 Poster: A snowHead
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Has anyone been? What is it like? Got an option to go here next week but have never heard of it before now.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@ally12259, yep...loved it. Not much in the village though
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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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Great spot. Lots of lift accessed freeride areas that used to be heli-ski only areas. Can get windy which causes it to be icy sometimes. Still has a heli ski operation in town that does single days. The food in the heli Lodge was great. Village has nice outdoor pools but only a couple of restaurants, bars and takeaways. We did it as a 2 centra with Banff, I'd definitely go back. The apartments we had were great.
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ally12259, Yes, stopped off there on the back of a roadtrip in 2020.
Some good terrain, especially if you dont mind a hike - mountain layout is a bit weird in places, base area totally purpose built and you are a captive audience if staying there.
Having a vehicle we atayed in Invermere, cracking deal too, and so able to mix things up a bit.
If you have cheapish deal whats not to like - bit further off the beaten track then Banff, Fairmont hot Springs just down the road too.
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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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How far is Fairmont?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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ally12259, From Invermere around 15 minutes or so, down the highway IIRC
Decent Hot Springs, - take a towel though. You can rent them if you dont, views of the Rockies while swimming, relaxing, in hot springs 
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@ally12259, it’s good, lots of free ride terrain, enough there for a week so I’d go
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Thanks for the advice
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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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Did a day there from Banff a few years ago.
Purpose built base up an otherwise empty side valley 12 miles from the town of Invermere. Usual friendly Canadian hospitality.
It is just one mountain, not many lifts, the lower part is pretty tame, but there are multiple ways off the summit and associated ridges. Most are unpisted, so if you can cope with steeps and deep (after snowfall), you could have a lot of fun.
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| luigi wrote: |
Did a day there from Banff a few years ago.
Purpose built base up an otherwise empty side valley 12 miles from the town of Invermere. Usual friendly Canadian hospitality.
It is just one mountain, not many lifts, the lower part is pretty tame, but there are multiple ways off the summit and associated ridges. Most are unpisted, so if you can cope with steeps and deep (after snowfall), you could have a lot of fun. |
It is the only option I have just now.
Not sure if there are any other resorts close by?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| ally12259 wrote: |
| luigi wrote: |
Did a day there from Banff a few years ago.
Purpose built base up an otherwise empty side valley 12 miles from the town of Invermere. Usual friendly Canadian hospitality.
It is just one mountain, not many lifts, the lower part is pretty tame, but there are multiple ways off the summit and associated ridges. Most are unpisted, so if you can cope with steeps and deep (after snowfall), you could have a lot of fun. |
It is the only option I have just now.
Not sure if there are any other resorts close by? |
Canadian Rockies are a big empty wilderness, it will blow your mind. The view of 1000 peaks from the top of Panorama is unbelievable, miles and miles of snowy mountain wilderness.
There's Kicking Horse to the north, Kimberley to the South and Lake Louise & Banff-Sunshine to the East. They are all 80+miles, so transport will be an issue.
I got a free shuttle bus from Banff to Panorama which must have been subsidised by Panorama to pull in more skiers, but not sure if it works the other way around. It was about a 2 hr drive each way.
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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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I liked it, haven't been for a while though. Check current snow conditions as always.
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The bus from Banff to Panoroma is a day trip bus yes but they aren’t running it this season (again).
The bus from Banff to Kicking Horse is running but that doesn’t stop at Panorama so that would be no use to the OP.
There’s enough in Panorama to keep most skiers entertained for a week.
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You know it makes sense.
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| VolklAttivaS5 wrote: |
The bus from Banff to Panoroma is a day trip bus yes but they aren’t running it this season (again).
The bus from Banff to Kicking Horse is running but that doesn’t stop at Panorama so that would be no use to the OP.
There’s enough in Panorama to keep most skiers entertained for a week. |
So there should be enough for an advanced skier and a novice for a week?
What’s the nightlife like?
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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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A very old friend of mine, and his wife (Phil and Clare Marshall), run a ski lodge in Panorama. Earl Grey Lodge.
https://www.earlgreylodge.com/
There are a few videos of the resort on their website. Super friendly people, if you’re looking for somewhere to stay 
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Poster: A snowHead
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really enjoyed Panorama. The ski school worked well for the kids they progressed welll and, did some great tuition to tree skiing. Lovelly freeride area, just ski anywhere. Pretty quiet village, with a couple of resturants. I've been back a couple times as part of 10 day trip so it must be god.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| ally12259 wrote: |
| VolklAttivaS5 wrote: |
The bus from Banff to Panoroma is a day trip bus yes but they aren’t running it this season (again).
The bus from Banff to Kicking Horse is running but that doesn’t stop at Panorama so that would be no use to the OP.
There’s enough in Panorama to keep most skiers entertained for a week. |
So there should be enough for an advanced skier and a novice for a week?
What’s the nightlife like? |
Advanced skier-yes if you like free ride powder stashes and glades there’s yups. They have a CAT ski up there as well for one bit you can pay separately for, it’s not very expensive.
Novice skier-yes it’s tame pistes down the bottom so there’s enough for them.
Nightlife, don’t think there is any it’s a family place, there’s some bars/restaurants down the bottom but it’s not what I’d call ‘nightlife’
Have a look at the piste map online.
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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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It must be alright as I wanted to do a day trip there again when I’m in Banff but the bus isn’t running this season (again). I was disappointed by that. I could hire a car from Banff.
You could hire a car if you wanted to from Invermere but in a week you will have plenty to do at Panorama so I wouldn’t bother. What with having a novice with you I expect you will be skiing around on easy pistes after they’ve done their lessons?
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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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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@luigi wrote:
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I did find Panorama a bit icy lower down
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It is a bit warmer than Sunshine Village, but at this time of year that's definitely a plus - I think you'd be unlucky to have that sort of issue in Jan.
IMO the quality of grooming is better than almost every resort I have ever been to.
I'm fortunate to have a friend who moved there a couple of years ago, so am lucky enough to have been a couple of times.
As well as Tynton Bowl (which is really great in-boundary off-piste), more than enough lot of groomed runs for a week, they have some great mogul'd trails too.
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Skied there Christmas eve and it was great. There has been some weird warm weather though since and I suspect its icier. I like Pano. Some varied terrain and , unlike most resorts in western Canada, some more interesting hut type restaurants on mountain. We have place in Invermere, which is a nice small town and so are pretty familiar with the area. The Whiteways on the lakes (Lillian and Invermere) are worth a visit if conditions are good, but today they weren't. The route from Calgary to Panorama is a pretty spectacular drive through Kootenay national park. If you aheva car its worth doing some local exploring. We were at Wilmer wetlands yesterday. It was stunning and saw bald eagles and tonnes of elk on the frozen surface, then climbing a bank, wilderbeest migration style. You can see sheep (bighorns) in radium often.
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| Quote: |
I did find Panorama a bit icy lower down
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Western Canada ice (ie packed powder) or Alps' ice (ie ice rink)?? 
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