to fruition in 1990. The Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine opened Kitsumkalum ski area northwest of Terrace in 1976, endorsed by Nancy Greene. Accessibility on the old Columbia Cellulose road was a plus, but the elevation wasn't sufficient and the terrain lacked range (mainly beginner and expert terrain and no possibility of expansion). As customers became disgruntled with conditions at Kitsumkalum, two avid skiers, Willy Wandl and Keith Arnold-Smith, were the first to study Shames. With less than adequate snow and limited days of skiing at Kitsumkalum, a petition was circulated for the Regional District to "do something about Kitsumkalum" and Ski Northwest Society was formed in 1984.

Ski Northwest members included Kitsumkalum manager Dennis Lissimore, Roy Long, Dave Dediluke, Mike Zylich, Alan Stradeski, Willy Scheider, Wayne Barson, Murko Reutar and Ken Hanson. The Regional District provided the funding for feasibility studies of potential mountain sites for a new ski area. Over two years, the group studied 30 sites, reviewed topographical maps, did site visits and determined type of terrain, expandability, amount of snow, road accessibility and cost to develop.

At the end of the two years six areas (Mt. Treston, Gunsite Peak, Clack Mountain and Robson in Kitimat, Sterling and Shames) were still in the running. At that point, Ecosign Mountain Resort Planners Ltd. were hired to examine the test results and check their own list of criteria on the potential sites. Clack, Gunsite Peak and Shames were the finalists and Shames fit all the criteria best.

In 1986, Shames Mountain Ski Corporation was incorporated. It took over operation of Kitsumkalum from the Regional District for one season, then closed in anticipation of construction of the new ski area at Shames. Shares were sold locally and a Tourism Development loan was secured through a joint Federal/Provincial program to raise capital for the project.

In the fall of 1989, the Shames Mountain Ski Corporation Board of Directors (Roy Long, Gerry Martin, Barrie Phillips, Larry Krause, Tom Gingles, Greg Hansen, Grant Piffer, Betty Barton, Harry Murphy, and George Munson), made the monumental decision to begin building the ski area in the spring of 1990 and to open it that winter. D.R. Mathews and Associates were hired to oversee the project; pouring concrete from helicopters for the footings for the lift towers, building the parking lots, moving the day lodge from Kitsumkalum, painting and helicoptering the lift towers onto their footings, Shames opened in December of 1990.  Shames ran "Chateau ATCO's" as the cafeteria, washrooms and rental shop until the day lodge was completed.

Shames facilities now include the lively Galloway’s Mountain Bar, Panhandler Cafe, the Skill Development Centre with exciting ski and snowboard programs for every ability provided by certified instructors, Edges and Co. ski and snowboard rental and repairs, retail and the friendly Customer Service Centre.