Calgary calling!

A snowHead

Just booked flights a few minutes ago for a Feb 2011 Half term trip to Calgary! Yeehaaa! Very Happy

Absolute bargain as well - £460 each for direct flights from Manchester Very Happy

So now we need to decide on an itinerary for the week. Fly drive looks likely.

We went to Fernie last year and have skiied at Banff and surrounding areas in the past (including Lake Louise, Sunshine Village, Panorama and Nakiska).

This time we are thinking about a twin centre trip to Kicking Horse and Revelstoke as we haven't been to either of them. However, the concern I have about KH is that Mountainaddict and his Mrs went a couple of years ago, only to find the gondola closed due to wind and (lo and behold) the ridiculous design of it (with no mid station and it being the only access to the top of the mountain) meant that the mountain was effectively closed Sad

Can any

s comment on the likelihood of that happening if we go? Is KH known for storms that close the mountain?

Also, any comments on Revelstoke would be appreciated.

Or are there any other gems within striking distance of Calagary that we shouldn't miss?

Last year, for instance, we discovered Castle Mountain. It had fantastic steep terrain and was totally deserted (relatively speaking) on the Sunday that we visited.

Thanks in advance.

A snowHead

I've had windhold for a day at KH and another day that was so cold I wouldn't have wanted to ski (separate trips) although on the latter at least KH was open unlike all the Banff area resorts. If windhold looks like being an issue you can always divert to Panorama or LL for the day. Revy is $ if conditions are good and you hit it midweek though the base area is too low to be meaningful. Neither area great for the groomer crowd though both more touristy than Castle (very few places aren't).

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

Bergmeister,

Do you know your dates and whether these clash with ALberta's family day?

I'm not really your gal as have only been to KH once and never revelstoke (we were going to go this year, but then I hurt my back, then the weather was pants, we have been to Revelstoke and through it but not skied there)

I don't think KH as known for the gondala shutting. A guy I know goes there a lot and haven't really ever heard him winge too much.

Occasionally road between Revelstoke and golden can get shut, but usually only for a couple of hours and the road beyond revelstoke is shut more often.

Jasper an option?

Alternatively drive faster and do a Whitewater/Red combo? or a fernie/whitefish? Or don't drive- save the money and hop to kelowna internally and get bus to Silver star or Big White, or Kamloops and Sun Peaks

I think I would jsut stick with your first option though! Although Jasper may be a nice alternative.

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Revy to Vernon is only 90 mins drive IIRC so you could tack on Silver Star as well if you wanted but for a week 3 places is probably overkill unless you're really stormchasing.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

Bergmeister, who are you flying with? Is that £460 each, return?

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Bergmeister, Would be in terested to know the flight details ? Luggage allowance etc. As that seems a good price

As for Revvy Its a great place if they have fresh snow. Have been a couple of times now - 1st and 2nd year of the development and would still go back. Place is still raw without any of the developments you usually associate with ski resorts. The town is really just a, well a town. Some nice places to stay and some not so nice places. Food is the same. Yuo probably wouldnt want more than 3 days there unless the snow is still falling. I have some pics in mediazone of the place.

Or as gryphea, suggests Red and Whitewater could be good but a longer drive for you in a week. Both great places offering a really excellent skiing experience.

Dont hessitate to ask anything about your decision. Smile

Lucky people as we really enjoyed our roadtrip there

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

Bergmeister, As above if KH is closed head down the road to Panorama, not quite as hardcore but a nice resort for a day or two. Dont think the weather is a regular issue in Kicking Horse other than the normal Canadian Cold!!

If you can get down to Red mountain in BC it is well worth it but it is a bit of a trek. I was about to say Castle Mountain but you have obviously gotten there already Smile

After all it is free

If you want cheap flights to canada would recommend these guys, have always found them to be the cheapest
http://www.canadianaffair.com/

Thanks for the advice so far. Please feel free to keep it coming.

*Ski* the Net with snowHeads

Family day is 21st. This pretty much means you have to have your first 2 days of accomodation booked. Whatever you end up doing I would advise getting as far from Calgary as possible for the skiing on the sunday- ie try to avoid sunshine and LL. The ither resorts should be fine.

No advice on 4WD deals, but make sure you inspect the tyres before you leave (an preferably get winter tyres). A guy I worked with hired an AWD with virtually no tread- illegal in fact. Picked up in a dark car park, he didn't see the insides.

snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

Seems cheap, shame I'll always need more than 20kg allowance Sad

Always seem to end up with BA for my Canada flights, which is awkward given they might not be around by winter...

snow reports

DaveC,

Don't air canada do better prices than BA for more allowance?

Also my boss is flying to UK and back this weekend (well out today and back wednesday) and his flights were all in $1300 (yeah sure that sounds expensive from your end with the exchange rate but I'm sure they price better in UK pounds) with KLM , so they might be worht a punt or a look? $1300 isn't too bad, flying into Leeds. (vai Schipol)

We flew back last summer and in the end got Air Canada cheaper than canadian affair flights. Ba never even came in same ball park.

You know it makes sense.

gryphea, I thought AC brought in some ridiculous charges for ski carriage , or was that KLM ?

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

A snowHead

A snowHead

Thanks gryphea, That's helpful.

Can you comment on the merits of Kicking Horse versus Revelstoke versus Jasper?

Following the comments about flight prices I've just had a look at January (not that we can go then) and the same direct flight is available for under £380 return Shocked

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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

Golden to Revelstoke road there is no reasonable alternative route- the other way round is very long and also crosses a pass suspectible to avalanches on a less nationally important route.

Golden to Banff- there is an alternative route out, probably only an hour longer

As i've mentioned winter tyres are really helpful. They are pretty good at clearing highway 1 , but there is always a little snow layer if its coming down and at -20 normal tyres are way to brittle to have good enough grip/stopping distance. The roads are quite remote and you would do well to pack an emergency kit capable of coping with a night out at -20 or so. OH did a winter driving course and was told to drive in all his jackets when driving remotely in case a relatively minor accident takes knocks you unconcious/ or traps you, in which case you could freeze to death pretty quickly , if you've been driving along with the heat blasting and in shirt sleeves.

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Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

I wouldn't sweat Roger's Pass - I've driven it in a whiteout and can vouch they'll try to keep it open if at all possible- besides if its snowing that hard why bother moving as the pow will be good wherever you are. Plenty fo Cat operators North and South of Revy IIRC.

Help!!

Calgary calling!

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