Lake Louise, Kicking Horse, and Revelstoke 1st week of Feb?

[frosty t]

Making plans for my first trip to Interior BC this winter and would like any suggestions anybody here may have on visiting the great resorts in that region. I know it’s a gamble to make long range plans for a snowboard trip, but with a flexible schedule and la nina forecasted for this winter (well at least before this past weekend’s huge dumps in California), hopefully our chances of getting good conditions are favorable.

We are planing on flying into Calgary (appears to be cheapest and most direct gateway from LAX) and heading west in a rental car. The only set plans we have are 3 days at kicking horse with a ski in/ski out condo (we have 8 days total). They have some really affordable stay and ski free packages and we are meeting a group of friends arriving 5 days after us. For the other days, our schedule is wide open and it’s only my buddy and I so we can easily accommodate changes to our plans. I was thinking Lake Louise on the way out (maybe quick side trip to Banff for sightseeing) and then driving on to Revelstoke and then stopping at KH for our 3 days on the way back. Other resorts I should check out?

Would all this driving even be manageable? Looking at google maps it's a few hours through beautiful scenic passes, and with winter conditions it's an entirely different situation. I would also appreciate any recommendations on rental cars (need a 4X4 truck?) and places to stay. Looks like there are affordable hostels in some of the towns (at least Revelstoke & Golden) that are definitely an attractive option when you're 25 years old like us.

Thanks.

 

[wolfer]

I have a friend with a condo in Panorama so I have made the drive from Calgary to Invermere every year for the last 7 years. We have never had a 4x4 or even needed one in those years. our trip dates have been from New Year's day right up to closing weekend in April. The last few years we have also made several day trips from Panorama to Kicking Horse, again we have never needed a 4x4. The Trans Canada highway is maintained really well during the winter. having said that you can't go wrong with a 4x4 can't if it is in your budget.
Revelstoke, Kicking Horse and LL are definitely worth visiting. KK is my favourite mountain in Canada. We did Sunshine and LL last year. Even though LL had considerably less snow than Sunshine the back bowls at LL where in way better shape than anywhere at Sunshine.
The only other suggestion that you might consider is Calgary to Fernie and/or Castle (3 1/2hrs from Calgary), up to KK (3 3/4 hrsfrom Fernie) and then stop in LL (1 1/4hrs from Golden) on your way back to Calgary.

 

[Tony Crocker]

I would agree with the above to keep the option open to do the loop south to Fernie and Castle. From the way things are starting out they may be getting more of a La Nina boost than the places along the TransCanada Hwy.

Try to leave as much of the lodging open until you get closer to departure. Also you might want to avoid Kicking Horse on the weekends because its limited lift capacity can back up from what I hear.

 

[longshanks]

Frosty - I am in the midst myself of planning a similar trip to yours and have been doing different variations since 1998. Your plan as it stands now is very credible and quite doable. Calgary is an excellent City to fly into and the transition from the Airport to the Tans Canada (Hwy # 1) is smooth. Lake Louise is close (200K or 2.5 Hours) and depending on your arrival time, you can likely get in an afternoon of sliding on the day you arrive. From LL to Golden is only 60K (45-50 min) and from Golden to Revelstoke is about 160K or about 2 hours. So as a loop, Calgary to LL to Revy to KHMR to Calgary is not a lot of driving for an 8 day trip (about 900K). As for your choice of vehicle, don't duck around...get a 4wd pickup or SUV. You are going through 2 passes (Kicking Horse & Rogers). Hey if the weather is clear and sunny for all 8 days you won't need it and all you will have lost is a little money. But, if it snows a bunch (and you hope that it does, we all do) you will be a hero for thinking ahead. If you do get lucky and it snows a ton, you should expect some driving delays as Rogers pass is often closed for avy contol even in low snow years...and this year won't be one of those dude

LL is a good place to warm up, as is Kicking Horse. Revelstoke is a horse of a different colour though. In word...relentless. Revy is a suoer knarly mountain and not the place for anyone below advanced intermediate level. You are young and thus, probably in decent shape and depending on your ski abilities, you should have fun at all 3. (I understand your schedule has you wanting to do Revy 2nd and finish at KRMR, but I would swap those if you can and finish at Revy). A viable option would be to pass on RMR and visit Panorama instead but Pano gets less snow and is more of a family desination. South of Invermere is Radium, the hots springs there are an excellent way to spend a couple hours relaxing those sore legs.

It has been years since I was at Louise so I am no help for lodging there, but be sure to go to the Post Hotel for drinks as it is a very cool place. In Golden we always stay at the Super 8 on the highway because of the wonderful elderly couple who run it (Norm and Irene). The town has some good Restaurants and watering holes. I like Golden but it is a bit of a sh!t-hole (so is Invermere). If you like to party, you won't be dissappointed with downtown Golden on a weekend but be sure to double bag your minnie me as the transient winter crowd is crawling with STDS so I'm told. I guess that sage advice could apply to any ski town in the world. Of the two, Revelstoke is a much nicer Town IMO. If you are looking for a good place to stay, check out the Swiss Chalet Motel (1101 Victoria Road). I stayed there last year and was impressed with the friendly service from Cindy and Sam. The SCM is walking distance from the downtown bars and restaurants.

With Calgary as your point of entry and 8 days, there is a plethora of options. As Tony mentioned, instead of West to LL, you can go South to Castle and or Fernie and from there up to KHMR and Revy and then back to Calgary although 4 resorts in 8 days is 1 resort too many. I usually do a 10 day tour from Calgary that for the last few years included KHMR, Revy, and Red Mountain (4-5 hrs south of Revelstoke). This year I'm in for 12 days (Jan 25 - Feb 6) and plan to hit Castle for 2/3, then maybe Fernie for a day, Revy for 2/3 and then Red for the balance before flying back home from Castlegar. Red is very accessible from the US as it is only 2.5 hrs north of Spokane WA and just over the boarder. The Town of Rossland is a truly unique experiance and not to be missed. Red is my favourite mountain hands down, you have to ski (or board) it to believe it. Bottom line... you will love Alberta & BC. Pretty good snow most years, excellent terrain, low skier density, nice polite people, it's Canada baby! you can't go wrong. Any other questions?

 

[Tony Crocker]

For what it's worth I've never had a 4WD rental in Canada for annual trips since 1997 except when I was provided one by Travel Alberta for 4 days. Rogers' Pass is the only driving area that gets intense snowfalls by Sierra/LCC standards and it is a fairly steady grade and well maintained. So I wouldn't go for the SUV unless you get a great deal or are not that price sensitive.

I disagree on longshanks comparison of Revelstoke and Kicking Horse (I have skied 5 days on each). Revelstoke has a consistent and relentless advanced intermediate fall line similar to but even longer than Sun Valley. But in terms of "super gnarly" Kicking Horse has much more of that. I find Kicking Horse to be a far more exhausting mountain. I was completely trashed after my first day there in 2002. There is more grooming now if you need to take it easy for a run or two.

Given the logistics of a one week trip, if you have to choose between including Fernie/Castle and Revelstoke I vote for the former unless conditions dictate otherwise.

 

[wolfer]

interesting how two people can have such diferent opinions about the same mountain, the one day I skied at Revelstoke with you Tony competely trashed me, more so than any day I have skied at Kicking Horse. When people ask me what Revelstoke is like, the first thing I tell them is: relentless

 

[longshanks]

For what it's worth I've never had a 4WD rental in Canada for annual trips since 1997 except when I was provided one by Travel Alberta for 4 days. Rogers' Pass is the only driving area that gets intense snowfalls by Sierra/LCC standards and it is a fairly steady grade and well maintained. So I wouldn't go for the SUV unless you get a great deal or are not that price sensitive.

Beep! Roger's Pass is certainly not the only area...have you ever driven through Kootenay Pass (between Salmo & Creston on Hwy #3 - just south of Whitewater) in a big snow year? At an elevation of 1700m K.P. is the highest pass in BC (I think) and gets a ship-load of snow. In 1998 I did a solo trip to Fernie, while there I heard that Red was getting hit large so the next day off I went in my little rental car. I will never forget the completely surreal experiance of going through Kootenay Pass...the highest snow banks I've ever seen being cut back by the largest snow blowers I've ever seen. I was the only vehicle on the road that wasn't Chained, a 4WD or a big rig. I started to get nervous only when I was heading down towards Salmo and all the big rigs where pulled over chaining up and all the runaway lanes had fresh truck tracks in them. Luckily my little car was a standard so I was able to avoid using the brakes a whole lot. That trip was some of the finest white knuckle driving I've every done. (btw - Red received 52cm that day and was well worth the effort) From a cost perspective, last year I was able to rent (National) a 4WD Chevy Sierra pickup for less than anything else...maybe I just got lucky.

I disagree on longshanks comparison of Revelstoke and Kicking Horse (I have skied 5 days on each). Revelstoke has a consistent and relentless advanced intermediate fall line similar to but even longer than Sun Valley. But in terms of "super gnarly" Kicking Horse has much more of that. I find Kicking Horse to be a far more exhausting mountain. I was completely trashed after my first day there in 2002. There is more grooming now if you need to take it easy for a run or two.

Hey, no doubt that KHMR has plenty of knarly terrain...one just has to look at all the shoots that come off the uper ridges for proof of the Mountain's technical difficulty. However, you can avoid those if that's not your thing and there is still plenty of easier lines down. The lower mountain at Kicking Horse is also way mellower than Revy for the most part. Regardless of personal preference, both are great mountains.

Given the logistics of a one week trip, if you have to choose between including Fernie/Castle and Revelstoke I vote for the former unless conditions dictate otherwise.

On this point I must disagree with you. With similar conditions, I would take Castle over Fernie any day of the week - especially on a weekend. But to each, his own...

 

[Tony Crocker]

I would take Castle over Fernie any day of the week

So would I. I meant Fernie/Castle in combination vs. Revelstoke. Castle is a modest detour if you're driving Calgary to Fernie. Revelstoke is much more out of the way from Kicking Horse.

have you ever driven through Kootenay Pass (between Salmo & Creston on Hwy #3

Yes, twice, once with the road snow covered. I was not thinking about Kootenay Pass because it would not be on the itinerary of the OP.

the one day I skied at Revelstoke with you Tony completely trashed me

I'll take the blame for that mogul marathon on Burgundy, following the area boundary from the bottom of North Bowl to the bottom of Ripper. The next year I was wiser and took the plowed road off to the left, even though some of it was uphill. Groomers like the front side I can pace myself and not get too tired. Very similar to the Warm Springs side of Sun Valley. Having that 1,500 vertical fog bank in the middle didn't help though.

At Kicking Horse, because of the lift system I feel compelled to hit one of those chutes or the nearly as steep south side trees every time up the gondola because you only get so many runs. Also, the last 3 years it's been the day going into Chatter Creek and I have to get off the hill by 2PM so even more the emphasis upon the challenging lines. I'm always relieved to hit the lower groomers by the time I get halfway down.

 

[yak]

You can also consider Revelstoke-> cool ferry ride -> Red Mtn loop on your way to Fernie, and maybe side trip to Whitewater.

We did something similar, but it WAS a lot of driving.

 

[Tony Crocker]

You can also consider Revelstoke-> cool ferry ride -> Red Mtn loop on your way to Fernie, and maybe side trip to Whitewater.

That is an insane amount of driving for a one week trip based from Calgary, especially since those particular roads are much tougher than the TransCanada or Hwy 93 from Kicking Horse down to Cranbrook/Fernie. I did roughly that route in 2005 from Spokane to escape some of the Tropical Punch effects. If you have 2 weeks that would be great sampler of interesting ski areas.

 

[longshanks]

You can also consider Revelstoke-> cool ferry ride -> Red Mtn loop on your way to Fernie, and maybe side trip to Whitewater.

That is an insane amount of driving for a one week trip based from Calgary, especially since those particular roads are much tougher than the TransCanada or Hwy 93 from Kicking Horse down to Cranbrook/Fernie. I did roughly that route in 2005 from Spokane to escape some of the Tropical Punch effects. If you have 2 weeks that would be great sampler of interesting ski areas.

I am inclined to agree with Tony on trying to Include Red with the others for a 1 week trip - unless you like driving more than sking. As mentioned above, I did a 10 day trip with my sons last Christmas/New Years. We arrived in Calgary on Xmas day and headed straight to KH where we got in a good afternoon warmup, stayed 1 night at the Super 8 - rode KH all day on the 26th then headed for Revelstoke. Rode Revy on the 27th & the 28th until 2:30 and then punched it to Rossland via the Shelter Bay to Galena Bay ferry. Rode Red 29/30/31 and Jan 1st till noonish and then headed back to Revy where we had 2 more days. Since our flight home was @ midnight we also sqeezed in a side trip down to Radium to finish off our 10 days with a soak in the hot springs. All in, this was about 1700km and we skied every day.

 

[Tony Crocker]

It seems obvious to use Spokane as the gateway if you want to emphasize Red and Revy, and now the much expanded Whitewater between them.

 

[frosty t]

thanks for all the good insight. looking forward to a great trip.