Need a reason to visit the world's newest major ski resort? Here's 5,620 of them—the figure that represents Revelstoke Mountain Resort's lift-serviced vertical rise, the largest in North America and surpassed only by a handful of European Goliaths. Two more: cliff-studded terrain that would curl even Glen Plake's gel-armored mowhawk and acres of glades and groomers with nary another rider in sight.

For three decades, a lone double chair chugged along at the base of 8,058-foot Mount Mackenzie just outside of the town of Revelstoke in central British Columbia, servicing a tiny locals hill that left the vast bowls and glades of the mountain's upper slopes to the small handful of skiers who shelled out the coin to take advantage of the cat skiing operation sequestered there. But beginning in December 2007, a gondola and a high-speed quad started ferrying riders nearly to the peak's summit. But the hordes haven't arrived—yet.

It's not simply that the resort has yet to attract many visitors; it's that those who are there get spread out over the mountain's vast expanse. For the time being, groomed runs like Devil's Club and Snow Rodeo plunge virtually deserted for more than three miles down the resort's face. Tree skiing aficionados can wind 3.42 miles through the Separate Reality Glades, Tasty Glades, and Critical Path Glades, virtually guaranteed to ski in solitude. Even the shortest path down the mountain—the aptly named Pitch Black, drops 2.36 miles. The beginner-friendly, multi-mile cat track run that traditionally carves from top to bottom of most resorts? Revelstoke's version, The Last Spike, checks in at a staggering 9.5

Need a reason to visit the world's newest major ski resort? Here's 5,620 of them—the figure that represents Revelstoke Mountain Resort's lift-serviced vertical rise, the largest in North America and surpassed only by a handful of European Goliaths. Two more: cliff-studded terrain that would curl even Glen Plake's gel-armored mowhawk and acres of glades and groomers with nary another rider in sight.

For three decades, a lone double chair chugged along at the base of 8,058-foot Mount Mackenzie just outside of the town of Revelstoke in central British Columbia, servicing a tiny locals hill that left the vast bowls and glades of the mountain's upper slopes to the small handful of skiers who shelled out the coin to take advantage of the cat skiing operation sequestered there. But beginning in December 2007, a gondola and a high-speed quad started ferrying riders nearly to the peak's summit. But the hordes haven't arrived—yet.

It's not simply that the resort has yet to attract many visitors; it's that those who are there get spread out over the mountain's vast expanse. For the time being, groomed runs like Devil's Club and Snow Rodeo plunge virtually deserted for more than three miles down the resort's face. Tree skiing aficionados can wind 3.42 miles through the Separate Reality Glades, Tasty Glades, and Critical Path Glades, virtually guaranteed to ski in solitude. Even the shortest path down the mountain—the aptly named Pitch Black, drops 2.36 miles. The beginner-friendly, multi-mile cat track run that traditionally carves from top to bottom of most resorts? Revelstoke's version, The Last Spike, checks in at a staggering 9.5 miles.

As for milder fare, the resort just added a beginner slope and tube park for the 2011-12 season.

Apres options right on the mountain include Rockford Wok, Bar, and Grill, which also offers upscale dining, and Wino: The Wine Bar.