 Poster: A snowHead
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I'll have a couple of free days in Banff this weekend! Quite keen to spend them skiing.... Any advice on how conditions are at the moment, and where I should head? Probably looking to ski mostly on groomed runs, but otherwise completely flexible.
It looks like the top options are Sunshine Village and Lake Louise. Any preferences? Where would be good areas to head for in each of them?
I guess I'll head out pretty early to maximise the time on the mountain before it gets too slushy (I presume that's how it is later in the day at this time of year? would be delighted to discover otherwise...)
It appears that in both cases I find my way to the main base village, either by car or by shuttle bus, and then there's a ski rental place pretty close by the slopes. Anything a first-time visitor needs to know...?!
thanks in advance for any info or tips!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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It's been a low snowpack year but there's still plenty of skiing to be had. Personally I'd look to be renting skis in Banff and keeping them for the weekend. More choice and less phaff each day. Can't recommend anywhere personally.
Plan for a day at each. Personally I'd go to Louise on which ever day looks sunnier (currently Sunday) because Louise in flat light sucks. Take the gondola from the base, down ptarmigan, head over to larch for some groomers then paradise to summit down to paradise, up again, down Rich's then up ptarmigan - meadow to the lodge. Glacier to top of the world, head left and head for men's DH now it's probably softened.
The best food is temple lodge. There's a ski race happening (sweajnr is in it) so the base might be chaotic at times.
Sunshine. Goats eye has the best vertical with lots of cruisy blues / blacks. The Southside chutes are barely double black... Worth a look. Angel to Divide has some runs. Ecstasy skiers right close to teepee town is a personal favorite. Standish has some short steep pitches. Avoid wawa lift it's slow and the runs aren't great.
The best coffee is on the base of the hotel. Most of Sunshines food offerings aren't great.
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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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Lake Louise any day over sunshine. Loads of trees at LL so even on bad vis days uou can see. No trees really at sunshine. Ive done 2 season in Banff and spent 80% o my time at LL. Its just way better on every everything.
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You’ll have great day at either! Maybe one at each? Sunshine is the worst in flat light or snow because most runs above the trees
I’m just back and snow conditions were good in both - and I believe they’ve had a bit more since
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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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I guess I spend more time at Sunshine so I find it okay in flat light compared to Louise 
At Sunshine Goats eye gets more busy later in the day as most people seem to do it on their way out. So my preference is to do it first thing just from a crowds perspective.
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Wondering if the OP would provide an update on what they did and how it went?
I was at Louise all weekend and the snow in Saturday stayed surprisingly good for until about 2pm with a bit of slush at the base. The views on Sunday were spectacular although it went from concrete to slush a little faster.
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