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
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 (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
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
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
Fayston, VT – Tucked into a sharp bend of State Route 17 in north-central Vermont lies a trip back in time, to a ski resort relatively untouched by the hand of "progress." A place where natural snow is the rule, a place where primary lift access is provided by the country’s last diesel-powered single chairlift, … Continue reading Mad River Glen: A Journey to Mecca
Jeffersonville, VT – Smugglers’ Notch has been racking up numerous awards over the past decade for their family programs: Better Homes and Gardens, Family Circle, Travel & Leisure, Parents, FamilyFun, Mountain Sports & Living and others have all recognized the resort’s prowess in this regard. Even SKI Magazine‘s October 1999 issue named Smugglers’ Notch Resort … Continue reading Smugglers’ Notch: The Family’s Wild Cousin