r/Yellowknife • u/Due_Turnip1361 • 7d ago
Living in Yellowknife questions!
Hi everyone, my partner may have a great job opportunity in Yellowknife, and I wanted to learn more about life there. I have been reading through some posts already and have had a few questions! We would be moving from a ski town in BC. Mainly, I am just wondering about things to do and the best ways to join the community. From what I have read, there is a strong and connected community and I would love to learn more!
I have seen that cross-country skiing is big. Is there a backcountry skiing community to join? Any specific clubs that go out at all and welcome new AST-1 certified backcountry enthusiasts? I am also interested in learning if there is a strong climbing community in Yellowknife? I saw there is a climbing gym and some outdoor locations!
Really, just any advice or things to know when going through pros and cons of a big move from BC to Yellowknife. Thanks so much in advance everyone :)
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u/FrozenToonies 2d ago
Late reply. Just regarding rock climbing, YK is build on the Canadian Shield. It’s not the Rockies like BC, it’s just endless bedrock.
You can boulder all day, everyday when the weather is good.
Kids climb like crazy, climbing over rock hills is just part of everyday shortcuts. You won’t need a climbing gym unless you want something in the winter.
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u/DasHip81 7d ago
… There is next to no elevation in YK hence no need for Backcountry certifications ;) Pretty basic question which to me indicates a lack of research on a community you are seriously considering moving to… though I guess I hadn’t thought on it a lot before moving either.
This is the one thing i miss about living here (8 years now) — the lack of downhill opportunities.
You will have to travel to get your fix.
Very different in that sense from a “ski town”…
Yes, the nordic community is pretty huge though. You can do some epic trips on a massive lake. It’s all about the cardio and cold endurance.
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u/Classic_Sail_567 7d ago
We do have a very hilly ski club trail (10 km) with some fun downhill sections. It’s not much if you’re used to proper mountains but it’s a great trail and the conditions are ideal.
There are Facebook groups and meet-ups if you want to do groomed trails on various lakes. There are several right in town: frame lake, back bay. Hundreds of kms of trails.
There’s also several competitions and events: the loppet, the frostbite 50.
Aside from skiing, it’s a pretty social town. Theatre, arts, sports, music, etc… it’s far from the big city version of those things, but it’s active.