Check Out Our Shop
Page 9 of 11 FirstFirst ... 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 LastLast
Results 201 to 225 of 264

Thread: how to ski banff

  1. #201
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    Banff
    Posts
    567
    Hope that we get more snow. It has improved a lot in the last week, but we still need a lot more to get all the terrain open.

    At LL, ski the back and west bowl. At SSV, ski the Dive, Wild West and Goats Eye.

    Probably best "side country" in the area would be off the back of SSV. But you need to know where you're going or you cannget cliffed out easily.


    Lots of touring options around, with or without a guide.

    If you give us a bit more specifics on questions, I'm sure someone here will help you out.

  2. #202
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Location
    Sun Peaks Resort
    Posts
    906
    Quote Originally Posted by mtdurk View Post
    I’ve got 5 days booked for first week of Feb. Going in blind, so would very much appreciate any suggestions (not much here since Covid) and terrain tips. Planning to stick to SsV and LL. Any sidecountry or single day guided tours recommendations?


    Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums
    I can't give any terrain tips, but Lake Louise has some of the best mountain scenery in North America. And if you really like mountain scenery and have a car, on a day off take a drive for a few hours up the Columbia Icefields Parkway (starts just west of LL and goes toward Jasper). Many consider this the most scenic mountain highway in the world.

  3. #203
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    Banff
    Posts
    22,523
    snow pack is tricky here, its exactly NOT like coastal snow. Play safe or hire a guide. http://mtnguiding.com/ is great.

    lots of terrain, limited people on the hill so you might not need to anyways


  4. #204
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Seattle
    Posts
    533
    probably bumping it again, but this thread made a great trip for me and the mrs. back a month before the pandemic and my acl and my spinal cord issues. Life was simpler back then and the Canadian Rockies were just as beautiful as they are today (I'm sure).

  5. #205
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Posts
    12,290
    The Post Hotel in LL is very $$$ but there is a pub there and the food (burgers and steaks etc) comes out of the same kitchen as the very expensive dining room. Still not cheap but good food. You can see menus and prices online.

    For even cheaper fare the clean and nice LL hostel used to have great chicken nachos and cheap pitchers of beer in their lounge.

    If you ski LL it’s worth the drive up to the actual lake (cross the highway from the ski hill and up the hill on that side to the Chateau Lake Louise hotel) - very busy and touristy but still worth seeing IMHO and only adds 20min.

    The drive on the ice fields parkway north from there as mentioned is spectacular.

    Going for a drink at the Banff Springs Hotel is a nice way to check out that old and beautiful hotel.

  6. #206
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    Banff
    Posts
    22,523
    good food option is

    https://www.ramenarashi.com/


  7. #207
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Truckee
    Posts
    295
    Hi guys, it’s looking like we’re headed your way over the holidays, with new years plans tentatively in Revy and pretty flexible on either end. We’re a fam of 4 from Tahoe with capable 11 and 9 yo’s and 16 days from Xmas weekend till they’re back in school, so we’re thinking Banff likely before Revy for a few days. Question for you guys is
    1) we’re used to holiday traffic living in Tahoe and have a pretty good handle on how to manage it. Can you advise what it’ll be like to get into restaurants, move around town, and get to/from the hills that week between Xmas and NYE? Any sense of is it bananas like Tahoe typically is? We have time that first week of January too, any less crazy then? We might swing through pano, fernie etc too, and could do that before or after Revy.
    2) any other food recs not already made for high value dinners of any amount? - my wife’s a foodie and a hell of a chef, we appreciate good food and good vibes
    3) right now we’re booked at Canalta Lodge…is that cool?

    Been a dry start here, seems like you guys are in decent shape or at least better than us, stoked to drop into some winter!


    Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

  8. #208
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    Banff
    Posts
    567
    The Christmas to New Years week will be busier than the first week of January. Having said that, it is almost never stupid busy on the hills here. Never skied Tahoe, but from what I hear, it will not be anywhere near what you are used to.

    Tons of choices for food here! Some of my suggestions would be: Maple Leaf, Bison, Coyotes, Shoku, Balkan. Gives you a good diversity of different food styles. More casual and good vibes, the Bear St Tavern fits the bill. If you are serious that price doesn't matter, Eden at the Rim Rock is the only 5 diamond restaurant between Toronto and Vancouver. Not really a spot for kids though.

    Canalta is what I would call good value. Fairly recently updated, and a good breakfast. At the far end of the main street, but nothing is a very long walk in town. The ski bus stops at that hotel too, and that is probably a good option that holiday week as parking will be tight at the resorts.

  9. #209
    Join Date
    Mar 2020
    Location
    Rockies
    Posts
    52
    Would add Hello Sunshine to the list above - Sauvage and 4296 in Canmore (20min drive east) are also two excellent restaurants if you don’t mind making the trip


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  10. #210

    reply

    I get it that it's not Mammoth or Vail but there's probably areas/lifts to hit or avoid when it's busy?







  11. #211
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Location
    Sun Peaks Resort
    Posts
    906
    Winter is the off season in Banff.

    I was on the Panorama website a couple days ago and they listed 139 of 144 runs open. Pano gets the least natural snow in the Western Canada interior but has the most snowmaking.

    Looking at Revy's website, it looks like the Stoke Chair (upper 2k vertical feet) has good skiing but they are not recommending skiing the lower elevations.

  12. #212
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    Banff
    Posts
    22,523
    as other said, take the free bus to the ski areas. Sleep on the way out, have a beer after skiing, drops you off at the closest spot to get to lifts.


  13. #213
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    Minneapolis
    Posts
    729
    Bump, because I’m coming to Banff in about a week. I’ll be skiing solo at Sunshine or Louise on Friday, 1/19. Would love to meet up with anyone for a few laps.

  14. #214
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    Banff
    Posts
    22,523
    bump for new season starting Nov 8th?


  15. #215
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Posts
    2,643
    Any inexpensive accom. options for the solo traveler? Friends are all being losers this winter, apparently not prioritizing their expenses properly. Thinking last week of Feb/ first week of Mar to maximize snow coverage. Last couple seasons have me wary.

  16. #216
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Geopolis
    Posts
    17,150
    i had such a great trip late last season. was nervous after some thaw freeze but it started snowing again. can’t help with accommodations but I feel like this season is gonna be good based on nothing but how much i want to ski right now lol
    j'ai des grands instants de lucididididididididi

  17. #217
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    Banff, AB
    Posts
    499
    Quote Originally Posted by paulster2626 View Post
    Any inexpensive accom. options for the solo traveler? Friends are all being losers this winter, apparently not prioritizing their expenses properly. Thinking last week of Feb/ first week of Mar to maximize snow coverage. Last couple seasons have me wary.
    PM me. I can help a little.

  18. #218
    Join Date
    May 2004
    Location
    give'er eh!
    Posts
    2,244
    Weather is changing… weekly snow in the upper elevations…temps are cooling….

    Pretty soon that niege is going to stick….get your sticks shined up! Go time is on the horizon…let’s cross fingers for a well deserved average if not above average winter…last couple have been slow to get going but grinded out satisfactory for the most patient and devoted. We’re ready for the taps to open! Early and often!!

  19. #219
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    Banff
    Posts
    567
    Amen to that!

  20. #220
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Posts
    2,643
    Quote Originally Posted by Spooky View Post
    PM me. I can help a little.
    Tahnk you for the offer. Opportunity popped up out of nowhere for Whistler - jumped on that instead.

  21. #221
    Join Date
    Dec 2012
    Posts
    45
    Are you familiar with 57 hours backcountry tours? Looking into booking them for a day.


    Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

  22. #222
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    Banff
    Posts
    22,523
    Quote Originally Posted by MiltonBradley View Post
    Are you familiar with 57 hours backcountry tours? Looking into booking them for a day.


    Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums
    Looks like they are a booking site for guides etc? I would just go direct to the guide to book and talk options.

    Talk to Kevin at http://mtnguiding.com/ to see what he can offer?


  23. #223
    Join Date
    Dec 2012
    Posts
    45
    Sounds good. Thanks!!


    Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

  24. #224
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Posts
    2,942
    Quote Originally Posted by teamdirt View Post
    Weather is changing… weekly snow in the upper elevations…temps are cooling….

    Pretty soon that niege is going to stick….get your sticks shined up! Go time is on the horizon…let’s cross fingers for a well deserved average if not above average winter…last couple have been slow to get going but grinded out satisfactory for the most patient and devoted. We’re ready for the taps to open! Early and often!!
    Yeah, last year was the "worst best season ever". Fuckin' whiners just need ski more and quit hanging out at the water cooler.
    what's orange and looks good on hippies?
    fire

    rails are for trains
    If I had a dollar for every time capitalism was blamed for problems caused by the government I'd be a rich fat film maker in a baseball hat.

    www.theguideshut.ca

  25. #225
    Join Date
    Sep 2022
    Posts
    113
    Quote Originally Posted by MiltonBradley View Post
    Are you familiar with 57 hours backcountry tours? Looking into booking them for a day.


    Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums
    I would recommend booking directly through any of the local guiding services instead of 57hrs. A quick google search will yield a fine selection of local businesses who will offer you far superior service than a third party booking agency based out of Croatia.

    Do I sound biased? Of course, but I’ve also had to deal with clients who booked through 57hrs who suffered on account of it. If you’re looking for a Rockies based guide, shoot me a DM and I’d be happy to to refer you to a respected colleague.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •