 Poster: A snowHead
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Me and a friend are doing a road trip from Calgary into South East BC in a few weeks, hoping to hit Fernie / Panorama / Kicking Horse / Banff etc
I know that the old Powder Springs hill in Revelstoke has been re-developed and wondered whether anyone has any experience of it? It's their first season open so I fancy taking a look, but don't want to waste a (precious) day if it isn't up to much.
If anyone has been or heard anything I'd appreciate it.
Thanks!
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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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Thanks hd - sounds like a few people have been from that forum, that guy's pics look awesome!.
Going for a week - we're loosely planning 2 days in Fernie, a day at Panorama, a day at KH (or straight to KH & ignore Panorama if it is snowing!) then maybe a day or two at Revelstoke (inc cat-skiing), before heading over to Banff for a morning at Norquay before heading home. That way no drive should be any longer than 3/4 hrs......hopefully.
Obviously that will all change dependent on if it has snowed anywhere!! Did a season in Banff a while ago and have been to Fernie / Golden / kelowna a couple of times so kind of know the area a little.
Good idea to do Revelstoke and KH in one trip in the future I reckon - the only thing I found with KH is that it is left wanting a little bit if it hasn't snowed in a while, so Revelstoke could well be a good alternative.
Will let you know how we get on - pray for snow!
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Fernie to panorama is around 2.5 to 3 hours - Fernie to KH will be more like 4 to 5. Taynton Bowl at the back of Panorama had great snow even when the rest of the mountain was patchy, but it was a hike to get in.
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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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pecky1974, I agree with nbt, Panorama is definitely worth a day or two if the snow is good (which often it isn't unfortunately, AFAIK). Taynton Bowl is a superb area, equal/better than anything Fernie has to offer. The hike is not at all difficult (much easier than some of the Fernie traverses  ) and really makes you feel like you are entering proper backcountry terrain.
The other big Panorama plus point is that it was literally deserted midweek when we visited last year. Even on the new-snow days.
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I've only ever skied Whistler on forays to Canada. But thought you might like to see what the Where to Ski & Snowboard guide said his time round, it ceratinly seems mouth watering:
"The big news this winter is the opening of a new resort, Revelstoke. Like Kicking Horse, it is a development of a small existing hill in heli-skiing territory, in this case Powder Springs.
This places seems set for stardom: the avergae snowfall is [an] amazing - 500 to 700 inches - and when the main gondola is completed. the vertical will be 1830m/6,000ft - a new record for North America. The master plan provides for over 20 lifts over 15,000acres [c.f. Whistler @ 8,151 acres] - approaching Alpine mega resorts in scale - plus 5,000 acres of cat skiing, plus heli skiing direct from the resort centre.
Two main lifts will be open for 2007/08, and that huge vertical should be open the following year - along [with] and extended runway at Kelowna (200km/125miles away) capable of taking transatlantic jets. We can't wait." [Neither can I!!!)
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If you have any money buy something there now as it is going to be huge.
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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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The extended runway at Kelowna has been in planning for twenty years now. When we visited fernie / Panorama / KH in 2004 we were assured byt the sales staf in all the etsate agencies that the runway would be operational at the end of the following season....
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Forget the others and just do Kicking Horse and Revelstoke.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Cheers all.
hd / nbt - I've ridden Panorama before (albeit only late in the season when it was a bit patchy & heavy) so will definitely give Taynton a go, cheers for the heads-up. Having said that, I've ridden KH a few times when it's just dumped and IMHO it's pretty unbeatable so would favour there if it's snowing!
nbt - I've also heard many times that the airport is "close" - apparently the contested land is first-nation land and i've been told (by non-marketing types) that it could be years off!
anyhow - have decided to give Revelstoke a couple of days and miss out Banff, so will post report when back.
talking of real estate investments - apparently in 2003 (the year they started building), land lots near the hill were struggling to fetch $30k - now they're selling like hot cakes at $250,000! Coulda / woulda / shoulda....... 
still on investing - from a purely skiing perspective, wouldn't a place in Golden be a better bet? You could hit more areas easier - KH on doorstep, 1.5 hrs to Revelstoke, 2 hrs to Banff, OK transfer from Calgary? I don't have the cash (!) but would be interested to hear what anyone thinks.
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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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pecky1974, I'm doing something similar in a few weeks but based in Fernie. PhotoTim's thinking of organising a road trip... 
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Sharkymark - when are you there? we go Sat March 01st (from Manchester) for a week.
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You know it makes sense.
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pecky1974, 1st March for 2 weeks (from Gatwick). I think you'll probably be on the same flight as me
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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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sharkymark - give me a pm nearer the time if you want.
We are definitely doing Fernie for a couple of days first (unless it is puking down somewhere else apart from Fernie) so if you're staying there we could meet up if you fancy some turns 
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Poster: A snowHead
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| skilegs wrote: |
| If you have any money buy something there now as it is going to be huge. |
Prices are already huge - condos selling for $600 per square foot!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Sharkymark, we might be in Fernie at the same time I think? 8th March for a week (my birthday bash ) . no chance of keeping up with you on the slopes, but maybe a drink?
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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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| skilegs wrote: |
| If you have any money buy something there now as it is going to be huge. |
Too late for the first phase at least. Prices have already gone through the roof. There might be a second chance if there is large scale development with a period of over-supply. But no sign of that yet. If you bought there now, you'd have to sit on it for a very long time before seeing a decent return. You could be competing against new builds for years. We looked at the prices last year and it was a non-starter.
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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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| Levitt wrote: |
Prices are already huge - condos selling for $600 per square foot! |
Crazy isn't it? We paid $335 per sqr ft over in Big White.
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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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But Revelstoke is at least twice as good
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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You'd think so with their current marketing campaign!
You may as well buy in Whistler if you're happy to pay those prices.
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holidayloverxx, yep I'll be over there until the 15th.
pecky1974, sounds like a plan to me
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Sharkymark, Yay - I'll PM nearer the time.
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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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FAQ
This years expected visitor number was 52 000approx, they exceeded that in Feb of this year and are already topping 70 000.
