Banff 2022

[santacruz skier]

And I live in the "west" and have been traveling to ski since the mid 80's.....

 

[ilovepugs]

I don't really take ski trips since I moved to Boulder, but you all are really making me want to go to Banff. What a gorgeous area.

Notwithstanding my excellent host in Summit County, I do loooooove Banff much more than the Front Range. And shoulder season skiing here is awesome.


(Mom having the time of her life at the top of Lake Louise gondola)

 

[ilovepugs]

Right? I've traveled to ski 2x since moving out west. Here's a compromise: go in the summer.

Go in September and avoid the crowds!

 

[VickiK]

I'm feeling a little jelly too. Looks beautiful!

 

[Après Skier]

Wow! Looks amazing! I now have a new “must see” resort added to my list.
Any thoughts on a car-free trip to Banff? I’ve found information about the airport shuttles from Calgary and ski shuttles from Banff to Sunshine/Louise. I’m just wondering how enjoyable this would be. In my experiences, some ski areas are car-free bliss (e.g. Aspen) while at others are better experienced with a car.

 

[Jilly]

September is great. I was out in early October for a wedding back in 2019. You needed a down sweater where Mama @ilovepugs is standing in that picture. The Aspen were just starting to turn.

I'm in Florida right now and we were all excited to see dolphins today. The locals are are like...what? But then like @Jenny , they haven't seen moose or bears and we have.

@ilovepugs - take Mom to tea at the Banff Springs!!

As for transportation - Brewster is the bus that runs to Canmore and Banff from Calgary Airport. Once in Banff, depending on where you stay, you can walk to mostly everything in town. Skiing you will need the local shuttles. Very easy really.

 

[ilovepugs]

Wow! Looks amazing! I now have a new “must see” resort added to my list.
Any thoughts on a car-free trip to Banff? I’ve found information about the airport shuttles from Calgary and ski shuttles from Banff to Sunshine/Louise. I’m just wondering how enjoyable this would be. In my experiences, some ski areas are car-free bliss (e.g. Aspen) while at others are better experienced with a car.

I think car free is totally doable and probably preferable in-ski-season either staying in Canmore (lots of rental condos), in Banff or at Lake Louise. With the shoulder season, not as easy because shuttles seem to be pretty infrequent. In-ski-season, I think that all of the random side adventures that our group has had may be less accessible given road conditions, although I’m not certain.

Next year during the week of Diva West, Dr. Pugs has a conference at Lake Louise. I’ve never been to Taos, but since his work is paying for accommodations at the Chateau Fairmont at Lake Louise, I think it’s a no-brainer to tag along.

On the ski trip report piece… Dr Pugs and Mr Jenny egged me (and Jenny) into going down a black diamond run with lil bumps on it. This was after Jenny accidentally tricked me into going down a different black diamond groomer. I made it in one piece, woohoo!!!! Way to send off the ski season!

…. I think my skiing may be starting to catch up with my snowboarding, although it’s maybe not as automatic yet.

 

[ilovepugs]

@ilovepugs - take Mom to tea at the Banff Springs!!

I wanted to take her to tea overlooking Lake Louise, but the logistics didn’t work out. Alas!

 

[santacruz skier]

I had a massage at the Banff Springs Hotel after a day of skiing. Lovely!

 

[Jenny]

Did you get your sticky toffee pudding too?

As @ilovepugs said, we did. It was pretty good, but it didn’t have the caramel sauce that I love so much. This one was topped with sort of a crème brûlée type of topping.

 

[Jenny]

Wow! Looks amazing! I now have a new “must see” resort added to my list.
Any thoughts on a car-free trip to Banff? I’ve found information about the airport shuttles from Calgary and ski shuttles from Banff to Sunshine/Louise. I’m just wondering how enjoyable this would be. In my experiences, some ski areas are car-free bliss (e.g. Aspen) while at others are better experienced with a car.

We've done car-free twice and it works just fine. You just don’t have the option to go exploring is all. But the shuttle from the airport to Banff is easy, and the shuttles from Banff to the mountains are easy, too. Late season, the schedule changes and there aren’t nearly as many of them, either.

Overall, I think I like having the car better, but only because then I don’t have to pay attention to schedules.

 

[Jenny]

On the ski trip report piece… Dr Pugs and Mr Jenny egged me (and Jenny) into going down a black diamond run with lil bumps on it. This was after Jenny accidentally tricked me into going down a different black diamond groomer.

“Tricked” is an ugly word - I didn’t realize you were following me. And as I recall it, it was peer pressure from you that made me go down the scraped up bump run! I was still 50/50 on stepping it back up to the other run when you committed, lol!

It was actually all fine, and rather a success for us both. We’d been down that particular run a couple of times on Wednesday, when the bumps were soft and plentiful, but I think @ilovepugs was on her snowboard then, and today she was on skis. I will say, despite my misgivings today, I think I’ve actually learned something about the bumps, because I did turn and stop where I planned to, the whole way down, and there was no skittering fast all the way over to the other side of the run before I could stop, all the while chanting obscenities.

Two Divas!


Two Diva Dudes!


Me and Mr. Jenny on the final ride down from the mountain on our final day of the 2021-2022 season. We look happy, because this was a great week, but inside we were a little bit sad.


Just a short walk from the condo in Canmore.


There has been much discussion about both off-ski-season trips to Banff, and making this an annual event.

What a way to end the season!

 

[Après Skier]

Such beautiful photos! It was a real pleasure reading about your trip. I had a crap week but every time I looked onto the Ski Diva I couldn’t help but smile. And thank you sharing your thoughts about a car-free trip. I’m a nervous Nellie when it comes to driving on icy mountain roads.

 

[ilovepugs]

Such beautiful photos! It was a real pleasure reading about your trip. I had a crap week but every time I looked onto the Ski Diva I couldn’t help but smile. And thank you sharing your thoughts about a car-free trip. I’m a nervous Nellie when it comes to driving on icy mountain roads.

At this time of year, the roads are clear, and uncleared roads are closed. Easy peasy. Agree that rental cars in the winter without proper snow tires can be scary!

 

[ilovepugs]

“Tricked” is an ugly word - I didn’t realize you were following me. And as I recall it, it was peer pressure from you that made me go down the scraped up bump run! I was still 50/50 on stepping it back up to the other run when you committed, lol!

That’s why I said you “accidentally” tricked me, haha! I thought we were sticking together. NBD and I clearly made it down that run with aplomb.

I take no responsibility for the so-called peer pressure… I trust that you are capable of making your own comfort and risk assessment. And you totally kicked ass, so whatevs.

 

[Christy]

At this time of year, the roads are clear, and uncleared roads are closed. Easy peasy. Agree that rental cars in the winter without proper snow tires can be scary!

When I went a few years ago they asked if I wanted to upgrade to a car with snow tires, so that's an option.

 

[Jilly]

I usually go for a compact SUV. Last time out it was a RAV 4.

 

[Jenny]

We had a RAV4 this time, AWD, and no chain anxiety at this time of year.

Also, @Jilly - I'd have been just as excited to see dolphins as I was a bear.

 

[Jenny]

That’s why I said you “accidentally” tricked me, haha! I thought we were sticking together. NBD and I clearly made it down that run with aplomb.

I take no responsibility for the so-called peer pressure… I trust that you are capable of making your own comfort and risk assessment. And you totally kicked ass, so whatevs.

 

[Jenny]

Such beautiful photos! It was a real pleasure reading about your trip. I had a crap week but every time I looked onto the Ski Diva I couldn’t help but smile. And thank you sharing your thoughts about a car-free trip. I’m a nervous Nellie when it comes to driving on icy mountain roads.

Glad we could help brighten your week!