 Poster: A snowHead
|
|
Due to an enforced change in my work situation in March, I am now being packed off by the other half to spend 4 months in Jasper, departing January (it's such a hard life!) Has anyone else been? I'm interested in getting an idea of the surrounding area, more so than the actual skiing (which I'm sure I'll become fairly familiar with during my time there). What is there to do away from the slopes? I'm aware of the Edmonton Mall a couple of hours drive away, which I'll probably pay a visit to, but anything else?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
Out to Jasper on the 14th January. This will be my fifth visit.
Small town. You can walk from one end to the other in about 30mins. There's no need for a car to get around the town.
There are plenty of restaurants and bars, A couple of lively ones are the De'd Dog and the Atha-B.
If you're arriving from the 14th January there is an annual festival which has something on everyday for a fortnight. This is why we travel out at this time. I particularly recommend The Chilli Cook Off.
There's a two screen cinema and what appears to be a good leisure centre with plenty going on. The local Ice Hockey team are fun to watch and well supported by the locals. Worth a night out.
Edmonton is nearer four than two hours in the winter.
Are you doing the Ski Instructor training?
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
mustdash, Jasper and Marmot are literally in the middle of nowhere.
As SnowboardVicky says, Edmonton is almost four hours away, Louise a little less. Hinton, a proper Canadian town, is the closest but there's not much there anyway.
There's not much to do in Jasper either, though that's no bad thing. There's the "multi-plex" cinema, a couple of museums, swimming pool, but mostly a pleasant little "park town", it's not typical of proper Canadian towns. The Icefields Parkway is stunning (watch out for the weather), but you'll see that on the way in, or on a trip to Louise/Banff, and most people do Maligne canyon.
The night life is low key. The De'd Dog (in the Astoria) can be lively, especially on a Friday, and the Athabasca/Atha B, Whistlestop and Brewpub are all worth a look, as are the various Lodge bars, Jasper Pizza etc etc. Not sure if 'Petes' is still open, that with the Atha B offering the closest to a 'nightclub' vibe. It grows on you, though, and you'll find yourself settling into the rhythmn of the place. Most of the places do 'specials' nights, and that's where you'll generally find the biggest crowd. Food and beer are generally reasonably priced, comparitively, even on the hill. IIRC, marmot is owned by a consortia of local people/businesses, so they have a vested interest in being competitive.
Marmot itself is not a large area, but is a cracking little hill, one of my favourites. Plenty of varied terrain, and some surprising steeps. The Knob, Charlie's bowl in the main area, and Eagle East (when open) offering the best. The Express Quad put in a couple of years ago has made a big difference, and there's another being put in Paradise Ridge at the mo, moving the triple down the hill, so getting around has never been easier. But it's the quietness of the place that makes the travelling so worthwhile, outside weekends/holidays the place is empty..............
If you're not doing the Academy, you might want to get this sorted:
http://www.skimarmot.com/lift_season.html
If you are with the Academy you might be in the Amethyst, which is local to most things including Robinsons and the other stores, shops, bars etc etc.
It will be cold, and dark, in January, and you will freeze your ar$e off...... 
Good luck, and enjoy. Give us a rundown on your thoughts when you get back.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
BCjohnny, SnowboardVicky, Yes, I'm doing the ski instructor training. I was looking for some opinions from others not connected to the Academy, as although the views / reports etc given by the Academy are good, I always feel they may be a little biased in order to sell the course. The end goal (eventually) is for the other half and I to move out that way (we got close to moving to Edmonton a couple of years ago, but that fell through due to the recession). Thanks for your comments though - very interesting reading, and useful too. I particularly like the sound of the 'Chilli Cook Off'!
BCjohnny - slightly off topic - have you done the course / stayed at the Amethyst?
Thanks guys.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
Jasper is a cool little place IMO - I've only really stopped by briefly in Spring/Summer. It's a parks town and therefore predominantly tourist focused though a lot more low key than Banff.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
mustdash. No, but spent plenty of sliding and socialising time with a few of them. Was out there for two months in total, over three seasons.
People doing the Academy course seemed to be mainly late teens/early twenties (a few living it large on mommy and daddy's coin), or, for want of a better phrase, mid-life crisis types in their late forties and early fifties. I was surprised at this to begin with, but it kinda makes sense when you think about it. Most really rated the course, very few complaints, and the bulk stayed in the Amethyst which really is the best placed, much better than Sawridge/Chateau/Lobstick/Inn down the end of town, where the deer often collect. Four hundred yards is a long way if it's -30, enough to put you off having a walkabout. Most of the popular veunes are within a hundred yards or so, centred on the tourist office. The De'd Dog is 100yds in the right direction.
The Amethyst itself I've eaten and drunk at, and it's fine. Cheap pitchers some nights, and pool others, nice quiet bar. The rooms, I'm told, are spacious, clean and comfortable, typically Canadian, rather than luxurious, as is the lodge in general. Robinsons, the main supermarket, is almost next door.
My, and echoed by pretty much every Brit visitor I spoke to's only real crticism of Jasper is the aggressive 'tip-hungry' attitude of some of the serving staff, especially in certain venues. Winter is the off season, a lot of places can be shut, but a lot of the remaining staff can't understand that the generous tipping they enjoy in summer just doesn't carry through to winter. As you're on the course though, they'll get to know you, and leave you alone.
There's a slim chance I might be out there late Feb, early Mar time, snow/deals depending, as it can get a bit scratchy. Last year was a blinder though. If so, be nice to meet up. If not, enjoy.
John.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| BCjohnny wrote: |
| a lot of places can be shut, but a lot of the remaining staff can't understand that the generous tipping they enjoy in summer just doesn't carry through to winter. |
Don't quite get this - surely your tip % would generally be the same although you probably have fewer tables/bar customers etc in winter so lower overall income? By aggressive do you mean informing you unsolictied that a tip of X% is expected (if they do this I automatically adjust my intended tip to 50c or less) or being overly obsequious?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
fatbob.
The bit you quoted was the opinion passed onto me by a local, not involved in the serving trade, one night after a few beers. He thought everyone knew skiers and boarders were cheap. Most places it was not an issue.
By aggressive I mean:
How about the time I was drinking with a Brit couple who, having just had the waitress return with their third round of sleeves, and having placed the change, twelve bucks in coins, out of a twenty, on the table, inform them that she was taking a four dollar tip, as she had not had any prior, and promptly snatched it back up?
There are other examples, but the threads now drifting...........
Dont get me wrong, and I don't want to be seen to be overstating this, as it's a minor irritation in an otherwise great little town. But it's there, and it gets noticed.
Edit: sp
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
We will be going to Jasper in mid Jan for a ski race (Provincials KD).
We like Jasper and like Marmot, although exiting the parking lot can be little crazy.
We were there last family weekend in Feb (10 year anniversary) and there for part of our honeymoon 10 yrs ago . Also there in summer a few years ago.
Like the town , enough going on but less of a resort feel than Banff. Lots of widllife which is great. Even saw a lynx there once- magic. Think we saw two wolves down by river last year. Have seen loads of coyotes and I think they were wolves not coyotes, but can't be 100%.
Love the Park lodge. The cross country trails and snow shoeing round there is nice. Ice skating on the lake is also nice and all those things can be done by non-guests
Edmonton is someway away- more like 4 hours in winter. Lake Louise is closer but there isn't much there.
If you want to think about emigrating to Canada you need to look to see if you are eligible as things hae changed in the past few years
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
