new snow

Winter really is coming - new snow in Banff and minus 14 degrees in Jasper - means the ski season is not far away - Hooray!

Jasper new lift construction

Jasper, Alberta
August 28, 2009 – Jasper’s Marmot Basin ski resort is completing the next phase of one of Canada’s most significant ski lift development projects for the winter of 2009/2010 – the installation of 26 towers which will support The Canadian Rockies Express, the longest new high-speed quad chairlift in the Alberta Canadian Rocky Mountains.

Early this morning, crews were busy hooking up the first of the towers to a dual rotor KMAX helicopter, and then watched as the helicopter slowly lifted the 35 foot tall tower off the ground and began its flight up the mountainside. By the end of today, all 26 towers (the two heaviest weighing in at 5,800 lbs. each) will be in place.

Big Red Cat Skiing - New Lodge, New Mountains and New Machines

We were expecting a quiet summer, but our ambition to make Big Red Cats the best cat skiing experience has overridden the attraction of a quiet life.
So here is the news:
* 2 new mountains - and about 100 runs.
* a new Big Red Lodge for this winter 2009/10
* Another Pisten Bully 300
* 24-passenger shuttle bus
* Rossland Winter Carnival new dates 22-24 Jan 2010
* Red Mountain Ski Free Day 15 March 2010

2 New Mountains - Claw Mountain and Mt China
Kieren and Jason the excavator guy just got past the crux of building a road that will give fast access to 2 additional mountains, bringing our total to 7 - so we will now be skiing on almost all of the 19,000 acres in our tenure! This is the biggest summer expansion that we have ever done, and is especially exciting as it gives access to about 100 new runs, half of which are north-facing. Kieren believes that many of the new runs are some of our best - steep, north facing, and fairly open - so there will be plenty of interesting terrain features to enjoy, even for those who've been coming to BRC for 5 years in a row. If you're handy with a chainsaw and feel like cutting your own run, let Kieren know, and in return, he'll let you ski it this winter for free (a day for a day, for good cutters). Check out the photos below and imagine them once they're covered in a couple of metres of snow...
One of the 5 aspects of Mt China.
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The New Big Red Lodge at Red Mountain
Yes you heard it right. We have a new Big Red lodge at the base of the ski hill. Imagine 6 bedrooms (each with 2 beds in each room), so finally there is a perfect place for a grop of 12 men to stay. It has 2 living rooms, balcony with private hot tub and BBQ, garage, wood stove in main lounge and gas fireplace downstairs (as well as cental heating) Huge catherdral ceilings and great big south-facing windows feature a a great view of Red Mountain. The cost is C$700 per night plus a C$200 cleaning fee - that works out to be about C$60 per person per night if you have a group of 12. Since we announced this on Tuesday we already have 23 nights booked! So get in early before all the nights are booked for the Big Red Lodge!
We are still looking into the possibility of building a lodge in the backcountry, but this will be an excellent offering for this season.
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More Machines
Great news in the machinery department as well - we now have 3 PB300 snowcats! Not only are they all the same, which we love for parts-swappability, and much more fuel efficient, which we all have to think about these days, but also all of the passenger cabins will be the new red ones, though this one will probably have rear-entry stairs, a new ski and board rack system, and capacity for 13.
Now that we have a 24-passenger shuttle bus and a 21-passenger bus, there should be no more riding in the cramped van out to the area, and we will be able to save time by doing some of the briefing while en route!

Ghana´s Snow Leopard in Whistler, British Columbia

Kwame Nkrumah-Acheampong from Ghana, nicknamed the 'Snow Leopard', first stepped on skis six years ago at an indoor ski slope in the United Kingdom. Now, as a qualified athlete for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games next February, Kwame is the sole member of the Ghanaian 2010 Winter Games team.

In July, through an invitation from Tourism British Columbia, Tourism Whistler and the Canadian Tourism Commission, Kwame visited Whistler, BC – the Host Mountain Resort for the 2010 Winter Games – to check out the Olympic alpine venues and experience summer skiing on Whistler's Horstman Glacier. Tourism British Columbia field reporter Chris Wheeler caught up with Kwame in Whistler and videos of the extraordinary visit are now posted on Youtube and Tourism BC's website, www.HelloBC.com.

While the highlight of the visit was most certainly glacier skiing on Whistler Blackcomb, while in Whistler Kwame and his family also travelled the new world record-setting PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola between Whistler and Blackcomb mountains, went ziplining in Whistler's temperate rain forest, cycled the valley trails, went canoeing on Alta Lake, visited the Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre and stayed at the Residence Inn by Marriott.

"This trip to British Columbia marks an important milestone in Kwame's journey to the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and we are delighted to be a part of this exciting occasion," said Rod Harris, President and CEO, Tourism BC. "Kwame and his family certainly immersed themselves into the local surroundings during their stay and had some unique Whistler experiences that we are thrilled to share with potential visitors to BC."

New Highspeed Chairlift in JASPER, Canada

New for 2009 – 2010! COMING TO MARMOT BASIN:
THE LONGEST HIGH SPEED CHAIRLIFT IN THE ALBERTA ROCKIES!

The new chairlift being installed at Marmot Basin will be the largest and most significant ski area development in Alberta for the 2009-10 season and will be the longest, high speed quad detachable chairlift in the Alberta Canadian Rockies.

This incredibly innovative project is scheduled to be completed before opening day: Wednesday, November 11th, 2009.

This will improve an already fantastic ski area in the Canadian Rockies.

Whistler 2009 - Staff visit by Sandra Potter

Whistler was a revelation – gorgeous – blue skies, good snow – one of my skiing friends who has been to Whistler countless times said it was one of the best days skiing he had ever had. I am a non-skier but I had such a good weekend! I used the Sno-Limo and I could feel my grin stretching from ear to ear as I “skied” for the first time since I broke my back. The Sno-Limo is a new idea – essentially you are a passenger on a sled being guided by a skier from behind – it is fantastic!! You can access all parts of the mountain, we used the Peak Chair as well as Harmony and the new Peak2Peak Gondola. That was amazing too! 11 minutes of picture postcard views and I was lucky, I got one of the cabins with the glass floor so we could see down into Fitzsimmons Creek too. It may be the longest cable car ride in the world but no one told me how smooth it was – no bumps and no heart-stopping swinging. The weekend was action packed, as well as the Sno Limo, I went snow shoeing through the forest, visited the new Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre and then relaxed with a wonderful massage at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler and still found time for some delicious meals.
I stayed at the Four Seasons – what a treat – glorious comfortable beds, huge rooms, great service and an excellent breakfast!
Flew back last night on one of Air Canada’s new Airbus 330s – very comfy and with its seat back tvs lots of entertainment choices.

Whistler & Sun Peaks - staff visit by Mark Hill

My excitement was tangible as I boarded the Air Canada flight to Vancouver. As with the entire trip the service levels were first class, we had the metaphoric red carpet rolled out.

Once in Vancouver the drive downtown was spectacular with the Coastal Mountains as the backdrop. After a quick shower at our hotel, The Fairmont Waterfront we were met in the lobby by the first of many friendly faces for a tour of this wonderfully positioned hotel. Dinner that evening was in the Pan Pacific which is the envy of all the Vancouver hotels with its position directly on the Waterfront with views of the Harbour & Mountains.

Our one & only full day in Vancouver was certainly action packed. It started with a tour of China Town & Gastown which are interesting areas & rich in history. Then to the Sky Tower which affords glorious 360 degrees views of the downtown & surrounding areas (you can actually see the Mountains of Washington State in America). The highlight of the day was a visit to Granville Island which actually isn’t an Island but a Peninsula. They have a wonderful market & lots of lovely craft shops, the whole area had a very laid back atmosphere. The afternoon was spent visiting the Vancouver Aquarium located in the heart of Stanley Park, the Capilano Suspension Bridge & Grouse Mountain where we partook in some Snowshoeing.

I’d heard so many great stories about the Sea to Sky highway & wasn’t disappointed when I finally got my chance to experience this breathtaking journey. Once in Whistler I was extremely happy with my accommodation at the Pan Pacific Whistler Village Centre. The highlight of the whole trip was this afternoon’s Snowmobiling. We were taken in small groups up a tree lined, snow capped trail to the summit of one of Whistler’s many mountains which afforded knock out views as far as the eye can see! Dinner this evening was at Nika Lake Lodge which is a new development in Creekside on the banks of the Nika Lake. The hotel has been beautifully finished in dark wood to an extremely high standard. Dinner in the Lodge’s restaurant was exquisite & the views afforded by its position overlooking Nika Lake were stunning.

The following 2 days were all about Skiing the famous slopes of Whistler. Being a complete novice I was relatively relaxed about stepping onto the slopes for the first time & very excited about the new powder that had fallen overnight (approx 5cm). By the end of the day my mood had changed considerably, I was frustrated, angry & ready to consign my ski career to the garbage but was determined to continue the following day. I had to quickly change for a site inspection & evening meal at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler. The Fairmont has a very imposing lobby which sets a president that thankfully the remainder of the hotel lives up to. The rooms are a good size, beautifully decorated & very sumptuous. We were spoilt in the restaurant to a 5 course marathon which was washed down with the finest BC wine.



I’d hardly had time for my head to touch the pillow when I awoke & headed straight for the Four Seasons Resort for what can only be described as a monster breakfast which included fruits, cereal, traditional & freshly made omelettes. After a hearty breakfast I headed for the slopes again for a more successful days skiing. Maybe it was the breakfast but something clicked up on Whistler Mountain & I returned to the base a jubilant mood.

After two wonderful days in Whistler we headed East to the much more peaceful resort of Sun Peaks. The drive between the two roads along the Duffy Lake Road was spectacular. It was a complete shock to the system after Whistler to walk from one end of the village to the other in a matter of 5 minutes. The first thing that struck me was the beautiful village stroll with the quaint properties on either side. We had another wonderful evening meal this time in the Delta Sun Peak’s restaurant “Mantles” again washed down by BC’s finest Vin Rouge.

My final full day in Canada was spent on the slopes of Sun Peaks. Sun Peaks is blessed with the second largest terrain in Western Canada behind Whistler. The three mountains that surround the village Mt Tod (the original), Mt Sundance & Mt Morrisey create a super backdrop to this fantastic family resort. I had my best days Skiing in Sun Peaks. Looking at the other properties the Delta Sun Peaks & the new Delta Residences stood out head & shoulders above the rest.

I’ve been asked many times what Canadian’s are like & I’ve found it a difficult question to answer. I still can’t pinpoint any specific mannerisms or traits but what I did discover is that they are the most friendly, helpful & welcoming people.

Fernie - Staff visit by Ruth Heymans

I will always have wonderful memories of my first ski trip, which was to Fernie. The first thing that comes to mind is fresh snow. It was snowing while we were coming down the slopes! I first thought it would not be the wisest move to go skiing when I saw it was falling down, as I am a beginner. Quite the opposite; it was an absolute delight!

As a novice Fernie was great, there were no queues and plenty of room – I could fall over as much as I liked and was not in any one’s way. I had always been told that Fernie was for advanced skiers; I was therefore very relieved to discover that I could find plenty of runs that I could ski.

The town, which is ten minutes from the ski area, has great facilities and plenty of boutique type shops, bars and restaurants.

So you can ski all day on fabulous snow and go out in the evening. Perfect holiday!

Sun Peaks - Staff visit by Craig Rohloff

The first thing you ask yourself when standing at the base of Sun Peaks, or at least the first thing I asked, is ‘where shall I ski?’ The resort is made up of three distinct mountain faces, all offering a variety of runs, which surround the small and extremely pleasant village. With the clever way it is all laid out the simple answer is to ski them all.

So that’s exactly what I set out to do and I headed up the Sundance Express chair, which services a range of long beginner and intermediate cruisers, as well as the terrain park and half pipe. As is often the case at Sun Peaks the snow was dry and powdery. Even though in early December, the snow quality and coverage was excellent.

From here I took the very long Mt Morrisey Connector, which skirts around the main village. Here there are further excellent cruisers through the trees but also some great glade runs, along with a few short but steep black and double black runs.

From the top of Mt Morrisey there is a choice of runs that feed back to the village or you can take, as I did, the Back In Time run down the valley to the Burfield chair. This takes you to the top of Mt Tod, the third and largest of the mountains and where your choice of skiing really opens up. For beginners there is the long and very scenic 5 Mile run which winds its way for (you guessed it) 5 miles back to the village. As the top section is above the tree line, intermediates and the more advanced have an endless choice of open bowls and ridge lines, from the mildly steep to the hair rising! I choose the Crystal Bowl, gave some great lines and even found some areas of fresh powder – very impressive several days after the last snowfall.

As the day grew to an end I cruised down the mountain completing the loop back to the village and after a quick (actually quite long) relax in the hot tub at the Cahilty Lodge it was time for some dinner. Luckily I had been invited out to the restaurant at the Delta Hotel. The food was excellent and made all the more enjoyable due to our very cosy setting, beside the well stoked fire. Afterwards I headed Massa’s Bar and Grill which despite being early season and fairly quiet had a good atmosphere. After a packed day on the slopes, you certainly can’t go wrong, relaxing with a beer whilst watching the hockey.

Whistler - Staff visit by Dave Ashmore

The slope in front of me was deserted and above me the sky stretched blue to infinity, snow decorated the trees and my last, but one, run of the day looked certain to match those that preceded it.

I had spent much of the afternoon exploring Whistler’s newest lift-served addition, the glorious Symphony Bowl, which until recently was inaccessible. High on the bowl there are fabulous views across to Blackcomb mountain, lower down there are plenty of challenging glade runs and even the more relaxed, regular, trails have trees to weave in and around.

Working my way back to the resort at the end of the day, I found myself atop an empty Dave Murray trail. I pushed off and, assuming a tuck position, gathered pace. My mind raced – a numbered bib, the sound of cowbells, flags of all nations fluttering beside the piste, for the trail is to be home to the Olympic downhill in 2010. I flew down it, cold wind in my hair and victory in my sights, but all too soon my Olympic dream was over, as I had to cut off it and on to a narrower trail leading back to the main Whistler Village resort.

I might not have booked a spot on the podium, but it was none the less a great couple of minutes ‘living the dream’, part of a great day on a great mountain.

Whistler will host the alpine skiing events during the 2010 Winter Olympics. The Dave Murray run and other trails that will form the Olympic slopes are all part of the extensive skiing terrain on offer to visitors to Whistler Blackcomb before and after the Olympics. During the Olympics themselves skiers and snowboarders will still be able to make use of all but the few trails set aside for the racing. But if you can, why not get there before 2010 and try out Dave Murray, but remember – listen out for those cowbells!

Big White - Staff visit by Ruby Hart

I had a great season in Big White and I am delighted to be able to share my enthusiasm and love of the Canadian winter. Big White is known for its champagne powder, but it will not disappoint for both on-hill and off-hill activities.

Having had a great day on the mountain, I would recommend unwinding with an exotic cocktail at the Copper Kettle Grille Après bar, my personal favourite is a ‘liquid massage’. The award winning Kettle Valley Steakhouse restaurant in Happy Valley has some real treats on offer and dinner here will definitely tantalise your taste buds. To wind it all up I would suggest dropping into Snowshoe Sam’s for a late night knees up on the dance floor.

Having had a big night out, you might find yourself feeling a little rough the next day, so why not start your day right with a breakfast bagel from Beano’s Coffee Parlour in the Village Centre Mall. From there get back up on the hill and enjoy some more of that fabulous snow.