 Poster: A snowHead
|
Anyone recommend a resort/combination of resorts in BC/Alberta for next winter? We like Canada and want to go back!
1. We're likely to go skiing for 2 to 3 weeks from mid Feb,
2. We ski pretty much everything, blues, European reds, blacks, bumps, bit of off piste, bowls and gladed skiing too
3. We're a couple in our 30's - may have a more mixed ability group with us for part of the holiday (all adults)
4. NOT Whistler - (we have been quite a few times before so apart from the Olympics we need a break!)
5. -10 is comfortable, anything colder I would rather avoid (think this puts Banff out!)
6. Need decent acre-age so don't mind resorts within a few hours drive from each other if that's what it takes
7. Need a bit of nightlife!
I like to use these depressingly-sunny-post-winter months to dream and make my plans!
Any thoughts?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
Farry, mid Feb you can still pick up serious cold in Canada almost everywhere. Apart from that I would make Revelstoke and Kicking Horse places on your wish list. A couple folks here have done road trips recently so you are in luck.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
2. We ski pretty much everything, blues, European reds, blacks, bumps, bit of off piste, bowls and gladed skiing too
Fernie?
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
Silver Star, Revelstoke, Kicking horse - easy drive between all and a great variety of terrain available at all
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
and yep - you'll have to get over the cold thing. -10C and colder is a pretty darn common temperature anywhere in BC/Alberta in mid-Feb. Good gear is your friend.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
I'd second Fernie. Could be combined with kicking horse, with stops @ Panorama and / or kimberley if you fancy - and I hear good thing about the resort the other side of the crowsnest pass, is it Castle Mountain?
We did a 2 week roadtrip round fernie, panorama, Kicking horse then banff area. We moved too often, I felt, so a few days in fernie then a few days in another resort would be my recommendation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Farry wrote: |
Anyone recommend a resort/combination of resorts in BC/Alberta for next winter? We like Canada and want to go back!
4. NOT Whistler - (we have been quite a few times before so apart from the Olympics we need a break!)
7. Need a bit of nightlife! |
Therein lies your problem, apart from the cold.................
John.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fernie 
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
Revelstoke, Silver Star & kicking horse sounds interesting. Any hints on what the drive is like?
As for the cold, I find -10 pretty comfortable (in good gear of course). I've skied at -25 and that was just too cold. I guess I'm saying I'd like to avoid the worse of it if I can, but appreciate Canada in Feb is usually fairly cold!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
We are planning the same and have the same question. Will do Whistler for a week after olympics but thoughts are Red, Kicking Horse, Fernie or......?
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
Farry, have you been to Canada? It is probably a 'different' cold from the one you are used to. (edit: just read more of your original post, chances are it won't 'feel' as cold as Whistler). Golden-->Revelstoke is all highway and fine if the weather is good, Rogers Pass is subject to closures though. If you are doing Silver Star you might as well split up your time there with Big White too.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
arv - yes I've skied Whistler in -25!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Red is a superb place if you're advanced, or want to be. The tree skiing is amazing. Beware tho, most of the black runs are not marked, and are more like 'recommendations' than runs. To find them, talk to locals, follow tracks - it's great fun. But if you like groomers, I'd pretty much forget it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
Red is a superb place if you're advanced, or want to be. The tree skiing is amazing. Beware tho, most of the black runs are not marked, and are more like 'recommendations' than runs. To find them, talk to locals, follow tracks - it's great fun. But if you like groomers, I'd pretty much forget it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
I would do either a silver star/ big white/sunpeaks combo
OR a Fernie/ Panorama/Kicking Horse combo (maybe Castle for a night or two on the way down to Fernie
OR a Fernie/Whitefish combo
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
| Quote: |
| Where in Canada would you ski next winter??? |
I wouldn't. If I felt compelled to put up with all the hassle of going trans Atlantic I'd go to Jackson Hole.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
Canadian dollar is a lot more reasonable than the US dollar though, and there's something to say for the different culture in BC to the USA too 
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
| achilles wrote: |
| Quote: |
| Where in Canada would you ski next winter??? |
I wouldn't. If I felt compelled to put up with all the hassle of going trans Atlantic I'd go to Jackson Hole. |
Why?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
'cos he's been talking to SharkyMark at the EOSB last week
I'd agree with DaveC, I much prefer the overall attitude and lifetsyle of Canadia rather than Merkia
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Is it possible to combine Fernie and Revelstoke? How long would it take to drive between the two and what are the road conditions likely to be?
Anyone got any tips for the cheapest most convenient way to get to either resort to start with?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I think it's 3-4hrs ish to Revvy from Fernie, reasonably do-able for sure.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
| Farry wrote: |
Is it possible to combine Fernie and Revelstoke? How long would it take to drive between the two and what are the road conditions likely to be?
Anyone got any tips for the cheapest most convenient way to get to either resort to start with? |
You need a car.
About 3.5 hours drive Fernie to Golden. Stop there, ski KH
Another 1.5 at least over Roger's Pass to Revy plus a time difference (slower if you're crawling behind a plow in a blizzrd, scarier if you overtake the plow)
Easy loop - Calgary - Castle- Fernie - Whitefish, travel/rest day to Red - interesting interior drive & ferry to Revy - KH - Calgary (stopping at LL or SS if you want to slum it with the tourists 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Quote: |
Is it possible to combine Fernie and Revelstoke? How long would it take to drive between the two and what are the road conditions likely to be?
|
Agree with Fatbob on times and his trip suggestions sound good too. Roger's pass may or may not be in good condition and could take quite a bit longer. Quite a bit of it is quite isolated and all long distance journeys in canada in winter require you to take precautions in case you are marooned (it can be cold at night and it might take a while for someone to get out to you, best to drive in coats in case you run off the road and get knocked unconcious etc). In Feb - I'd want winter tires- so if you hire a car, get a winterised one. Its not just about tread its about having tires that work in the cold.
Roger's pass and the stretch between Golden and Revelstoke is susceptible to winter closures due to avalanches, it gets around 10m a year on steep slopes. It is the highway 1 - transcanada so they do work to keep it open, but its clearly not always possible. The entire highway 1 between LL and revelstoke is quite an interesting drive and you should see plenty of wildlife.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
agree with uktrailmonster, target 3-4 days minimum at each, then you get chance to explore and vaguely know somewhere. Ideally, book nothing in advance apart from maybe weekends, and follow the storms. That's an exciting way to do it and get the best snow. Getting last minute accommodation in interior BC is rarely an issue
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| gortonator wrote: |
| Red is a superb place if you're advanced, or want to be. The tree skiing is amazing. Beware tho, most of the black runs are not marked, and are more like 'recommendations' than runs. To find them, talk to locals, follow tracks - it's great fun. But if you like groomers, I'd pretty much forget it. |
Red Mtn. is great in terms of skiing but there is no nightlife at all.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
Has everyone flown direct into Calgary and picked a car up?
Anyone else with any itineraries they care to share?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
stuarth, the Rock Cut - it's a good bar about 5 min walk from base of Red. In last two years a couple of decent places have appeared to eat at the base too. It's improving. Just get a cab to town, cost little, and there are a couple of good bars down there too, and nice places to eat. It;s small, but fun.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
