Banff/Calgary Area Skiing--Where to go?

[jnmcarroll]

I am heading up to Banff next week and plan to get some skiing in. Sounds like there are big storms up there now so I can't wait. Last year I hit Lake Louise and Fernie. Any suggestions for this year??? Anyone skiied them recently?

Thanks!!!

 

[cyn]

Lake Louise and Sunshine are both pretty good. Sunshine can get a bit hairy above treeline when the visibility is poor. You can always ski Goat's Eye (lower) when it does, though.

Here's our strategy for Sunshine: You have to park, then take the tram up to the base. The lot gets crazy and you have a long trek unless you get there early. We get there by 8 and have breakfast and change BEFORE getting on the tram. That way we get a great parking spot.

Sunshine is also interesting, and is our choice for low vis days.

We've stayed in Banff and Lake Louise and liked Buffalo Mountain Lodge in Banff better.

 

[Slidergirl]

If you don't want to fight the road and parking lot at Sunshine, there are buses from Banff and Calgary that go there. If you search the Web, I'm sure you can find info on them.
If the weather is good, you could also try Kicking Horse, down the Trans-Can from Lake Louise. It's a 1.5 hr drive from Banff. I just wouldn't want to travel that part of the road when the weather is bad. You could do KH as a day trip from Banff.
Now, I haven't skied either place, but I've driven to them while I was in Calgary for some bobsled/skeleton races. So, I know they are doable as daytrips from Calgary. Both looked interesting enough that I'd consider skiing them if I was going up to Alberta for skiing.

 

[geargrrl]

Can you make the trek over to Kicking Horse in Golden?

 

[Spillips]

I'd try and get out to kicking horse if you can (that's what I'm doing!) If you don't have winter tires though I wouldn't chance it, the road is supposed to be in terrible shape after Lake Louise.

Otherwise Sunshine or the Lake will be great! My advice is if vis is poor at the shine, stay away from divide chair and hit Wawa/Standish until the line gets ridiculous and then head down to Goat's Eye.

 

[Christy]

The main article in the NY Times travel section last Sunday was on skiing in the Banff area. It will be online.

 

[Bumblebee]

Lake Louise got 22" of powder on Tuesday I think it was - insane amounts! I've skiied 12 weeks in the Banff area and Lake Louise is by far my favourite - it really does have something for everyone.

Goat's Eye Mountain at Sunshine is also great and with the dumps they've been having there should be no rocks this time of year like there sometimes can be.

Kicking Horse is great but it's a heck of a STEEP hill - intermediates may not be able to happily use the top half of the mountain - even the greens there can be rough! You can get on the powder express for usually about 90$ CAD from Banff which includes the lift ticket of course. It's Roger's Pass which is supposed to be difficult - but if it's blocked they won't let anyone through - let the bus driver take the strain. I saw my first real, live moose driving up to KH!

 

[Slidergirl]

I'd try and get out to kicking horse if you can (that's what I'm doing!) If you don't have winter tires though I wouldn't chance it, the road is supposed to be in terrible shape after Lake Louise.

Otherwise Sunshine or the Lake will be great! My advice is if vis is poor at the shine, stay away from divide chair and hit Wawa/Standish until the line gets ridiculous and then head down to Goat's Eye.

They have been working on improving that section of the Trans-Can. I'm not sure how far they have finished. I always see a few mountain sheep along that stretch of highway, even had to stop for one to cross the road!

 

[oragejuice]

Ahh!! All this talk of Banff! Gosh, I want to go so bad! Heard amazing things about Kicking Horse too.

 

[Slidergirl]

I gotta say, Banff and the surrounding area is one of my favorite places in the world. Before the divorce, my ex and I had bought half a duplex in Canmore. Canmore is just outside the Banff Nat'l Park boundary. It's another cool little town. We were going to temporarily rent it out as long term rental, then when we retired, we'd use it as one of our residences (but only as long as the Canadian gov't would allow for vacationers). Alas, the house fell prey to the divorce and we sold it. I'll still go up and visit at least once a year.

 

[geargrrl]

They have been working on improving that section of the Trans-Can. I'm not sure how far they have finished. I always see a few mountain sheep along that stretch of highway, even had to stop for one to cross the road!

I have a funny story about the stretch of road down to Golden. We vacation in Canada a lot: skiing in the winter, camping and whitewater in the summer.

There is a spot along that canyon where there is a big spring pouring out of a pipe. There is a pullout right off the highway, visible from the road, and water trucks can drive right under it to fill up. Well, we'd been back road camping for about 10 days - you have to picture a filthy SUV with four bikes on the back, loaded to the brim with camping gear, the family, the dog....

So DH pulls under it, drives back and forth, essentially rinsing the dirt off the car. We get some really crazy looks from other people on the highway. One load of looky-lous just stops and stares, so DH says, "man, I LOVE these Canadian car washes...."...

Now I am not sure how DH knew about this thing, he had discovered it on one of his boating adventures.

As for Kicking Horse, oh what fun! 4000 feet of vertical and an 11 minute gondola ride. You can get a lot of runs in. But ya, not much on top for lower level skiers.

Come to think of it, my avatar pic is from KH.

 

[Slidergirl]

That is too funny :ROTF:

 

[geargrrl]

we have SO many(true) crazy stories from Canada. The people are super friendly and really know how to have a good time.

 

[Trixie]

Lake Louise!! It's my home hill (I was born in Banff), and they've been getting tons of snow. Head up the Summit platter first thing in the morning, take a few warm-up runs down Outer Limits, Whitehorn 1, and Boomerang, then head right in to the Alphabet Chutes (they gave them new names, but they are steeps right off the back of the Summit) before they get tracked out. Then speed across the flats to Paradise Chair, go up and back to the Summit. Repeat! Also hit the ER runs, especially ER 7 if the snow cover looks good (to find this out, head down Saddleback and look back up when you get to the bottom. The "run" right ahead of you is ER 7).
Sunshine gets good snow, but the terrain can be boring. Short runs and weird fall lines. Lots of flats.
Kicking Horses is a ways away, especially if you are travelling from Calgary. There is also the risk of highway closures too.
Have fun!!!

 

[jnmcarroll]

Thanks everyone for all of your advice-what an awesome group of women! I can't wait to get on the road. This will be my 4th trip to Banff and the beauty never fails to take my breath away. One of the trips we actually stayed in Canmore during the summer and spent a week hiking for our anniversary--amazing!

"man, I LOVE these Canadian car washes...."

That was a great story! Thanks for sharing--I laughed so hard.

We've stayed in Banff and Lake Louise and liked Buffalo Mountain Lodge in Banff better.

I checked this out online and it looks like a great place--kind of rustic luxury. My husband's company puts us up at the Fairmont Banff Springs during his meetings, but I don't think I want to pay those prices the days we are skiing all day. If we end up staying around Banff to ski, this looks like a great option. Thanks for the recommendation.

Last year Lake Louise hadn't had snow in over a week when we went, so the conditions were pretty icy. I was so excited to see all of the snow dumping there last week, but it seems to have stopped. The other girls that I ski with while my dh is in meetings usually like Lake Louse the best, so I am sure we will hit that at least one day. I will print out everyones recommendations, so I have mountain attack strategies for wherever we end up.

We had a great time with fresh powder at Fernie on the way home last year. That was my first time skiing a bowl above the tree line--what a great experience. I think the ski days with dh after his conference is over will depend on where the most freshies are. He is a huge powder hound and has always wanted to hit Kicking Horse. So maybe I can talk him into something new this year?! I will write a little trip report when we return.

 

[Slidergirl]

we have SO many(true) crazy stories from Canada. The people are super friendly and really know how to have a good time.

I absolutely agree with you about the friendliness of the Canadians! I've worked with the Canadian skeleton team in the past and still consider them good friends. It never mattered what track we went to, if they were there, they made sure to say "hello". They made me an honorary Canadian. Even this past week, we had a Jr. women's GS race series here at PCMR. The girls from Whistler were the most polite girls there. We talked a little while they were waiting at my lift - how much I like Canada, and Vancouver. Just nice folks.

 

[Trixie]

I forgot to add, if you ever wanted to stay closer to Lake Louise, check out Baker Creek Chalets (www.bakercreek.com). They are awesome! And only like 11km east of Lake Louise resort. The people who run the place are great and the cabins are very cozy!