 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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I am going to realize one of the skiing ambitions in my profile and use some inherited money to go Heli Skiing for a week !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Well, if I wait much longer to do it my skiing will have started to go downhill).
This will be my first time skiing in North America too (actually Canada)
I and a friend (Stuart Bonham) have been investigating various options. The problem with Alaska was so many days of bad weather when you sit around unable to fly and feeling your money dribbling down the drain. The problem with Canada and most other US places is the skiing is too easy (catering to rich, occasional skiers - and also because the snow is less stable than Alaska).
The compromise I've found is Last Frontier . Look under packages and click on Ripley Creek Info for the one I just booked. A new Lodge for 10 guests - which is 2 ski groups of 5, each with a guide. It is so new that every group so far has skied new, unskied routes and been invited to name them!
Before that we are going to ski 6 days in Whistler and do a couple of them skiing with the Extremely Canadian 2 day off piste clinic.
I've found a return flight to Vancouver for £447 - and that's at a counvenient times of day too - not 6.30am flights.
PS Sorry, David Goldsmith (or, rather, sorry world climate), it will just be the once, honest! And I don't usually fly out to ski but go by train.
Last edited by Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person on Thu 26-05-05 14:32; edited 4 times in total
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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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Courchevel for Xmas, Kitzbuhel for Feb half term. It'll be the first season without a couple of weeks in N.America in about 12 years. And I've had to turn down a sneaky weekend in January.
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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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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Nadenoodlee, Will you be working out there ???
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Frosty, I will indeed! Chalet host in 1800. Cant wait!
RichardB, Nice one!
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RichardB, nice and cold in Banff in january, Im hoping to go back to banff next year but i'll wait until March its a little warmer then.
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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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Russell, is Banff as good as I have been hearing? I went to Fernie this last January and loved it but I've decided to check out Banff this time as it sounds a lot livelier for apres ski.
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RichardB, I have skiied a lot in Banff/L.Louise and (obviously) really like it. Banff is a very pleasant town indeed; I'm not sure why, I think it's the location/scenery. There are plenty of good bars and restaurants in Banff and a few club type places (I think, I'm too old for that sort of thing).
The skiing at Sunshine is varied and and well served by the lift system. The grub at the ski base is nothing to write home about, but it's not bad, and it's cheap, and this N.America after all.
L.Louise is also excellent. The back bowls are good fun in good light (often it's very flat), and Larch is good fun. Eat/drink at least once in the L.Louise Station, in the 'village'.
Norquay is a small area and the closest to Banff. It has a good variety of shortish runs, including some tricky ones, and is well worth a visit in good snow, which you will certainly have.
We have always hired a car in Calgary. There is a bus between the towns/ski areas, free if you have the tri area pass (Sunshine, Norquay and LL), but I prefer my own transport, and you avoid the airport transfer bus which has to be good news. Where are you staying, or don't you know?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Im off to Morzine again at some point, My fellas boss owns a Chalet in Essert Romand ( 5 min drive from morzine). Its a great spot especially when you know your not paying to stay there!! cant wait!
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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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If all goes to plan current thinking includes; Val D'Isere, Champoluc, Morzine, St Anton and a bit of a trip around Utah...
snowball,
Have done 2 trips with Last Frontier's sister operation, TLH, and generally well impressed.
Notwithstanding the pain of 5 down days the second time - we were unlucky!!! A very expensive way to spend time in a log cabin.
N.B., remember that extra vertical is extremely good value for money!!
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I'm staying at the Inns of Banff, richmond.
I don't drive (I am starting lessons, though.) so I will be relying on the bus, do you know how far the hotel is from main downtown Banff?
I recieved a letter from the company I booked the holiday through today and my flight has changed in terms of Airline, time and airport terminal, I'm now flying with Monarch, have to get there 3 hours before 0930 and now instead of Terminal 2 of Manchester Airport, I'm now at Terminal 1. (I prefer Terminal 2!  )
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You know it makes sense.
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Not quite sure yet. If I manage to save my pocket money up then possibly a season in Val d'Isere, if not then two weeks in Whistler, and then a few weeks in other places.
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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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I'm now flying with Monarch,
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RichardB, OKay if your under 5ft 4in.
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Poster: A snowHead
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RichardB,
Inns of Banff is right up at the top end of town. It's a fair old trek into the centre, or at least it feels like that when the temperature's 30 below (as it can be in January). Still, there's a bus that goes up and down the main drag, and it only costs a couple of bucks. Also, you'll probably be the first drop-off by the airport transfer bus.
Inns of Banff has a big outdoor hot tub, which is nice, if you don't freeze your extremities getting in/out, an indoor pool and a reasonable Japanese restaurant. You're also just over the road from the legendary Bumpers, home of the massive steak.
Banff/LL in January can be bitterly cold, I've known it with the temperatures too cold to start the lifts first thing in the morning, but you might get lucky and only experience temperatures of about -10. You need to be sure that your goggles are highly frost-resistant (double glazing is imperative), and you might find it worhwhile buying some of those hand-warmer sachets to put in your gloves (the type which work on the principle of an exothermic oxidation of something when you open the packet).
However, I'm sure you'll find the skiing is GREAT. Go to Sunshine when the sun is shining, and Lake Louise when it's cloudy and the visibility is likely to be poor. If you get fresh powder, it'll be better at Sunshine (but as richmond says, the back bowls at LL can be awesome (that early in the season, it'll depend on coverage: LL doesn't get so much snow as Sunshine).
Have fun!!!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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six weeks in Gulmarg in the western Himalayas !
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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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Cathy - if you do book early, and you're planning to go out for a couple of weeks, it might be worth checking out the cost of season passes vs the cost of buying passes for the duration of your stay once you get there. I'm not sure about Sun Peaks, but we have season passes for Big White/Silver Star (a bit further down the Okanagan valley, but than far in the Canadian scheme of things from Sun Peaks) and it breaks even at about 10 days skiing if you buy the passes before the end of September. Plus you then get a discount off lessons, accomodation, rentals, purchases from resort owned shops, etc. Actually have just checked and it's $399 for the Sun Peaks season pass until September 18th compared to the daily price of $56/day.
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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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We're off to Cervinia for a week during the easter hols, wish it was longer.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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3V for the first time!
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| Frosty the Snowman wrote: |
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I'm now flying with Monarch,
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RichardB, OKay if your under 5ft 4in. |
Thanks for the morale booster, Frosty the Snowman, I'm 6' 2" but I have upgraded to Premium so, hopefully, the leg room will be better where I'm sitting.
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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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snowball,
Looks great and not too badly priced. I might look into it but maybe will do the same in Europe with just a few lifts per week.
Otherwise it will be a few low key areas in Switzerland.
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Looking for something a bit different? Why not try Heliski in Kamchatka?
My Finnish friend Kassu reports that this is truly the most awesome place he has ever been in his life. I'm thinking: Wife, kids, new baby. Naah. Can't do it. But I can dream..
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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My wife retired from full time employment plans to rent an a 2 bed apartment in Nendaz for 4 weeks from early March to early April, and play host to any of our friends who want to come out ski-ing at a cost price. The plan is I drive out for the first week, ski one week, leave the car and fly back home, fly back end of the third week, ski for a week and we all drive home. We will get a deal on a 4 week let, have a good time in the mountains in a place we very much like entertaining our friends, that's the plan. How about that for something a bit different!
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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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DAVID SNELL, that sounds great.
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27th Feb to 10th March booked off work.
The exact details will depend on where the good snow has fallen in Europe - although am praying to the snowgods that its good in either Austria or Italy!
First time I'll have gone 2 weeks consecutive - am hoping for a big improvement in the learning curve!
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You know it makes sense.
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Hopefully we are going to either Saas Fee or Wengen for 1 week in Ski School - we can't make up our minds which to opt for.
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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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mountain mad, it's a good idea to have a day off half way through.
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Poster: A snowHead
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IncogSkiSno, depends when you plan to go, Sass Fee is probably more snow sure but if you plan to be out between Late Jan and early March the Wengen area should be fully open and well covered, Wengen is prettier though  If in Wengen consider the Privat ski school if you want private lessons as I've only heard nice things about them
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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D G Orf, Thanks I will bear that in mind.  We will be having group lessons so how do the ski schools fair on that front?
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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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IncogSkiSno, Privat don't do group i.e ski school lessons only privately booked groups, however the Swiss Ski School is pretty good though as always you never can be certain which class will have which instructor. Any Wengen specific questions PM me and I'll do my best to answer them
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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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Cathy Coins, it's just about exactly 100 miles from Sun Peaks to Silver Star, so a good couple of hours even in good road conditions.
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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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That's the first one confirmed - January 2006 - Zermatt
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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In case no one has worked it out yet, I'll be in Wengen, I'm just not sure for how long, 2 weeks at least but possibly a month 
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D G Orf, Wengen, no, you surprise me.
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Helen Beaumont, I know, I know but what can I do, it's expected of me
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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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D G Orf, You really are a Wengen enthusiast aren't you?  I think you've almost convinced me - I will have to go now just to see what all the fuss is about!
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IncogSkiSno, Strange, i have been having similar thoughts
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FAQ
) but now I'm back and even though its summer, I will be talking non-stop and dreaming about skiing until the snow clouds return. 
is it too far to travel to Big White or Silver Star for the day from Sun Peaks? I see there are coaches travel between the resorts but it looks a bit of a distance.
