 Poster: A snowHead
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Thinking of going big, by my standards, next season. Looking to book somewhere in Canada late January 2018. Having never neen, never even looked into going before, I know nothing. Where should I be looking?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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How long are you going for?
There's quite a few threads on here that deals with this but I'd say do a road trip for a couple of weeks taking in Fernie for sure then really depends on what you want.
One thing though, plan for it being cold...really cold, like -25 to 30 cold. I've been twice now in the last 3 years and love 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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@scotspikey, what kind of skiing?
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@scotspikey, You say most snow sure in the title. Is that the main criteria?
I know nothing about the East side of the country and have only been a few times to the West. On the West side are the rockies, quite close to the coast.The closer to the coast you are the warmer it is likely to be but the more precipitation, note precipitation is not necessarily snow. The further inland you go the colder it gets, but the less precipitation.
Banff is an easy and great option. Good town to be based in, lots of non ski activities if required, restaurants etc. Baltic cold in January so what falls from the skies stays in great shape for weeks. 3 ski areas (well 2 1/2) to explore. Bus ride to the hills.
Fernie I Liked too. Cool little town and a really fun ski hill - do be wary that in a poor year it can rain at the lower level - last season they were talking about closing in early Feb!!!
Revelstoke - epic hill, town not so 'touristy'.
My next trip in a few years I'm looking at a couple of weeks split between Red Mountain and Whitewater.
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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're looking for pretty much guaranteed snow you are probably best heading for somewhere like Sunshine. But, as others have said, it very much depends on how long you are going for, and what kind of skiing you are looking for. I spent most of a season in Fernie so will be biased but would go back there without a second thought even though it does look like it is getting more mixed weather of recent years.
Equally, if you get the chance and are a decent enough skier, then Red Mountain should be on your list without doubt. You can't beat a good BC road trip after all, driving across the likes of Rogers Pass or Salmo Creston for me is all part of the experience.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I've only been to Banff (Lake Louise/Sunshine Village) but have been 4x and would be happy to go again. And again.
I hear good things about Big White; smaller than the above, but at least you can ski in/out.
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Big White is excellent. I've been there, fernie, sun peaks, whistler, panorama, sunshine, lake louise, tremblant, Stoneham, mont ste anne.
I would stick to the rockies . If you fancy whistler don't book till you see what the snow is like. It can be epic but last year was disastrous ...we cancelled. Of the rest sun peaks is pretty easy skiing, fernie and panorama are more gnarly.
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We have been to Big White, Silver Star, Revelstoke, Panorama, Banff, lake Louise, Sunshine, Sun Peaks and Whistler, usually between 3rd week in Jan 1st week in march. Never had a problem with snow, except when driving. Look on resort web sites now as some resorts are open until Tuesday. Then you can look at the web came and snow levels.
Lift passes if you're going to be in one resort for a week or more look at the price of early bird season passes.
As that will give 25% of day tickets at other resorts. Sun peaks pass gives you 50% off at Whistler and 25% at other resorts. Most accommodation is not available to book for next season yet.
Apartments are the normally very well equipped hot tubs, BBQ's full kitchen, washers and dryers TVs DVD players WiFi. Some resorts ski in ski out.
Fly out to either Calgary or Vancouver then either drive get a 4x4 or fly to smaller airport and get a shuttle bus.
Lift queues are organised runs can be empty if it's in bounds with no hazards you can ski.
Restaurants close early wine and beer are expensive and can not buy them in supermarkets only in a liquor store.
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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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| holidayloverxx wrote: |
Big White is excellent. I've been there, fernie, sun peaks, whistler, panorama, sunshine, lake louise, tremblant, Stoneham, mont ste anne.
I would stick to the rockies . If you fancy whistler don't book till you see what the snow is like. It can be epic but last year was disastrous ...we cancelled. Of the rest sun peaks is pretty easy skiing, fernie and panorama are more gnarly. |
Which bit of last year was disastrous? I was in whistler just about every weekend of the season skiing, as I recall the freezing level was a bit higher than ideal, but still a good season. This season it seems like there has been powder every week (including this one).
That said a road trip would be great. Be aware though that Canada is a big place and driving in winter can be tough.
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@stuarth, was it the season before I mean? Perhaps it was.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Sun peaks is the second largest resort in Canada and is more snow reliable than Whistler.
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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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Except Whistler gets twice as much snow and has a glacier. It all depends what you want.
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On the OP: any of the big places close to an international airport will be fine. Don't sign up for two weeks at a tiny place in the back of beyond as if you're unlucky there'll be no fresh snow or it will get rained on or both and then you'll get bored with the one decent restaurant and it'll turn out that it's not a great place for lessons (it isn't). Did someone ask "what kind of skiing"? There's a reason for that.
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Sun peaks is colder and a lot dryer. If your going in Jan try the week of the wine festival.
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You know it makes sense.
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Whistle = Sidney... strewth mate.
Read up on the lesser resorts the mega resorts get bombed and only local knowledge will get you the goods, which you won't acquire in two weeks.
Road trips are fun, jostling with speeding monster trucks on a snow packed Highway 1, at night, in a storm, more of an adrenal hit than a heli bump pillow line for the uninitiated.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Poster: A snowHead
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pinhead, Used a Lake Louise card this year on our roadtrip, well worth it tbh with the savings made, so long as you plan it ok. Remember to buy it early though if you want one. Couple that with discounts from accommodation/and liftopia, ticket prices aren't so eye watering.
The 1900 miles rolled by easily too, considering the amounts of snow we encountered while skiing 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Options:
Whistler: biggest resort in North America. Plenty of skiing to keep you busy for two weeks. Great night life. Easy transfer from Vancouver. More likelihood of fresh powder than interior and less likely to have extremely cold weather. I wouldn't worry about lack of snow, conditions were epic this year at that time, unless it's a historically bad kind of year you will be fine. Can feel a bit overly commercialised/touristy.
Banff: access to 3 resorts (lake Louise, sunshine village, and Mt norquay). Plenty of skiing to keep you busy for a 2 weeks between the 3 of them. Can be very cold. Nightlife is decent but not as lively as Whistler. Main downside is that getting from Banff to the resorts can take up to 45mins.
Powder highway: rent a car and take in a couple of resorts (revelstoke, kicking horse, fernie, panorama, Kimberley, red, whitewater). Resorts tend to be on the smaller side and see less tourists so a bit more of a Canadian feel. Big Pro is that you can storm chase for the best conditions. Price can add up (rental car, daily lift passes rather than season deal).
If you plan to do Whistler or Banff you should be looking at getting your lift pass asap for the best deal. If you get the epic pass for Whistler it gives you some free days at European resorts, which is something to consider if you wanted a weekend skiing in Europe next year too.
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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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@boarder2020, if you do the powder highway, can just rock up at a motel and get lodgings for the night?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| Gainz wrote: |
| if you do the powder highway, can just rock up at a motel and get lodgings for the night? |
Yes, easily - we've done this in the past. First time we roadtripped in BC we just booked the first and last stops - we then either just turned up or contacted them the same day or day before. This even included accommodations at the ski hills. It really is that easy and prices aren't hiked either.
Just pick where you want to ski, plan the route and check where best to stay. BTW theres no signs along the route saying powder highway 
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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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Weekends get a bit tight around Revelstoke mad amounts of slednecks.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Bones wrote: |
| BTW theres no signs along the route saying powder highway |
Indeed, I did follow some of it while travelling to KH and Panorama in March. We went through a few little towns that had some motels (though alot had no vacancy signs) it was the weekend.
Hmm food for thought then. I like the idea of chasing the pow so this is looking likely.
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Never really heard the term in BC. There's roads, some of them with snow on them.
I never had a problem finding places to stay myself, but it all depends what and where I suppose. You can always get into the two decent hotels in Kamloops for example and from there Sun Peaks and Vernon are days out. Not that there's a lot to recommend Kamloops, mind, just that it's full of places to stay. But Vernon is too. You can stay (say) in Silver Star if it's quiet (it often is). It depends what you want. Me, I have no qualms about driving around in BC/AB and making it up. I would not dare do that in Europe, which may be my ignorance or maybe it's harder there. If you want good prices maybe you'll need to work at it a bit (contacts help). If you want the best food then a bit of planning ahead helps.
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