Forbidden Plateau - The Lost Resorts, Episode 22

Once regarded as the best of Vancouver Island's ski resorts, the storied legacy of Forbidden Plateau dates all the way back to 1946. Though today, the mountain is devoid of any infrastructure, a few decades ago, it was the site of a busy ski resort. In this video, we’ll embark on a comprehensive journey, tracing the complete evolution of Forbidden Plateau, from its humble beginnings to its rise, subsequent decline, and ultimate closure.
The Lost Resorts is a weekly video series that focuses on the history of lost ski resorts in North America. New episodes release every Thursday at 5:15am MST (unless otherwise notified). Join me as we take a look at the lost resorts of North America.
Forbidden Plateau (British Columbia) Information:
Years of Operation: 1946-1999
Run Count: 18-22
Lifts: 1 Double (GMD Mueller), 3 T-Bars (GMD Mueller), Rope Tows
Music by Artlist.io, ‪@LAKEYINSPIRED‬

[@stickynorth]

Another great video as always... With the sheer number of unbuilt ski hill proposals you could do an entire series on that alone! I had no idea of the Coronation Mtn near Ladysmith proposal for example...

[@user-ko8qb4rg1m]

Outstanding ⛷️

[@ErikaNast-ne8zj]

Thank you so much for this! Yes, it's unfortunate that Forbidden failed. My mother skied it when it was popular and I skied it the last couple of years it was open. Yes, Mount Washington was a competition but Forbidden was a cheap alternative for families or new skiers. A couple of comments. I seem to remember that some time after the lodge burnt down there was environmental issues with gas/oil underground leakage. Regardless of those factors, unfortunately I think Forbidden's misfortune is it's lower elevation than Mt. Washington. Thanks so much for your vids!

[@danielledumont6536]

I learned how to ski there. Loved it. Even when Washington opened I still skied there.

[@mountainhigh4084]

Great video! Brings back fond memories of the only decent ski hill on Vancouver Island until Mt Washington opened. Big snowfalls at Mount Washington trumped poor old Forbidden

[@icemanfogarty2866]

Great video, one note that the first year the Chair lift was installed there was a malfunction break down while it was in operation and full. Skiers were lowered by ropes from the chairs. I was in a low enough spot that I jumped off.

[@Disrtict6]

Todd? do you remember what speeds folks where clocked at when RCMP speed checked the Kandahar?

[@Disrtict6]

Bool here, hung out with Troy in the early '80s havent skied in decades, sorry :(

[@ibstryder4736]

I did ski Forbidden Plattoe

[@carterhobson310]

Great video! Where did you find all the historical images for this episode? I have done a fair bit of research around Forbidden Plateau and love to hear more about the history!

[@Skier72]

Appreciate it! I find the photos in a lot of different places, lots on Facebook, Flickr, or even archive.org can be useful.

[@primodeelux]

I miss my old ski hill. I worked in rentals over the ‘90’s. Boneshaker was most consistently steep until they put in the Cardiac Express which was a black run south of Boston. They were the first to allow snowboarding on the slopes of any Vancouver Island ski resort and even tried a couple summer season’s opening to mountain biking. This in my opinion is where Forbidden really could have been successful as the dirt is far superior to that of Mount Washington which is quite rocky.

[@Disrtict6]

I worked at Ski Tak Hut in '89 and occasionally did a shift at FP rentals. [same owners] We stood in pits to adjust bindings, and one day of group of kids with downs syndrome came in. One kid was 6' and about 250. He lost balance and kicked me in the head with a size 13 nordica - I saw stars.

[@qmoneymax]

I would love if you could cover Mt.Washington BC history and all the chairs that have been on thare I ski on it a lot and wonder what it was like 2 or 3 decades ago

[@Disrtict6]

The first few years with 2 [green and blue] and 3[added red] chairs had brutal 45 min line-ups on weekends!

[@JamesRegister-np7gn]

They shouldn't have removed the chairlift in my opinion, because it was literally a staple of abandoned ski lifts and abandoned ski resorts in British Columbia. Forbidden Plateau is the the flagship of abandoned ski resorts in BC, and the most famous one in the district.

[@Skier72]

The chairlift likely became a safety hazard sitting out there. From what I have seen, multiple towers had the line de-roped, yet the entire lift was still under counterweight tension. If that tension ever broke with someone hiking underneath, it would have ended badly.

[@JamesRegister-np7gn]

Who would go directly underneath an abandoned ski lift. ALSO, THAT WOYLD HAVE ONLY JUSTIFIED THE REMOVAL OF THE ROPE AND CHAIRS, NOT THE TOWERS. IVE NEVER SEEN AN ABANDONED CHAIRLIFT TOWER COLLAPSE, AND THE CHAIRLIFT WAS IN GOOD CONDITION WHEN IT WAS REMOVED, MINUS THE ROPE. THE ONLY SKI LIFT TOWER THAT I KNOW COLLAPSED WAS A IG GONDOLA TOWER AT SUPER SAINT BERNARD IN THE AODTA VALLEY IN SWITZERLAND

[@utahlostskiareas2036]

@@JamesRegister-np7gn From what I understand, Forbidden Plateau was converted into a provincial park after the existing infrastructure was practically unusable. The remains of the various buildings reportedly had lots of graffiti and the lift was deemed inoperable by the Reclamation Society. As much as I love abandoned lifts, the decision to remove the chairlift was not a bad move. I have also read that Mueller footings were not up to modern bolting standard and that may have also led to the decision to remove the towers themselves.

[@Skier72]

@@JamesRegister-np7gn Okay but for most people, abandoned Mueller lattice towers on the mountainside would be seen as an eyesore. It would only be a very small handful of people who would actually understand the history behind that. As for who would go directly beneath an abandoned ski lift... you don't think that people ever cross under on hiking trails? The double at Forbidden did not age well considering there were multiple deropements over the past 20 years (contrast that to the lifts at Fortress). If the lift was left up for another 10 years, how much worse would it get? Do you really think that the provincial government wants that liability on the mountain??

[@primodeelux]

@@JamesRegister-np7gn The main skin track crosses underneath the liftline in 2 spots. Coming downhill, there are multiple areas to cross underneath. Same thing applies for summer activities.

[@Adamslowsis]

Just a heads up for if you ever cover Mt Washington in its own video, Comox is pronounced 'Komocks', not 'cumeau'.

[@Skier72]

Noted, thank you!

[@JamesRegister-np7gn]

Thanks for the info, the big gondola tower at super saint Bernard was the only ski lift tower I know collapsed, and at the time of the lifts removals, the chairlift was in good condition. They should've kept the towers at forbidden plateau's chairlift, because it was the main staple of lost ski areas in BC

[@primodeelux]

…and Mt. Becher is pronounced ‘Beacher’

[@ulrikeschmidt4291]

btw Becher is pronounced Beetcher!

[@FareedFaghih]

Hey creator, I just watched a few of these. They were great. A few things, please clearly explain and show on the map where the resort is or was exactly. I actually drove past this spot many times when I lived in Sacramento and had no idea. Could you do an episode on how the summit at Snoqualmie came to be since it's 4 resorts. Could you also explain about the closed old lodge at Stevens pass at yodelin (2 or 3 miles down us2 from Stevens pass) and that ski area. Keep up the good vids in 2024!

[@tonyjofenig6833]

FYI, it is pronounced "kow-maaks" Comox

[@deanallen8450]

Seems like poor management killed Forbidden Plateau.