how to ski banff

[TOLOCOMan]

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.

[DanoT]

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?


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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.

[mntlion]

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

[brown9]

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).

[bennymac]

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.

[mntlion]

good food option is

https://www.ramenarashi.com/

[jrf]

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!


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[TOLOCOMan]

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.

[joesnow_]

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


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[Henryla330@hotmail.com]

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

[DanoT]

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.

[mntlion]

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.

[birdboatboy]

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.

[mntlion]

bump for new season starting Nov 8th?

[paulster2626]

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.

[ex-powderbroker]

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

[Spooky]

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.

[teamdirt]

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!!

[TOLOCOMan]

Amen to that!

[paulster2626]

PM me. I can help a little.

Tahnk you for the offer. Opportunity popped up out of nowhere for Whistler - jumped on that instead.

[MiltonBradley]

Are you familiar with 57 hours backcountry tours? Looking into booking them for a day.


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[mntlion]

Are you familiar with 57 hours backcountry tours? Looking into booking them for a day.


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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?

[MiltonBradley]

Sounds good. Thanks!!


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[waxman]

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.

[Arctos Guides]

Are you familiar with 57 hours backcountry tours? Looking into booking them for a day.


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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.