 Poster: A snowHead
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@stuarth, yes these were pretty beaten up! Nothing serious but the base edges had all sorts of scratches and dings on them and that was keeping my eyes peeled at all times and taking the snowiest line whereever.
Are those Ragnaroks 118 underfoot? What about the Rangers?
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Wed 8-02-23 0:18; edited 1 time in total
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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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Yes Ragnaroks are 118. Rangers are 108 (I think)
Was using the Ragnaroks at Red Mtn last week. A bit of a mix of snow there, but still work ok.
Worked really well last month at Whitewater and Big White where there was some nice pow! 
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Thanks, I’ve got a fair bit of life left in mine as I’ve done about 20 weeks on them but it is good to know what other people use with similar terrain interests/abilities!
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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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Multiple pairs of skis.... From 84 underfoot all the way to 116....
If I could only use one it'd be my pair of Rossi Soul 7 at 106. Still workable on groomers and good enough for resort powder especially in the Rockies. My 116 are touring specific for proper BC backcountry powder days.
Last edited by Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do. on Wed 8-02-23 0:25; edited 1 time in total
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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@sweaman22, which one have you taken out the most this season so far?
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Sneaky edit.
This season it's been the Volkl Kanjo 84's except for a few days at Kimberly just after Christmas where I took the Rossi's.
We're the kind of family though that can take multiple pairs of skis just to Sunshine for the day though......
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@sweaman22, you wouldn’t wear the same ones all day?
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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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I'm joking a bit but only a bit. Certainly my son will often take race skis and free skis so he doesn't wreck the former in the rocks. That's pretty normal.
I'll also sometimes take touring skis for a lap out the back of sunshine or similar and then switch to groomers at lunch time.
Most of the time it's one pair but if I'm going away for the weekend or longer they're all in the ski box.
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@sweaman22, well with a car you might as well have the choice.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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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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| Quote: |
I get where you are coming from, but I'm not sure it really helps long term. I think it just ensures that bad practices are perpetuated.
But, you are also right that it can't be fixed by making the low paid workers suffer. Instead people like me and @gryphea should not blindly accept it but be pressuring those who can fix it to do something about it (MPs, MLAs, hotel/cafe/restaurant/ski hill management, etc).
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I live in Alberta and therefore I have a lot more things to get worked up about in terms things that could do with change. The requirement to tip doesn't really feature too high up my list of things that are important to change, I just accept it and go with the flow. I even over tip sometimes so not all brits get a bad reputation, so I guess I perpetuate the system. Plus I have two teenagers and know how important the tips are to a generation that suffered the most in the pandemic. I don't see it as a good thing and I don't think its just Alberta. Its definitely the places I visit in BC too. But it exists and therefore I tip
I would draw the line at supermarket tipping though.  But then Big Sky seems a rip off for everything. We were thinking of going for a race last year and realized we couldn't afford to ski and we certainly couldn't afford to stay. One year we'll get mountain collective and go and stay off hill .
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Wow.... I wish I hadnt asked!  .
I'll tip when I get there... with cash..... and not the default on the machine
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You know it makes sense.
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So - getting away from tips! Returning to the earlier discussion about roads does anyone have any ideas what the Icefields Parkway between Banff and Jasper might be like in April. Our flights are booked and we’re planning a bit of a road trip staying in Banff, Sunshine Lodge and LL.
We were wondering about adding in Jasper/Marmot basin on the way? The advice I can find is that pretty much everything will be shut and it’s three hours without phone signal! If the road will be clear and busy that’s fine but don’t want to die alone in a snowdrift!
The flight home is evening so plenty of time to drive Jasper to Calgary the long, non mountain route
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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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| TommyJ wrote: |
| ... does anyone have any ideas what the Icefields Parkway between Banff and Jasper might be like in April. ... We were wondering about adding in Jasper/Marmot basin on the way? The advice I can find is that pretty much everything will be shut and it’s three hours without phone signal! If the road will be clear and busy that’s fine but don’t want to die alone in a snowdrift! |
Beautiful, if you're lucky. It was fine on xmas day just after a storm which closed most of everything especially aircraft - that was "packed powder" and quiet. It's not a very steep or windy route or anything like that. I drove it last March and it was nearly all bare, it'll likely be bare in April (the last time I was there then was a while back). If you're not familiar with driving on any snow you do encounter ... just take it steady and don't tailgate. It's not switchbacks and massive drop offs or anything.
Google drive times may be a bit optimistic, from a quick check. They have my regular drive (not the parkway) as 6.5 hours, where as it's more like 8 including stops. So be a bit wary of that.
You can look at the webcams to see highway conditions (although I can't find exactly what you want, maybe it's not there):
https://images.drivebc.ca/bchighwaycam/pub/html/www/index-Northern.html
Calgary airport cannot rent you a car without "Winter tires", but they will also try to scare you into paying more for "winter wheels".
It's a commission sale which I always decline.
Not sure what people think is shut. Marmot Basin isn't massive, although Jasper's quite nice and Robson is pretty etc.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@phil_w, I was thinking that about the hire cars at Calgary Airport, they must have legal tyres on them and although specific winter tyres are not mandatory between Nov and Apr in Alberta surely the vast majority of hire cars have suitable tyres on? What do you get? M+S?
What’s the extra charge for? Specific winter tyres?
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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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Does anyone know if the trail ‘Rock Garden’ in Lake Louise is open yet? It was closed when I was there (obviously).
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By ‘shut’ I think it was referring to services along the Icefields park way - like campsites, the few restaurants and the one petrol station etc
How long should I allow for driving from Lake Louise to Jasper? Presume a day should be ok?
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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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@TommyJ, I don't recall exactly how long it took when I did it 15-odd years ago, but it was all in daylight hours, so yeah, one day. I don't think we stopped at all en route either, so I'm guessing it might have been close to the three hour directions that you'll get from google and other map sites.
Quite a spectacular drive, but lonely. We did it just before xmas, -20 or lower, in just an ordinary rental car, no drama, no hassle. Yeah, I'm sure it would have had suitable tyres by default, certainly don't think we had anything extra to pay.
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| VolklAttivaS5 wrote: |
| Does anyone know if the trail ‘Rock Garden’ in Lake Louise is open yet? It was closed when I was there (obviously). |
Not surprised it wasnt when you were there, needs quite a bit of snow in it.
Always been open when we've been, mid Feb, and a fun not too challenging run - should be open next year 
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@Bones, yes it was definitely open in late Feb 2020. Think it was the first run I skied once I got to the top of Larch. Good fun and very different to what you’d find in the Alps.
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| VolklAttivaS5 wrote: |
| @Bones, yes it was definitely open in late Feb 2020. Think it was the first run I skied once I got to the top of Larch. Good fun and very different to what you’d find in the Alps. |
Fun stuff like that is one of the draws for us to ski North America, but each to their own, and wouldnt try and convince others
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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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@Bones, yes it’s a different market altogether the Alps. I like both areas for different reasons. Many of the clientele the Alps caters for would not like the skiing in North America as they would find it too challenging, there are a surprising number of people who don’t like it when it snows.
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Wheres the snow? Seems not much snow fallen lately bar odd flurries.
Hopefully it bucks the trend in two weeks time.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Seems to have been quite a bit of snow in the Banff area - 20cm in the last 24hrs
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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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For those who’ve travelled to Canada recently has anyone hired a car? Seems to be really expensive even for a fairly small car. I’ve also got confused with the insurance - what do we need? We’ve been quoted €350 for insurance, does the insurance we can take out here cover this? Apparently most Canadians are covered through their own policies so don’t need this
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Nothing they sell "at the desk" is essential, it's sold on a commission basis. They can't rent you an illegal car. Therefore it's best to sort everything out in advance, no one needs a scary pitch for commission when you're jet lagged.
The car itself is insured, it's the excess which they try to sell you additional insurance on. The size of the excess is usually about a grand. You need to use a credit card generally to cover that (they don't like debit cards). If you want to insure the excess ("collision damage waiver") then you can do that at the desk (an expensive commission based sale), or you can do it in advance from the UK via various routes. I never bother - I don't crash cars, and a grand is neither here nor there if I do. The major risk if you drive the Coquihalla is a cracked screen (because they grit the road and the traffic there is 2 lanes and quick) - I've had one in about 60 trips, and it cost about $250 for them to replace for me. If you want to insure your excess, doing it "at the desk" is the most expensive way.
You can "join" the major hire car companies for free in advance, which can help avoid the upsell business and get through the process quicker.
My xmas rental was the biggest 4wd I've ever seen with at least 6 seats, and was $100 a day. It had electric steps so you could get in. I always decline the commission sales. When I'm alone I rent the smallest thing they have: they don't have anything actually small. They usually try to sell me an upgrade, then give it to me when I politely decline. So daily costs will be less than that!
Here's a couple of shots from my xmas month this season which are typical for that time.
This was Xmas eve on Highway 5 - most airlines were shut down because of the storm.
You can get a feel for current conditions on the webcams linked above.
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You know it makes sense.
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@phil_w, good tip about booking the smallest they have when you’re alone knowing they don’t have anything that small anyway!
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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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That second pic on Highway 5 looks pretty snowy but I’ve driven in more than that in the Alps before so that fills me with more confidence. I keep imagining it to be much more challenging. At least they don’t really have windy roads there.
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Poster: A snowHead
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@phil_w, who do you usually rent through? Hertz? Dollar? Anyone in particular you prefer?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| RoamingBull wrote: |
Wheres the snow? Seems not much snow fallen lately bar odd flurries.
Hopefully it bucks the trend in two weeks time. |
Banff Sunshine app says 16cm last 24 hours 37cm in the last week.
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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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Thanks. That’s really good advice. So just to clarify - the car will have basic third party - the legal minimum??
Even if I use a UK insurer for the excess that will save loads
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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For people from the UK booking cars, have a look at Canadian Affair - I've rented a couple of times through them and their prices have been really competitive and include the highest level of insurance (so you don't need to take anything offered at the rental desk!).
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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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@SLB79, good tip thanks
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Has anyone else got any ski comments to make as I’m interested in what people use (thanks to those that have said already)
Wish I was going back to Canada this season but alas it won’t be possible until next year now.
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Re snowfall I’ve got Red and Revelstoke on Instagram as well as the Ski Big 3 resorts and Kicking Horse. Red and Revelstoke have definitely had more snow recently and from the off this year than the others have. Someone did say they do get more around that Selkirk range and I can see it for myself.
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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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| Quote: |
Red and Revelstoke on Instagram
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Never trust Instagram. At red I saw the resorts social media team hike up about 10ft above a lift to a patch of untracked snow which doesn't get any tracks because it would be 2 turns at most. Skier drops in and does a massive hockey stop kicking up loads of snow. That day the photo went up on Instagram with some tag line along the lines of "still lots of freshies to be found". Reality was it had been over a week since the last storm and everything was completely tracked out.
Not trying to pick on red, they all do it. In fact I think whistler got caught using out of bounds videos/photos in their social media.
Instagram doesn't equal reality. But that's true for more than just ski resorts.
The weird outlier for me is Rogers pass which always seems to get more snow than kicking horse and revy. Plus I suspect the reporting is more accurate there as I presume it's done by highways/government rather than a ski resort who tend to put their snow plots in "favourable" positions.
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FAQ
)
Which leads to interesting chats on the chairlifts 
) , but not bad snow.
