Terrace's local ski hill, Shames Mountain, is known for its deep powder and due to the small population in the area, everyone gets a chance to enjoy fresh line after fresh line.
Skiing and Boarding on Shames Mountain
Shames is a family hill. It's small, safe and friendly. Lifties play loud music on their stereos and no matter what the conditions, everyone at the mountain is stoked. Many of the locals at the hill know each other, and by the end of a day or two, visitors will likely recognize half of them too. Amenities include a day lodge, bar, short order restaurant and rental shop with private and group lessons available for children and adults. With only one T-bar, a two-person chair and a tow rope, the mountain offers a surprisingly vast amount of terrain for novice and advanced skiers and snowboarders.
Shames is 35km/22mi west of Terrace. Drive about 20 minutes along Highway 16, towards Prince Rupert and turn right at the sign. A gravel road, about 14 km/9 mi-long, leads to the lodge and bottom of the chairlift.
Winter tires, and sometimes four-by-four, are a must to get up this road.
Full and half-day ride tickets are available. Backcountry skiers can also pay $10 to ride the chair once only for the day.
Backcountry and Cross-Country Skiing
The backcountry around Shames is incredibly vast, accessible and very popular. Rentals and more information are available from Azad Adventures, a backcountry and outdoor store in downtown Terrace. Two mountain cabins near Terrace can also be reserved here, though riders have to arrange their own helicopter drop off and pick up to the cabins. Terrace also has a decadent local heli-skiing operation, Northern Escape Heli Skiing. It's possible to book day tours with the company but most clients are international groups who book full and expensive trip packages that include meals, accommodation and vertical feet.
The volunteer-driven Snow Valley Nordic Ski Club, which has members from Kitimat and Terrace, also maintains more than 30 km/19mi of cross-country ski trails about 20 minutes south of town on Highway 37.