Category Archives: Features

Fernie: Growing Pains

Fernie (BC), Canada – Ever since Charlie Locke’s "Resorts of the Canadian Rockies" (RCR) purchased Fernie Snow Valley in June of 1997, rechristened it Fernie Alpine Resort and doubled the size of their lift-serviced terrain during the 1998/99 season, the southeastern British Columbia hill has been transformed overnight from a ski-bum secret into a darling … Continue reading Fernie: Growing Pains

Watch Out for the Kicking Horse!

Large snow removal trucks sped across the Calgary International Airport tarmac as a number of reporters piled into a small twin-prop for a quick, 30-minute flight to Golden, British Columbia, home of Whitetooth Ski Hill. The story which held everyone’s attention was the unveiling of a $200-million undertaking: the Canadian Rockies’ first new ski resort … Continue reading Watch Out for the Kicking Horse!

Panorama: Intrawest’s Other B.C. Ski Giant

Panorama (BC), Canada – There might be prettier vistas than the ones we had of Invermere, the 20+mile-long valley lake, nestled between the Rockies and the Purcells, the one Panorama’s literature calls “charming.” Perhaps lakeside splendor was just down the road, around a bend; or perhaps we were jaded. Several hours before, we’d been clamboring … Continue reading Panorama: Intrawest’s Other B.C. Ski Giant

Sunshine Village: A Slice of the Alps in Alberta

Banff (AB), Canada – Go ahead.  Tell your friends that you’re going skiing in western Canada.  What will you hear?   "Oh, so is this your first trip to Whistler?" Be more specific.  Tell them you’ll be skiing in the Banff area.   "Yeah, I hear Lake Louise has beautiful views." Then tell them all … Continue reading Sunshine Village: A Slice of the Alps in Alberta

Mont Orford: A Rough-Cut Gem

Magog (QC), Canada – We sat around the table chuckling arrogantly at the Mont Orford trail map.  Triple black diamonds are the overzealous creations of a marketing department run amok, and we were certain that Orford’s were no exception.  We prepared ourselves for a day of gentle corduroy cruising.  Boosting our spirits was the steady, … Continue reading Mont Orford: A Rough-Cut Gem