 Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Think I included all the info, let me know if you have any questions.
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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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arv, great report and wonderful photos! That's also the first photo I've seen on here that shows snow condition clearly - good idea. (I've never eaten a Krispy Kreme do'nut - could be tempted by your last photo.  ) I had the opportunity to ski Banff last year, which I ended up turning down on the grounds of cost - it wasn't a neat package or even capable of being a neat DIY trip, unfortunately - but I definitely want to get there at some point. I like the idea of staying in a proper town, even if it means a bit of driving: that's one of the reasons I like Chamonix so much.
[For those who mind about proper location of posts - doesn't bother me, in fact - shouldn't this be in Resort Review/TR forum?]
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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arv, How much were the Donuts?
(nice TR  BTW)
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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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Maybe someone will notice and move it (if a mod reads this could you please put it in the right place?).
There was a couple staying in Lake Louise village (definitely not a proper town) who paid £359 for 10 days from Gatwick. Without having to pay for the Big3 lift passes and using the local shuttle it can be fairly cheap. There was a guy staying there for 2 weeks on his own and he paid £2200 
If you can get a reasonably priced flight then it is very cheap before you start thinking about the lift pass. Think it was close to $400 a head.
Donuts were 86c each or 6 for $4.50 - including tax.
Last edited by Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do. on Mon 1-02-10 16:50; edited 1 time in total
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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As my friends are going to Banff in 3 weeks and i'm not, let it be known that I don't like arv very much right now... 
arv, Have they really not had much snow recently? Notice the canons were firing on Louise - not seen that often at this point of the season when i've been before (although if thats taken near where i think it is, that bit does get heavy traffic.)
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Richard_Sideways, I was speaking to a guy on the lift who said the base was largely made in November + December from 2 large snowfalls. Not much in January at all.
Snow canon photo is from the bottom of Larch. Think they are just making hay whilst the sun shines.
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Wow, thought it was bit by Whitehorn Lodge where it can get a bit bald, or the corner on Camerons - haven't really been following snowfall this year as not going. Did you go to Sunshine at all and did you hear via grapevine what condition Kicking Horse was in? Friends planning on going to KH for a day but if the bowls are empty, then probably wouldn't be worth the trek over there.
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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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arv, wonderful photos thanks - great one of Rodney's Ridge there. *gets wistful*
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Richard_Sideways, apparently it was just needing fresh snow, not just snow as such.
Added a few more photos.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Looks great. I see that temple mountain is still beautiful.
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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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arv, Was in the Caribou same time as you, got back yesterday, but travelled with Inghams and Monarch. Good for me that my group were upgraded to premium on both legs of the flight.
Kicking Horse - did this on Wednesday. Conditions were better than LL. Not busy, very steep off piste, great couliours, fresh untracked to be had if you looked. 2 hours from Banff on a coach, cost for the day was $90.
Echo Elk and Oarsman, can also recommend Saltlik (both upstairs in the resteraunt and at the bar) and Chills (the Fox hotel). Study the menu of the Bison if your tempted, very exp, and food not much to our liking, service very slow.
Plenty of rocks in off piste, couple of our group wrecked skis. So think about local ski insurance of $4 a day to reduce hassle. Used SkiTips but selection was not great, only stocked Volka and Head.
Bod
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BOD, I've been to KH before. I was just going off the word of someone I got talking too, oh well, LL was good. Any photos?
Saltlik definitely isn't as good as it used to be The bar looked good in Chilis but didn't get round to eating.
SkiTips is reasonable for 'fat' skis. Gotamas/Mantras and they even had a pair of Sanouks when I was in.
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You know it makes sense.
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arv,
Glad you had a good time. Heard LL was a bit icy and a bit manic on Friday......... (Calgary schools all shut)
Think it may have snowed up there Saturday night, it did at Nakiska anyway, only a maybe 4 cm but it helps...................
Lots of pre-olympians supposedly arrived at Nakiska today so hopefully catch some this weekend!
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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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gryphea, it was busy but just Lake Louise in January busy. I didn't wait in a queue but spent most of the day going top of the world-summit-paradise with some short hikes. Cut out summit when the light was flat. It was hard in spots but Larch had nice snow. As did all the stuff worth skiing, the back bowls had a little windblown fresh. The blue/black that cuts the corner above Wounded Knee had nice soft bumps. I don't get why everyone skis down the middle - suppose it pushes all the nice snow to the edges for people who use a little bit of common sense!
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Poster: A snowHead
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Awe man... that report brings back happy memories from a couple of years ago!!!!
Cracking photos. Love the one of the ultimate steeps from the side, we were luckier than you with fresh snow though but it's an amazing place all the same.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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arv, nice TR, what camera were you using for the pics?
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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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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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arv, ooh we are off to Banff on 10th March for 2 weeks, so I'm really pleased to read this thread and look at your lovely pics. I have already bought our passes as it worked out cheaper, and we're also hoping to get to Kicking Horse at least once.
Our Hotel doesn't provide free brekki, so any ideas where we can go for that for a reasonable price, would be good ?
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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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IncogSkiSno, Kicking Horse is ace, make sure you have lunch at the restaurant at the top of the gondy and book on a sunny day. The price for the trip is $89 and you can book it through Discover Banff Tours.
What is your hotel? Town isn't really practical if you are staying a little while out. I just grabbed breakfast at the hill (good selection at all 3, LL and Sunshine do buffets for about $14. There is also a breakfast menu with bagels etc. Cereal available). Mels and Coyotes are my favourite places for breakfast but will only really be handy if you are staying at Banff Park Lodge/Bow View/Brewsters Mountain Lodge/Mount Royal.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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IncogSkiSno, If you are flying Thomas Cook check this:
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Note: Whilst they were fine with my skis on the way back Thomas Cook told check in they were ‘doing it wrong’ and the allowance for skis was now 10kg each, in separate bags, for people travelling. They let us away with it on the promise that we ‘remember next time’. Had an extra ski bag in the double just incase they enforced it.
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On that basis I probably won't fly with them again.
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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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arv, great report and photos - except for the donuts.....Having just eaten a creme brulée (after gratin dauphinois with the first course, albeit without cheese) I can't cope with donut pics tonight.
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IncogSkiSno, not flown with Monarch to comment. Your hotel is only 10/15 minutes walk out of town and I am pretty sure the ski bus stops right outside. If you want to lock your skis up at lunchtime buy a 'SkiKey' or if I am home any time in the next month or so I will send you one as long as you send it back. The Big3 all have lots of suitable racks.
shoogly, being early season a lot of the chutes from the Wall/top of Paradise were a little hairy but I'd say they have good cover. Stability has been great so I wouldn't be hugely surprised to see ER5 opening up pending more snow...
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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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arv, They're the same people who think LL "doesn't have much" and who've never ridden the summit platter.
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You know it makes sense.
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arv, aww thanks, but I'd rather not borrow yoour key as you'd probably never get it back. Are these lockers situated outside the restaurants ?
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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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IncogSkiSno, no worries. They are outside every restaurant/lodge. The keys are about $30 but much more secure than a daft wee cable lock.
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Poster: A snowHead
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arv, cheers, could be worth buying one - can you buy them in resort or only online ?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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IncogSkiSno, can buy them at the resorts and in town as well. We forgot one of ours this year so picked one up in the shop at Sunshine Day 1.
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FAQ
Just stole it from the house. I [i]think[i] it is a Nikon D40, a mixture of auto focused shots and manual in both raw and 'fine' format. Absolutely nothing done to the photos, once they came off the camera they went straight on to MobileMe. I had a mess around with the settings and stuff but don't really know what I achieved (if anything) 