 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi All,
Maybe a silly question to some of you, but I thought I'd ask just to be sure considering I will be traveling far.
I am planning on heading to Canada for a month over December 2017, and was planning on working in a week ski trip in the Banff area (Sunshine Village). I know it snows earlier in Canada than in Europe, but in general how are the snow conditions and the snow reliability at Sunshine Village during mid - late December?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Same as the length of a piece of string?
Sunshine always used to get away with having no snow cannon because they always had enough snow (and they had enough north facing terrain). I'm not sure if they are holding that now.
It's as reliable as anywhere else, which doesn't tell you much. This season should be generally good, although it all depends how the storms move through there. You're well placed to get to many other places anyway, so I'd not worry about it.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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I've been in January twice and crap conditions both times. One time there was more snow in Heathrow that there was in Banff, but obviously that isn't usually the case. I would love to go back in a better season.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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If you can't get to Sunshine, get to Louise with cannon?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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December is still early season conditions at Sunshine. However, that can be good snow, but the cover may be a little thin with the occasional rock. Typically Goat's Eye will not be open and the ski out is unlikely to be open..
This year is really good early season (opening day earliest for 29 years or something) and I have had a few good days there already. This is despite the fact that its pretty bad everywhere else in the Bow Valley.
Sunshine has one or two portable cannons; they use them on the ski out and there was one last weekend on Wawa.
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Sunshine certainly used to boast 100% real snow but as stated they have a couple of cannons which are used early season round the village and ski out. Everyone I've been there in winter and spring there's no sign of snowmakng, and plenty of snow. I believe it's to do with being in a national park, they aren't allowed major snow making installations, or to take water from the mountain or something like that.
Either way I'd have thought Sunshine would be a fairly safe bet to get some skiing in December. The resort usually opens mid November and most years there seems to be plenty open by Dec
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TommyJ, Not too sure about the fact it being in a National Park - Mt. Norquay has plenty of snow cannon and its in the park too. Sunshine does sit on the continental divide though creating some great snow at times.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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musher:-Banff isn't a ski resort anyway, so lack of snow there is of no consequence. Really don't understand why UK ski TO's continue to sell it as such. It's a good 25 mins from Sunshine and 45-50 from Lake Louise. It's just a dormitory town and actually gets way more visitors in summer than winter. Having said that Sunshine is usually reliable and good fun to ski.
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musher:-Banff isn't a ski resort anyway, so lack of snow there is of no consequence. Really don't understand why UK ski TO's continue to sell it as such. It's a good 25 mins from Sunshine and 45-50 from Lake Louise. It's just a dormitory town and actually gets way more visitors in summer than winter. Having said that Sunshine is usually reliable and good fun to ski.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Thanks for the feedback everyone 
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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@Old Man Of Lech,
What I mean was there was little snow in the satellite resorts of LL, MN & SV. The only people who care about snow in Banff are langlaufers.
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@TommyJ,
Lake Louise also make a lot of snow and is in the National Park. I know they do have procedures to go through in terms of the additives.
I suspect at Sunshine its that the driver isn't really there; they have a very effective harvesting program and they don't have easy access to a large water supply
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FAQ
Plenty higher up but lower slopes the base isn't enough to move all the equipment.
