Days are getting longer and you can feel the air thawing out. We’re on the wonderful cusp of winter and spring, the in-between season when the sun feels warm and the shadows feel cold. Snow is still in the forecast, but underneath these intermittent drifts you know the dirt is starting to wake up.

There’s snow on the ground, but the sunlight is staying out longer and on warmer days you can start to smell the alpine thawing in anticipation of spring. There’s a stirring in Golden this time of year. The Snow King’s MasqueParade is just around the corner, and here’s why you should be in Golden for it.

Golden is a perfect balance between a quiet mountain town and an exciting adventure. There’s enough going on around here that you’ll feel like every moment is rich with activity and nature, but you don’t have to feel rushed whilst doing it. We’re off the beaten track, which takes us away from the hustle and bustle of big urban areas and makes time slow down here. This appeal brings many people back to visit again and again.

If you're hoping to find this tranquility during your stay in Golden, here are a few ideas on what you can do to make the moments long and meaningful:

Looking out the window at the layer of fresh snow that landed throughout the night, our host Marie-France Lessor owner of the Auberge Kicking Horse B&B said, “If I were you, I’d finish that bowl of granola and get up to Kicking Horse. Don’t let the locals get all the fresh tracks!” 

There’s a reason that the Freeride World Tour makes a stop in Golden. The mountains are big and the snow is deep. In addition to that, the Dogtooth range is a stone’s throw away from the infamous Rogers Pass, making Golden a backcountry hub. It’s some of the most accessible big mountain terrain in the whole of Western Canada and that powerful mix of huge mountains and fresh powder is a combo few of us can resist, so here are some of our top tips for staying safe in the mountains this winter: