Planning a return trip to British Columbia next year ( end of Feb-beginning of March ) .We have airlines tickets to Calgary AB, So we would be looking for the best place that would offer the best chance of powder , bowls, and tree skiing . (The bowls are hard to ski on overcast days with the flat light). Above all looking to avoid groomers as much as possible. We were at Fernier BC in 91 and it appears from their web site that they doubled their lift-accessed terrain since that time. We have had suggestions on Kicking Horse and Panorama. Anyone with ideas. This is probably a bad time to ask considering the conditions this year.
Ski Centres from Calgary Alberta
- Thread starter Anthony
- Start date
Fernie would be best, and don't forget to hit Castle Mt. when you're in the vicinity. The upper part of Kicking Horse is impressive, but the lift system forces you to cycle down to the often marginal lower mountain frequently.
Panorama is very skimpy on natural snow (chronically, not just this year). Lake Louise's numbers look similarly low, but Louise skis a whole lot better. This opinion is based upon skiing the two areas on back-to-back days in early February of a fairly average 2004 season. Sunshine is worth a stop too.
Panorama is very skimpy on natural snow (chronically, not just this year). Lake Louise's numbers look similarly low, but Louise skis a whole lot better. This opinion is based upon skiing the two areas on back-to-back days in early February of a fairly average 2004 season. Sunshine is worth a stop too.
I would recommend Banff/Lake Louise over Panorama based on my observation in 2004. The "bowls" at Panorama are not true alpine as at Louise. Skiable lines are constrained in both Taynton and Extreme Dream areas by trees and obstacles. With skimpy natural snow skiable lines are more limited and that tends to bring out the rocks or ice.
I think comparisons within a short time frame in the same season are revealing. I did have an interesting day at Panorama with mostly good skiing. But the next day at Louise was stellar. This year Louise has been thinner but still skiable, while Panorama has been terrible according to eyewitness reports.
And your intermediate cruiser Panorama-type skiers should love Sunshine, which has much better snow.
I think comparisons within a short time frame in the same season are revealing. I did have an interesting day at Panorama with mostly good skiing. But the next day at Louise was stellar. This year Louise has been thinner but still skiable, while Panorama has been terrible according to eyewitness reports.
And your intermediate cruiser Panorama-type skiers should love Sunshine, which has much better snow.