Thanks to Patrick for recommending that I check out Marmot Basin (note to admin: ski area #123). Marmot is located near Jasper, a 2 hour drive after Friday dinner at Mike Wiegele Heliskiing in Blue River. Jasper (10F) was much colder than Blue River, but there was an inversion so it was more like 20F skiing at Marmot Saturday.
Like many Alberta areas, Marmot has a low snow reputation, but this year they were in full operation on opening day November 23. Snow was uniformly packed powder and much softer than the opening day of this trip at Kicking Horse. There had only been an inch or two recently, but there was much more powder in some of the trees, nearly 2 weeks old but still fluffy due to low water content. Though primary exposure is east, there was no sun effect on snow this far north in early February.
Marmot Basin is a medium size area by western standards but has an excellent balance and diversity of terrain. The 1050 vertical base area express lift serves beginner and intermediate trails. The steeper cruisers are above, served by the 1020 vertical Paradise lift that emerges just above timberline. I had 6 runs on the 890 vertical Knob lift in the alpine, which reminds me of some of my favorite advanced intermediate terrain on Mammoth's chair 5. A long traverse skier's left from Knob leads to Charlie's Bowl, a ~35 degree steep open slope comparable to Climax. Marmot Peak is about 500 vertical above the top of Knob, and a few locals were hiking up there.
I think the 1007 vertical north facing Eagle Ridge chair is new since Patrick was here, and there are advanced intermediate runs and glades near the lift. Dropping skier's right from Eagle Ridge toward the base are much steeper bowls and glades, and this area was practically empty on the 2 runs I skied there.
With good weather and snow on a Saturday, it was probably a busy day by Marmot standards, with 5 minute lines at the base and Paradise chairs if you weren't single. There were lots of families as it's the closest sizeable area to Edmonton, about 220 miles. I skied 19,800 vertical from 10AM to 2:30PM so I could drive the Columbia Icefield Parkway before dark on the way back to Calgary.
Like many Alberta areas, Marmot has a low snow reputation, but this year they were in full operation on opening day November 23. Snow was uniformly packed powder and much softer than the opening day of this trip at Kicking Horse. There had only been an inch or two recently, but there was much more powder in some of the trees, nearly 2 weeks old but still fluffy due to low water content. Though primary exposure is east, there was no sun effect on snow this far north in early February.
Marmot Basin is a medium size area by western standards but has an excellent balance and diversity of terrain. The 1050 vertical base area express lift serves beginner and intermediate trails. The steeper cruisers are above, served by the 1020 vertical Paradise lift that emerges just above timberline. I had 6 runs on the 890 vertical Knob lift in the alpine, which reminds me of some of my favorite advanced intermediate terrain on Mammoth's chair 5. A long traverse skier's left from Knob leads to Charlie's Bowl, a ~35 degree steep open slope comparable to Climax. Marmot Peak is about 500 vertical above the top of Knob, and a few locals were hiking up there.
I think the 1007 vertical north facing Eagle Ridge chair is new since Patrick was here, and there are advanced intermediate runs and glades near the lift. Dropping skier's right from Eagle Ridge toward the base are much steeper bowls and glades, and this area was practically empty on the 2 runs I skied there.
With good weather and snow on a Saturday, it was probably a busy day by Marmot standards, with 5 minute lines at the base and Paradise chairs if you weren't single. There were lots of families as it's the closest sizeable area to Edmonton, about 220 miles. I skied 19,800 vertical from 10AM to 2:30PM so I could drive the Columbia Icefield Parkway before dark on the way back to Calgary.
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