Skiing and Snowboarding - Page 45

Calgarian · #**881** Posted **Apr 28, 2017, 3:59 PM**

Forecast has been significantly downgraded now, only 6cm overnight forecast for tomorrow (I'm a powder snob these days lol), may decide to pass if I can go mountain biking somewhere, might be a bit soggy for that though...

Klazu · #**882** Posted **Apr 29, 2017, 12:26 AM**

How many resorts are still open? I am taking my skis to summer service and storage tomorrow.

MalcolmTucker · #**883** Posted **Apr 29, 2017, 4:31 PM**

A fair number. More isolated, destination resorts are mostly closed though, even if they have enough snow, for example Jackson Hole and Revelstoke Mountain Resort.

Calgarian · #**884** Posted **May 1, 2017, 6:03 PM**

I think it's just Lake Louise, Sunshine and Whistler that are still open.

Went to Sunshine Saturday, gorgeous sunny day, actually got a bit sunburned, first time that's happened on the ski hill. Snow was super crusty off the groomers on Goats Eye, but the rest of the hill was pretty good. The Groomers were pretty fast and there were a few pow stashes in the trees left from last weeks dump. Only slush I found was on the ski out, the rest got soft but was fine for riding.

MalcolmTucker · #**885** Posted **May 1, 2017, 6:27 PM**

^ I was at Sunshine on Sunday. Really variable weather, the groomers were sweet though. Haven't had a groomer day in years!

Calgarian · #**886** Posted **May 1, 2017, 7:08 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MalcolmTucker

^ I was at Sunshine on Sunday. Really variable weather, the groomers were sweet though. Haven't had a groomer day in years!

It started sunny on Saturday, then snowed, then was sunny, then snowed.. so yeah variable is a good word. The temp hung around freezing in the village though, so it wasn't bad. I think yesterday was a bit warmer than Saturday was though...

shreddog · #**887** Posted **May 2, 2017, 9:21 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calgarian

I think it's just Lake Louise, Sunshine and Whistler that are still open.

I know what you're saying, but technically Whistler is closed as only Blackcomb mtn is still open. I'm thinking of going one last time this Saturday just to see what late season skiing is like on the coast. For the most part this has been a good season on both sides of the divide ... and only another 6 months until next season!!

Klazu · #**888** Posted **Jun 5, 2017, 4:51 AM**

As mentioned, back in February me and my wife took a week off to head over to the Canadian Rockies and Kootenays for six fabulous days in the slopes.

It was a great winter in British Columbia, but our trip began in a pouring rain brought to us by a mid-winter Pineapple Express. In the town of Hope the snow banks were high, yet it was pouring.

Previous night all mountain highways out of Lower Mainland had been closed, but Coquihalla Highway had been opened shortly before our arrival. Little did we know that choosing to cross it would result in thousands of people being stuck in their cars for the night...

Despite hundreds of other people in the same situation, it is still a lonely feeling to be stuck on a mountain highway in a snow blizzard with dying daylight.

Fortunately we got past the problem spot and driving conditions east of Coast Mountains were not too bad the next day. These are from Trans-Canada Highway enroute to Revelstoke.

This place always looks so interesting. I wonder how popular holiday destination it is, so far from everything?

Arriving in Revelstoke the weather had improved. Revelstoke had a fresh dump of snow from the previous night, which made for a great day in the slopes.

I really liked Revelstoke and we will surely return there again for more skiing! Our next stop was Golden, where we would spend two days exploring the the steep mountains of Kicking Horse.

Up on the summit is Eagle's Eye, which claims to be the highest restaurant in Canada at 2,450 meters (8,033 feet) above sea level.

On a nice day the views are absolutely incredible and what a day we had!

To go to the very summit, take the chair lift up to Stairway to Heaven and you are... in heaven.

These vistas were the first leg of our long trip and more photos from the Kootenays region soon in part 2.

Klazu · #**889** Posted **Jun 7, 2017, 3:53 AM**

From Golden our great ski trip continued south towards Cranbrook and the Kootenays. It's a good 250-kilometer drive between the two, offering some splendid views of Pursell Mountains and the Rockies along the way.

Big horn crossing.

Just open road.

Cranbrook had just got dumped by almost a meter of snow, which was very evident in downtown. Too bad we didn't have much time to explore the small city buried in snow.

Our accommodation in the area was the very nice St. Eugene which is an old 20th century First Nations schoolhouse turned a golf and casino resort. The historic main building has been restored fantastically and acts as a fine hotel.

I can tell you that there was nothing better than relaxing in the outdoor pool after a long day of skiing.

Just like the exterior, also the historic interior was very well preserved, honoring the old style in all places.

Our first night there happened to be on Valentine's Day which naturally called for a nice steak dinner. The smokehouse at St. Eugene was fantastic.

Next day was a cloudy and we decided to head to Fernie for our fourth ski day. Fernie was nice, but thanks to the passing Pineapple Express, the weather was wet and windy with many icy runs, which deterred some of our excitement. With more fresh snow our experience might have been very different, as the runs seemed fun.

Last two days were spent in Kimberly which is a smaller family-friendly resort. On our first day the weather was appalling with heavy rain (and snow at the top), but the second day was much, much better.

What a fantastic last day!

Finally it was time to head back home. It is 840 kilometers from Cranbrook to Vancouver and we split the drive in two, spending a night in Osoyoos. Along the way driving conditions varied from one extreme to the other, but we didn't have any problems getting back home. Our 2500-kilometer road trip had come to an end.

All in all we had a great trip with lots of sunshine and four very different ski resorts. We liked them all for different reasons and the main reason for choosing these particular resorts was the RCR Card they share, which offers very inexpensive multi-day skiing. I highly recommend getting it if in the area.

While winter feels far away, the next is never too far and we are already making plans for it. More on that later on.

Denscity · #**890** Posted **Jun 7, 2017, 7:42 PM**

Hey Klazu looks like you drove through Castlegar on the way home. So a belated hello to you guys! And beautiful pics as always.

Airboy · #**891** Posted **Jul 18, 2017, 4:55 PM**

Looked at the Sunshine village Web cams. It appears there are fire crews setting up sprinklers around the village. The fire near Mouth Athabasca is moving in that direction.

http://www.skibanff.com/conditions/cams/

Calgarian · #**892** Posted **Jul 18, 2017, 5:03 PM**

Crazy, Sunshine almost gets washed out by a flood a few years ago, now it might burn up!

Airboy · #**893** Posted **Jul 18, 2017, 5:14 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calgarian

Crazy, Sunshine almost gets washed out by a flood a few years ago, now it might burn up!

The opposite of McMurray last year. Did fire damage assessment then 2 months later did flood damage review. followed by sprinkler freeze and flood in Dec.

Klazu · #**894** Posted **Jul 22, 2017, 2:43 AM**

Last season is long behind us and there is still some ways to go until the next one, but I was curious to see how the La Niña winter we had stacked against the El Niño winter the year before.

Based on the numbers I could find, Mount Baker and Mount Seymour had a phenomenal winter with Interior having at best an average one. Whistler was surprisingly similar between the two winters, last year being excellent in comparison to the other mountains.

Calgarian · #**895** Posted **Sep 12, 2017, 4:20 PM**

Castle Mountain Resort is now evacuated due to the fire in SE B.C. / Waterton N.P. Apparently the fire is quite close to the ski hill now

Fortunately there is rain in the forecast for tomorrow!

Nites · #**896** Posted **Oct 15, 2017, 8:52 PM**

Klazu what snow tires were you using?

Calgarian · #**897** Posted **Oct 30, 2017, 6:54 PM**

Sunshine and Louise both open Nov. 10, season is almost here!

Airboy · #**898** Posted **Oct 30, 2017, 7:46 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calgarian

Sunshine and Louise both open Nov. 10, season is almost here!

Looking at the webcams that may be pushing it, snow making has only just begun. Marmot has better snow.

Calgarian · #**899** Posted **Oct 30, 2017, 10:01 PM**

Sunshine already has a 30cm base apparently and Louise is good up top, but needs more at the base. Supposed to snow this week which will help, and it's already cold enough that Louise has their snow making going full, and it will only get colder this week. It won't be amazing conditions likely, but should be good enough. My first day is usually late Nov or Early December, whenever they get enough snow for a powder day.

ibz · #**900** Posted **Oct 31, 2017, 12:05 AM**

Sunshine looks pretty good to me on the cams for this time of year. $109 for a day pass this year though! Glad I got my mountain collective