Sking in December 2001 - Sunshine etc..

I am planning a White Christmas in December 2001.We are hope to visit Sunshine Resort for the Christmas for 6 Nights. Then on to Lake Louise, Panorama, Fernie each for 3 nights each. Any suggestions on my trip, where to go and NOT to go ?? Has anybody been to the New Ski Resort - Kicking Horse at Golden. Is it worth a detour from Lake Louise to Panorama ?? How are the roads to travel in the area in December. We Aussies are not use to driving on snow !! Hope anyone can help make my trip better !!

Tough to call ... early season up there last year was great, this season it was pretty much a bust. <BR> <BR>(Although you'll find links below, they'll open within a ridiculously narrow frameset, throwing the layout off - better to use the "Resorts & Experiences" menu option from the drop-down table of contents, above.) <BR> <BR>Panorama is a great hill, but doesn't consistently get lots of natural snow. You may view our story from last March at <A HREF="http://www.FirstTracksOnline.com/panorama.htm" TARGET="_top">http://www.FirstTracksOnline.com/panorama.htm</A>. <BR> <BR>Likewise, I personally attended the media unveiling of Kicking Horse last March. Wowzers! That place is a must! More than you ever wanted to know at <A HREF="http://www.FirstTracksOnline.com/kickinghorse.htm" TARGET="_top">http://www.FirstTracksOnline.com/kickinghorse.htm</A>. <BR> <BR>Stories on the others are at <A HREF="http://www.FirstTracksOnline.com/fernie2000.htm" TARGET="_top">http://www.FirstTracksOnline.com/fernie2000.htm</A> and <A HREF="http://www.FirstTracksOnline.com/louise2000.htm" TARGET="_top">http://www.FirstTracksOnline.com/louise2000.htm</A>. <BR> <BR>Make sure to take a detour from Fernie to Castle Mountain, just over the border into Alberta. The best little ski area that nobody's ever heard of, IMHO. Full details of our visit are at <A HREF="http://www.FirstTracksOnline.com/castle.htm" TARGET="_top">http://www.FirstTracksOnline.com/castle.htm</A>. <BR> <BR>The only roads where travel could be difficult cross the continental divide. Kicking Horse Pass between Lake Loo and Golden can be a bear. I didn't feel that the pass slightly south of there (can't remember the name) that connects Lake Loo and Radium Hot Springs was that bad. Likewise, Crow's Nest Pass leading from Fernie to Castle wasn't bad at all. Other roads are at a rather surprisingly low elevation, and I doubt that you'll encounter significant difficulty. <BR> <BR>Have a blast, Kim! If after reading those pieces you have still other questions, feel free to post them here, and either I or our readers will be happy to fill you in.

Banff would not be my choice for a Christmas trip. The best ski mountain there, Lake Louise, averages a modest 300-500cm snow per season, so its best terrain is not likely to be adequately covered by then. Living in a similar climate to yours (Southern California) I wouldn't be too excited about the -15C to -20C temperatures often encountered at that time of year either. Sunshine is equally frigid, but does get 600-800cm. However, it is a medium sized, mostly intermediate mountain, and I wouldn't devote nearly half of a 2 week trip to it when there are so many other great ski areas in western Canada. <BR> <BR>You should head south to the more moderate climate and higher snowfalls of the Kootenay areas along the U.S. Canada border. I second Marc's endorsement for Castle and Fernie, 2.5 and 3.5 hours from Calgary. From Fernie, Big Mountain in Montana is 2+ hours south and Schweitzer in Idaho is 3 hours southwest. <BR> <BR>5 hours west of Fernie along Canada's Hwy 3 is Rossland, home of Red Mt., a serious skiers hill of 2,900 vertical feet. Small but powder laden Whitewater is an hour north of Red near the town of Nelson. Also near Nelson are a few new snowcat operators, Retallack, White Grizzly and Baldface, where you could get a day or two of really deep powder. All of the places I've mentioned average at least 700cm snowfall, with Fernie and Whitewater close to 1000cm. <BR> <BR>Panorama is low in snowfall like Lake Louise and unlikely to have its best runs open at Christmas. Kicking Horse is undoubtedly better, but it too is on the leeward side of the Purcell Mts. and is probably best later in the season. <BR> <BR>I have published detailed resort guides for Lake Louise, Castle and Fernie (also Big White and Whistler) at <A HREF="http://members.aol.com/crockeraf/insdtrak.htm" TARGET="_top">http://members.aol.com/crockeraf/insdtrak.htm</A>. <BR> <BR>The Kootenay region has been terrible all season this year, but I have read reports that it's about a 1 in 50 year event. Base depths now are half of the next worst season of the last 15 years. Banff is just as bad, and was comparably rocky in 1993 and 1998.

Thanks guys for your quick response. This is very informative reading. It will help plan my trip so much more easy. Thanks again.