 Poster: A snowHead
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Anyone who has seen me ski - any views? I've read various reports and I'm happy with steep, and am getting more comfortable with "non-groomers". Not bothered about the limited nightlife and restaurant choices - it's much the same at Fernie & Big White and it suited us fine.
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Tue 15-03-11 23:29; edited 3 times in total
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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holidayloverxx, I enjoyed the skiing, so imagine you would too. I'm not bothered about limited nightlife or restaurant choices either, but the horrible one and only shop was a bit of a blot - it severely reduced the options even for decent self-catering. 
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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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Hurtle,
Think shop has improved. Its much bigger now. Still a bit limited but much better than the first time we went.
Haven't seen holidayloverxx ski so have no idea. The moguls are much bigger at panorama than Fernie or Big White.
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It doesn't snow a whole lot at Panorama IME.
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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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Go shopping before you get to Panorama, I stocked up big time at the supermarket in Banff on the way through. Its not that the night life is limited, there just isn't any. Sking for me was ok, but it needed a big dump to make it fun. Never the less a good experiance, I would have liked more fresh snow, but it wasn't to be. Make sure you book a day with the Heli.
WouldI go again?
Yep.
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I went a few years ago & was not impressed with the one-company resort. The lack of competition did nothing for restaurants and shop. Plus it was dark and very very cold early morning. Breakfast in the huge dark hall was depressing. Better to cater for yourself. Stock up at the supermarket in Invermere if the transfer stops on route as there was no fruit or veg at the company shop. Hardly surprising the americans complained about constipation on a fried food and pizza diet.
On-mountain catering was 2 garden sheds. The top one had a pot-belly stove which was needed to defrost fingers etc.
Apres-ski seemed to be a soak in the hot tub and an early night. Those on a U.S. corporate jolly were particularly annoying with their "how rich I am" banter in the hot tub. This is not typical in Canada. It was also common when I took the long chair lift that a stranger would give me their full medical history and inventory of their assets.
The skiing, however was very good. It was ski-in / ski-out from our accomodation. I had one special powder day when the sun came out & I could race my shadow down the hill watching the champagne powder atomise from my skis. The double black diamonds at the top seemed suicidally steep when slick. I had the mother of a fall cascading down a hundred meters(?) towards oblivion but somehow came gently to rest before the abyss without hitting a tree.
Panorama was not on my list to revisit but now I am more experienced and better equiped to fully take advantage of the hill and was a little tempted by an early booking TO offer.
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Panorama gets a lot less snow than Fernie and Big White. It can be absolutely BALTIC. Was there 6 years ago and the temperature never got above -20 the whole 2 weeks. The skiing/boarding was good - long, steep and fast groomers, wasn't too busy at any point, even at weekends. Some good off-piste and some nice tree runs (if you get lucky with a decent snowfall) just don't expect epic dumps like Fernie gets.
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I've been to Panorama three times, and it's probably my favourite place to ski. It's the only place that my kids consistently nag me for a return trip, so my view is shared across the family. And I've come to that view after skiing at a fair number of absolutely fabulous big-name areas including, for example, the Three Valleys, Espace Killy, Zermatt / Cervinia, Jackson Hole and Vail. I posted a summary of my views on the place a couple of years back, and they're still unchanged:
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Panorama is a very specialist little place that doesn't really tick very many mainstream boxes. Having said that, I've fallen to its attractions - I've enjoyed my trips there more than anywhere else, and it's the only ski resort that I've made the effort to return to.
As I see it, here are the things that characterise Panorama. I'll start with what most people see as weaknesses.
- Very quiet nightlife - only one bar and a handful of restaurants. A couple of restaurants get good reviews but I've never tried them myself; you're likely to get bored with the culinary scene before the week's out. That doesn't matter to me, though, because we prefer to stay in with our kids
- Very restricted village with one retail outlet in each mandatory category: equipment store, ski rental place, souvenirs, a real-estate agent rolling eyes and an utterly inadequate grocery store (shop in Invermere instead - it has a great supermarket). That's fine with me, though, as a small village doesn't have many beds so the slopes are deserted and you're never far from a lift
- Extremely restricted pistes - you can comfortably ski all the groomed runs in a morning. Again, that's fine with me as I quickly get bored with groomers - give me bumps, trees, steeps and powder any day, and Panorama has these in abundance. Panorama is actually a fairly extensive area by North American standards, and the lack of groomed trails means there's more good stuff for people like me
- Ice. I know about this, as I once had a very bad fall there that led to a 9-page epic snowheads argument. But the ice is generally restricted to the groomed runs, and you don't go to Panorama for the groomers
- It doesn't have any extreme skiing on offer. But I'd kill myself if I tried extreme skiing, and it also means that extreme skiers keep away - Panorama's tougher runs (eg Devil's Drop) can go unskied for days at a time
So far, so bad. Now for the good stuff.
- Panorama has extensive in-bounds off-piste - more than enough to keep me smiling for 8 days or so. The Taynton Bowl and the Extreme Dream Zone are fantastic playgrounds for confident intermediate skiers like me
- Away from the groomers, it's deserted. You can easily ski from the top of the hill to the bottom without seeing another person
- The tree skiing is superb - extensive, highly varied and lightly skied
- It has some truly awesome bump skiing - Stumbock's is one of the longest runs in the resorts and it's pure black bumps from top to bottom; Tacky has some of the largest bumps that I've ever seen
- Powder - Panorama has only half the snowfall that Fernie enjoys, but that means it's not a mecca for powder hounds so the fluffy stuff stays unskied for days. This February in the Taynton Bowl I was regularly cutting fresh tracks two days after a snowfall on runs like Ktunaxa
- You won't see a queue except for a few minutes on weekends at peak times (eg ski-school start / end)
- The ski school is great and pretty reasonable (as a family we've bought more than 40 days of instruction there, so I have some experience)
You won't be surprised to know that I've been there three times already and will probably return next year.
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This year is a strong La Nina, so Panorama should, fingers crossed, get good snow. It doesn't often. This could be the year to visit, For an advanced skiers, on a good snow year, it's a wonderful place. I personally would never book in advance tho - luckily, I live within (long-ish) driving distance.
If you're a good-ish skier and want more reliable snow, Kicking Horse and Revelstoke are wild fun. Stay in town in Revie, on hill in KH is quiet, but nice places to stay.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| gortonator wrote: |
| Panorama should, fingers crossed, get good snow. It doesn't often. |
It's all relative, I have been grateful to ski in Europe even when grass and rocks are showing.
The locals in Canada are spoilt, On a day trip from Fernie to Kimberley I was thrilled with the ankle-deep fresh snow, the locals on the ski lifts were bemoaning "it is usually better" !
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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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Thanks to all. Yes, I had seen the reviews that folk have kindly replicated or provided links to. I really, really am not bothered about the lack of shops for self catering, we will eat out - always - and as long as there is a pub that does chilli and pizza, and somewhere a bit posher (which there seems to be) then that aspect will have no bearing - I won't be "stocking up" but appreciate that's what others choose to do.
I'm not really a tree skier (nor is Mr HL) so I'm starting to think it might not be for us.
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holidayloverxx, if you do go, have a look at the Earl Grey Lodge if you get the chance - it's run by a friend of some 30 odd years, Phil Marshal and his wife Claire. The place seem to have a good reputation and Phil is quite entertaining. They've been out there for around 6 years IIRC.
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You know it makes sense.
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holidayloverxx, if you're willing to encounter a few standing trees rather than a full-on glade then I wouldn't let the tree-skiing put you off. Clear paths have been cut through almost all of the gladed areas, so you can pick your line according to your preference. That's even true in the Taynton Bowl - my recollection is that, for example, B2nd has only occasional trees whereas Ktunaxa gets pretty dense in 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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Jonny Jones, Aah, that's rather different then. Perfectly happy with standing trees and especially with paths cut through
Chasseur, thanks, will take a look
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Poster: A snowHead
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holidayloverxx,
As Jonny Jones says there are some blue glades. Sun bowl is fun and the glades to far left of piste map are also fun.
It is drier than the resorts surrounding it.
Whislt some of BC is hoping for La Nina related epic dumps, I don't think Alberta is and Panomama tends to be more Albertan weather wise even as its in BC.
I am expecting chillier, and hping for snowier.
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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 went to Panorama last year (just before xmas). I think the conditions were good for that time of year with reasonable snow cover - though a number of the runs were closed because they were preparing them or holding ski competitions on them. The weather was rather pleasant actually, it wasn't bone chilling on any of the days.
My verdict - I thought it was ok. But as I am quite new to skiing I don't think it was the best place for me at the time. I would have liked to have seen more blue groomers but this place is rather lacking in them. we had a beginner with us and she pretty much skied a 200m slope serviced by a drag lift for 3 days which was a bit of a shame.
If you are an adrenaline junkie and ski any terrain this place is probably for you. (skiing wise) and the view from the top on a nice day is amazing.
In terms of an overall holiday, this place is rather subdued. The T bar and Jackpine pubs are the only place to socialise generally, and the jackpine pub only sells burgers - though they are very nice. I was rather bored with the variety at the end of the week, this may not bother you though!
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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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Looks like the restaurants in Panorama might be upping their game http://www.panoramaresort.com/the-village/restaurants-and-bars/in-the-village/brian-vallipuram
Looking at some of the menus I'd be more than happy for a week. They've even got sushi 
The general store has been improved "The newly located and refurbished, General Store carries a full variety of grocery items and if we don't have it, give us 24-hours and we'll get it!"
Definitely limited shops - why I would want to buy glass souvenirs on a ski trip does escape me...
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A bit more info for you on some of the places -
The Wildfire Rustic Grill - nice restaurant. Quite pricey in comparison to the other places to eat. Pancakes are nice here for breakfast
The Picnic Deli - only open during the day, sells coffees, bagels etc
The T-Bar and Grill - again, pub style food, spag bol, mince pies etc reasonably priced.
Mile High Pizza - nice pizzas, pretty much a takeaway if I recall
The Great Hall - open at breakfast/lunch, not sure this is open in the evening as an option?
The Jackpine Pub - again, nice cosy atmosphere, tasty burgers (doesn't sell anything else though)
Carrick's at Greywolf Golf Course - never went here, the golf course is a bit of a trek from the village
Also worth a mention, the RK heli ski place, we went here once, sold nice pulled pork sandwiches and yam fries.
I didn't think there was a great amount of choice here really for eating etc. But perhaps I am picky.. 
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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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It is also worth noting that perviously Panorama was operated by Intrawest (Whistler etc). It has now been sold to a group of local operators who are intending to make changes. They already (I think) run busses down into Invermere now to widen the choice of food and shopping.
http://columbiavalleynews.com/2010/03/01/panorama-sale-finalized/
Last year the RK restaurant had been taken over by Intrawest and was not good - a huge dissappointment compared to a couple of years ago.
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holidayloverxx, why were you considering Panorama over other ski hills in the area, just out of curiosity?
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scotia, I've been to Fernie & Big White, also Banff twice and I liked the look of the skiing (albeit via the interactive piste map and various vids) - just somewhere new to try really.
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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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| Lechbob wrote: |
| gortonator wrote: |
| Panorama should, fingers crossed, get good snow. It doesn't often. |
It's all relative, I have been grateful to ski in Europe even when grass and rocks are showing.
The locals in Canada are spoilt, On a day trip from Fernie to Kimberley I was thrilled with the ankle-deep fresh snow, the locals on the ski lifts were bemoaning "it is usually better" ! |
Kimberley gets about as little snow as Panorama - they don't drown in pow around there, believe me.
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holidayloverxx, If you're not looking for advanced terrain, Sun Peaks might be worth a go. It's a nice ski hill, lots of variety
Last edited by Ski the Net with snowHeads  on Tue 2-11-10 2:30; edited 1 time in total
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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gortonator, Hmmm. that might have put a bit of a spanner in the works
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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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| gortonator wrote: |
| Kimberley gets about as little snow as Panorama - they don't drown in pow around there, believe me. |
I believe you, statistically about half the depth of Fernie. I still had a good day at Kimberley with light falling snow & good visibility. The same day it was a white-out at Fernie which made for an epic next day after the smell of cordite subsided.
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holidayloverxx, great if you aren't picky.. I have a husband who will only eat about 5 different things. Haha makes for interesting holidays I tell you 
Are you an advanced skier? I think the terrain could be right up your street if you like it steep.
I think we were blesses last year when we went, it was the week before Xmas and they had good conditions. The ski instructor told me it wasn't usually so good at that time of year. I think there was a lack of snow after we came home though.
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You know it makes sense.
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v1cky24, I like it fairly steep, I don't run away from moguls (even if my sking them isn't pretty) and I'm doing some off-piste work in December. I wouldn't say I'm advanced at all but a comfortable intermediate looking for some stretch.
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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 think you could have a good time, judging by what you say about your skiing. Make sure you do a day trip to Kicking Horse though. Hopefully you will get pow there.
Luckily for the sore mogula knees there are hot tubs everywhere.
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Poster: A snowHead
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holidayloverxx, go for it! I'm sure you'll have a blast then.
Lots of moguls at Panorama. 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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A couple of non-skiing things to do, if you fancy it holidayloverxx...
If you don't mind a few minor bruises, head down to Invermere and try your hand at curling! There's a curling club there and they do a session on a Friday evening (at least I think it was a Friday, may be worth calling to check) where anybody can turn up and have a go for an hour or two. Something a bit different to do. Went last season and it was great fun. We were predictably useless at curling!
Also, if you have a car, there's some decent hot springs around to have a dip in. There's a couple of bigger, more organised ones (Radium Hot Springs is quite nice), but a short drive down the road is a much better place with some cracking natural hot tubs beside a river in a very wilderness-feeling valley. Head south from Invermere (driving across the lake is a must!) and keep heading south for about half an hour. Take a left off the main road and up a road (Called Whiteswan Forestry Road, becomes a bit of a track the further you go and is a logging road, so beware the big trucks!) towards Whiteswan Lake. At km 17.5 is Lussier Hot Springs. Highly recommended! Google it for pics.
Have fun.
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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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Billy M, We won't have a car, but curling sounds good. MrHL is from the home of curling stones
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| holidayloverxx wrote: |
| ...a comfortable intermediate looking for some stretch. |
Panoroma or something similar should be perfect. The North American inbounds off-piste concept means it has more terrain for comfortable intermediates than some of the European mega resorts.
One good thing for improvers is that the toughest section for almost all the double blacks is at the drop-in: if you think you can survive the first 100 yards of any run, you'll be good for the duration. One notable exception to be careful of, though, is Gunbarrel - the steep moguls at the top are actually the easy part and the real issues start with the rock band leading through to the 43 degrees (or so I've read) slopes of upper Orca.
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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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Jonny Jones, 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Stumbucks is ace as well - just seems to go on forever.
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| Quote: |
MrHL is from the home of curling stones
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Ailsa Craig?
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pam w, No, that's the home of the stone in its natural state - the actual curling stones were always made in mauchline.
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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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holidayloverxx, We went last year and We loved it. What I like about Panorama is the fact that you can start off easy and build up for the tuffer stuff.
The pictures above make it look harder than it is in Taynton bowl. The trees are really spread out and if there is good snow it's great in there.
One of the best places to eat last year was at R K Helliski. If you want to go into town to eat check what days they are open, as we got caught out last year with that.
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FAQ
