Killington, VT is open for the season and Canada is about to follow!
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| View over Banff from Mt Norquay's North American run |
Great
news - Canada is launching its first resorts next weekend with a battle between
two Alberta resorts for first tracks on snow! Mt Norquay near Banff is slated
for Nov 1 and Nakiska, 50 minutes drive from Calgary, is planning for a Nov 2
opening. Look out for insider tips on both these iconic ski hills next week.
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| Gorgeous grooming at Nakiska |
Having
started sorting out my ski wardrobe, I’m now working on the itinerary for my
Canada ski trip this December. As well as visiting Norquay and Nakiska, my ski
safari will include Lake Louise, Sunshine, Castle Mountain, Fernie and Kicking Horse.
After
years of absence, I’m also making it to Marmot Basin again. This is a rugged
and remote resort near Jasper, Alberta - home hill for Olympic freestyle mogul
medalist, Jennifer Heil who grew up skiing there every weekend. I was talking
to her recently about her affinity with the area: “I haven't missed a season at
Marmot in over ten years,” she told me. “It remains a privilege to be in such a
beautiful environment. My favourite aspect of Marmot is the varied terrain. You
can ski anything from wide-open runs, to glades, to moguls.”
As
well as running her own girls-only mogul ski camp at Marmot, Jenn is the
co-founder of B2ten, the group helping Canadian Olympic athletes attain their
full potential ready for Sochi. I can’t wait to whisk up the Canadian Rockies
Express - the longest high-speed quad chair in the Canadian Rockies at just
under 2,000 vertical feet – just an eight-minute ride
to the summit of Jenn’s snow-doused
domain.
You
can check out my Canada section right now for details about Lake Louise,
Sunshine, Fernie and Kicking Horse, full of last season’s antics and anecdotes.
I’ll be updating these with my new alpine adventures as the season goes on and
also adding a story about Castle Mountain, possibly Alberta’s lowest profile
resort.
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| Fergus Hudson at Castle Mountain A secret playground of powder and glades, Castle is a “boutique” hill in its unique lack of real estate and mass marketing. Despite having only a hostel for visitors, it has six lifts, 78 trails, 8 alpine bowls and 3 terrain parks over its 3500 skiable acres as well as Canada’s most affordable cat-skiing area. And best of all, it has an average of 910 cm snowfall. The hostel is actually a fun place to stay with brightly decorated individual bedrooms and a communal kitchen and lounge where you can meet the other residents. If the hostel is full, there are hotels at nearby Pincher Creek. |
Some Upcoming Resort Opening Dates:
Banff Mt Norquay – Nov 1
Keystone – Nov 1
Nakiska – Nov 2
Copper Mountain – Nov 1
Breckenridge – Nov 8
Marmot – Nov 8
Lake Louise - Nov 8
Sunshine Village – Nov 8
Winter Park Resort – Nov
13
Vail – Nov 22
Heavenly – Nov 22
Kirkwood – Nov 22
Northstar – Nov 22
Stowe – Nov 23
Sun Peaks – Nov 23
Beaver Creek – Nov 27
Crested Butte – Nov 27
Telluride - Nov 28
Telluride - Nov 28
Whistler/Blackcomb - Nov
28
Silver Star – Nov 28
Big White – Nov 28
Jackson Hole – Nov 28
Aspen Snowmass – Nov 28
Canyons Resort – Nov 29
Mt Norquay – Nov 29
Revelstoke - Nov. 30
Fernie – Nov 30
Panorama – Dec 6
Whitewater – Dec 6
Castle Mountain – Dec 13
Kicking Horse – Dec 13
Kimberley – Dec 14
Red Mountain – Dec 14
If
you don’t see your favourite ski resorts here, email me on louise.hudson2011@gmail.com
to let me know more proposed opening days.
Jennifer Heil at Vancouver Olympics:
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