Lake Louise update

[Idris]

Boxing day at the lake was unreal, a foot of fresh pow and no crowds...don't know what happen to everyone eles but for those who made it was a blast.
No lift lines and this view.



And some messing about.

[Eldo]

Thanks for the update. Looks like it was an awesome day! (Who's the huckster in the second pic?) That first photo is a cool view looking back along Boomer ridge. Just one of Louise's many hidden charms.

I think what happened to some people who were planning to ski today was the cluster fuck of road conditions leading out of Calgary this morning. I basically gave up after sliding off the roads twice before even getting halfway across town. Not that I was driving too fast or anything.

Is anyone planning to ski later this week? I hear there may be another dump for Thursday or Friday.

[Idris]

Who's the huckster in the second pic?

Powslut

Is anyone planning to ski later this week? I hear there may be another dump for Thursday or Friday.

Skiing Wednesday and Friday

[powstash]

what are you doing in Canada? no Cham this year?

Nice pics!

[mntlion]

Powslut



Skiing Wednesday and Friday

Might join you on Fri. unless the dive opens

[Lone Star]

drool. very nice.

[Woodsy]

damn, the lake was good in places when I was there, but the terrain is set up on the back side for a day like that.....

.

and, powlsut skis?!?!?

[powslut]

and, powlsut skis?!?!?

That's a lie. The picture is actually of my stunt cock. I was too busy sleeping to make it up.

[L7]

Nothing says holiday season like an inversion and valley cloud. Beautiful up there today. Lots of good skiing, some of the accesses are a bit skanky still. Whitehorn 1 2nd gate, great lines, bony at the top. The heart, bony going in but sweet the rest of the way, lower 5 rough in but see above for sweetness. Gong show at the bottom and no lines on summit or paradise, skiing no hat and shades. That works for me.

[Idris]

That's a lie. The picture is actually of my stunt cock. I was too busy sleeping to make it up.

You must be refering this guy!

[Idris]

what are you doing in Canada? no Cham this year?

Nice pics!

Not living 4-6 to a room is realy why I'm in Canada + there is snow here and not in Cham

[natty dread]

Not living 4-6 to a room is realy why I'm in Canada + there is snow here and not in Cham

And all this time I thought you liked living in the corner of that kitchen with the slanting ceiling so you had to walk all hunched over.

[sherpahigh]

I was at the lake today along with half of Calgary. There's some decent snow there but there's definitly some thin spots in areas. Great day with no clouds and some great runs were had but the crowds suck this time of year.

I'll probably check out ssv in a couple days. Any reports on coverage there?

[Idris]

I'll probably check out ssv in a couple days. Any reports on coverage there?

Coverage on piste is very good..off it's nowhere near as good as the lake, and much more crowded!......I left at 10.45 today...it was getting too buisy...the gondola line was in the parking lot, cars were parked 4km down the access road and cars heading in were backed up all the way to CPH! the only palce to head until the madness dies down is into the backcountry.

[Woodsy]

You must be refering this guy!

holy pornstar Batman!
edit: actually more like Lawerence (?) from Office space
million dollars? thats easy. 2 girls at the same time

[Eldo]

... and much more crowded!......I left at 10.45 today...it was getting too buisy...the gondola line was in the parking lot, cars were parked 4km down the access road and cars heading in were backed up all the way to CPH! the only palce to head until the madness dies down is into the backcountry.

Friday might not be so bad at the resorts. A lot of Calgarians won't be skiing because they will be getting ready for New Year's Eve. Tourons staying in Banff might be out, but not so many day trippers from the city. New Year's Day until noon is also usually not too bad. Assuming you're not too hung over.

BTW, has anyone been in The Dive yet? Just how boney is it?

[Idris]

BTW, has anyone been in The Dive yet? Just how boney is it?

Closed today, looked like a bumpy scratchy mess from below ...working new years day 7am ;(

[L7]

Today (Wednesday) was another great one at the Lake. Cold and foggy down low but by mid mountain another inversion and another valley cloud. A second high thin layer of cloud above but nothing to affect light and a big blue patch above most of the time. No lines whatsoever on Summit or Paradise and great snow with a skiff of fresh to keep it soft. Styrofoam with a soft layer over top can always work for me.

After lunch down to the bottom and not too bad of crowds but the lodge was hammered and that might be where they all were. Pretty brutally cold down there for all the sorry saps that didn't go up high enough.

They say the deep freeze is coming.

[chump]

has anyone been in the backcountry lately? k-country or the parkway? just wondering what's good out there right now. I've been at the resort too much lately.

[Eldo]

has anyone been in the backcountry lately? k-country or the parkway? just wondering what's good out there right now. I've been at the resort too much lately.

I was at Elk Lakes cabin for a few days just before Christmas. (Located on the other side of Elk Pass down into B.C.) Nasty rain crusts even up at the pass and no good skiing anywhere on the B.C. side that we went.

Burstall may have dodged the rains since it is higher up. Or maybe Bow Summit or Parker's? The snowpack has tightened up a lot except in shallow areas, so that is good news.

[Eldo]

They say the deep freeze is coming.

-18C for a high tomorrow. That should thin the crowds a bit.

I will be at the Lake or seeking warmth at Kicking Horse tomorrow. (But most likely Louise unless it snows a whole bunch.) Probably a few Calgary and Canmore folk in tow.

[crashidy]

well it is -21 right now here in k country...friggin cold, and not supposed to warm up yet... there is a little skiff of snow that keeps coming through, but sunny right now

[TOLOCOMan]

has anyone been in the backcountry lately? k-country or the parkway? just wondering what's good out there right now. I've been at the resort too much lately.

Yeah, I've been skiing up on the parkway all week. Too busy at the hill right now for my liking. 1900m seems to be the magic number right now to avoid the crusts. I didn't venture up too high since it looked really wind blasted, but found some great skiing lower down in the trees. Highly recommended.

[Eldo]

A big thanks to L7 for mentioning the inversion that has been happening at Louise. With that in mind we ended up at the Lake. -25 at the base area, -15 at mid, and -5 up top by 1 p.m.

Lots of badly frozen tourists on the lower slopes. At lunch there were some people in the daylodge actually crying as their hands and feet warmed up. Welcome to Canada! But temps were fine up top and no one on Summit, Paradise and TOTW. We skied right on to the lifts all day. Mucho fun.

I think today was the last inversion day though. We could feel the cold air rising higher up the mountain in the late afternoon. Doing the final highspeed run from Paradise down to the base was a freeze/burn agony extravaganza.

Now we need some new snow, maybe nine feet, like Cali.

(PH, were you up? We didn't get there until 8:45 and looked for you all day. I will tell you about it later. Rather funny.)

[L7]

I was down at Panorama over new years. Got pretty damn cold there too. Gotta love those inversions but that icepick getting jammed into the forehead during the end of day descent is a kicker.