Planning a ski trip...Calgary loop in February 06

Patrick

Patrick

Well-known member
The plan is to fly to Calgary then ski for one week (or 2 - need to work this out).

Hitting: Castle, Fernie (2 days), Panorama (maybe), Kicking (2 days) = 1 week plan

2nd week if it's happens (i've been to these areas a few times): Louise, Sunshine, Norquay (only once), if open Fortress (only once) and Nakiska (never been - I own, this areas is a lot like the East).

The last part of the trip will be more laid back and more touristy if some people that I might join.

I might be solo or not (ahhh people these days, cannot make up their minds):lol:

So i'm looking for places to sleep:

Near Castle, Fernie (Ragling Elk or maybe elsewhere), Invermere, Golden, Banff and near Kananaskis.

Any suggestions and opinions are welcome.

I'm personally looking for cheap and good. HOWEVER I know some people that might join us and they aren't into the cheap Motel/Hostel types. Any suggestions on the minimum type condo/lodging with Hot Tub/pool in these location?

Tony, some of the people I know might be interested in Catskiing. Anything to suggest? There looking for powder and they aren't from the East or West.

I know that powder ski areas wise, Castle/Fernie/KH are the best bets and that's what I told them.
 
During my first Calgary loop trip I stayed 2 nights at Fairmont Hot Springs. It's about halfway between Fernie and Lake Louise, and about half an hour from Panorama. Huge heated outdoor pools and not all that expensive as I recall.

FYI I will be skiing Kicking Horse Feb. 1 and cat skiing Chatter Creek Feb. 3-6. Chatter is heli access so day skiers are out of the question. Island Lake Lodge near Fernie has 36 skiers at its original operation and another 24 at Powder Cowboy on the back side of the Lizard Range. Island Lake is booked solid, no surprise. Powder Cowboy is booked Feb. 8-22 but other dates are open. Advance booking now is for 3 days minimum. When you're in/near Fernie you can always call and see if they have space due to cancellation, injury, etc. but you'll need some luck. Unfortunately the real proliferation of cat areas that are easier to get in on a day skier basis are around Nelson. And that's a 5-hour one way drive from Fernie that you would have to retrace afterwards.

At the moment I'm slated to take my friend Al Solish back to Calgary airport late on Feb. 6, and then I'm on my own skiing the next 4 days, flying home early Feb. 11. I have a couple of tenuous leads on other destination trips this season, and if one of those comes through I will fly home with Al early Feb. 7.
 
during the last few years a few more motels have sprung up in Radium Hot Springs which would be about 30-45 mins. from Panorama and about 1 1/4-1 1/2hr from Kicking Horse. We are arriving at Panorama one day before we can get into our condo so we had to book one night at the Best Western in Invermere for $109/night. I think this price range is pretty much average for the Invermere/ Radium area.
The word cheap does not exist in Banff, I would suggest staying in Canmore. Even in Canmore plan to spend at least $100/night.
 
Banff, the Voyager was fairly cheap and had a fun little bar.. there's a place next store that was resonable too, I think it ws called Bumper''s?

We stayed in Radium Hot Springs (30ish min from Panorama) for a night and it was cheap..and they gave us some coupons for food and stuff.. I think it was called the Tyrol hotel? plus, the hot springs were right down the road.

Fernie, we stayed at the Fernie Pub (hostel type, but you could rent a room with 2 beds for around 40 bucks).. cheap and fun, but I think they are now only doing seasonal rentals..Fernie Alpine adventures had cat skiing, and it was my first time doing that.. fun and pretty cheap(compared to other places).. but not the most challenging terrain.

Pincher Creek near Castle has several cheap motels.. don't remember which one we stayed at, but do a search online or through the Castle website.. they used to have some insane ski and stay packages set up with the local motels a few years ago when we went.

Have fun..
 
I don't think Fernie Alpine adventures exists anymore. That area is probably where Powder Cowboy is now.

Pincher Creek is definitely cheap, about half an hour east of Castle but in the wrong direction, so 2 hours from Fernie.
 
Tony Crocker":3c83acbs said:
Pincher Creek is definitely cheap, about half an hour east of Castle but in the wrong direction, so 2 hours from Fernie.
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Pincher Creek is in the wrong direction if i'm finishing the trip at Castle, however Castle would probably be are first stop.

The plan is hostels from Castle, to Fernie, etc. if solo. If two, what ends up the cheapest. All hostels I've seen or heard about are around $22-25 including in Banff. The one in Lake Louise being more expensive. If I'm not solo, whatever ends up the cheapest motel or hostel.

The only missing spot is near Panorama which I haven't found anything quick yet, I've didn't check in Radium Spring.

For the Catskiing, a group from France would be interested in this aspect, however it might be to much or a short notice for them, maybe next year. I personnally wasn't thiking of Catskiing this time.

I just need the find the best timing for snow coverage (especially for that day at Panorama_ and for work) :?

The more I heard from work, the more likely this trip will be short. :? (ie. Castle, Fernie 2, Panorama, Kicking 2, LL or/and SV). I'll see how many days I can squeeze out of my employer? :roll:
 
I'll give you the same advice as at Yosemite. You're doing a lot of driving and presumably hard skiing. It's not worth it to stay half an hour farther from where you're skiing to save $25/night.

Panorama is historically very lean on natural snow. But with this year's strong regional start it already 90% open including the two upper mountain expert zones that were open but lots of obstacles when I was there early February 2004. I was going to tell you to skip Panorama if you were pressed for time, but now there's an argument for making a point to go there since it's a big year. This logic also applies to Kicking Horse, where the lower half of the mountain is as dry as Panorama in normal years.

For your French friends RK Heliski at Panorama is the best bet as they cater to daytrippers while Island Lake/Powder Cowboy do not. I don't know how many you are, but if you can get your own group of 4 or so at RK you might get better terrain right off the bat. And sign up for the 5 run, not the 3 run package. On the 3 run deal you're virtually certain to be with first time powder skiers who will be slow and the terrain will be very mellow. This is a warning, not a criticism. Our last 2 runs with RK in March 1999 were as good as I've had anywhere. And the snow was 18 inches of cold smoke that floated in the air behind your turns. Sort of like what admin had yesterday for a more modest price :lol: .
 
Tony Crocker":2zeiy5l0 said:
I'll give you the same advice as at Yosemite. You're doing a lot of driving and presumably hard skiing. It's not worth it to stay half an hour farther from where you're skiing to save $25/night.
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However this time, you have to drive through Pincher Creek to get to Castle from Calgary. :wink: However I might sleep at Castle for the same price.

Tony Crocker":2zeiy5l0 said:
Panorama is historically very lean on natural snow. (...) I was going to tell you to skip Panorama if you were pressed for time, but now there's an argument for making a point to go there since it's a big year.
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More and more, it's look like it would be a Cas1-Fer2-Pan1-KH2 + LL or/and SV max 8 days of skiing. Work will be crazy again soon, so not sure about my vacation. :roll:

Tony Crocker":2zeiy5l0 said:
For your French friends RK Heliski at Panorama is the best bet as they cater to daytrippers while Island Lake/Powder Cowboy do not. I don't know how many you are(...).
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I just sent the email to one friend and he said that he generally been reading my posts from this year. He started travelling with a group and has done some fun trip in the Alps.

I don't know how many their group is, however I don't think it's going to be this year. His concern was the driving and the short notice, I said that next time I could try planning something only at Red and Whitewater with some Catskiing. I believe that would make much more sense for them.
 
Tony Crocker said:
I don't think Fernie Alpine adventures exists anymore. That area is probably where Powder Cowboy is now.

They are still there.. but called Fernie Wilderness Adventures... [http://www.fernieadventures.com//quote]



Pincher Creek is definitely cheap, about half an hour east of Castle but in the wrong direction, so 2 hours from Fernie.

True if you go to Castle first and head of to Fernie.. although if I recall, there isn't much lodging between Castle and Fernie so if you want to stay the night after skiing Castle..its a good option.. ....although, we came up the other way due to a nasty storm (went to Big Mtn, Mt and came through glacier to Cardston border crossing).
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snowave":1rpluyej said:
Pincher Creek is definitely cheap, about half an hour east of Castle but in the wrong direction, so 2 hours from Fernie.

True if you go to Castle first and head of to Fernie.. although if I recall, there isn't much lodging between Castle and Fernie so if you want to stay the night after skiing Castle..its a good option..
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On my last (only) trip to Castle in 2000 (http://www.firsttracksonline.com/index. ... le&sid=223), we found a ski-and-stay package in Pincher Creek at the Foothills Motel for $28.22 per person at the exchange rate of the day for lift ticket and motel room. :shock:
 
Red/Whitewater plus catskiing is a good trip, but the best and by far the cheapest access is through Spokane. Not sure how accessible Spokane is if you're coming from Ottawa or France. The closer small Castlegar airport is almost certainly one where you will be charged ripoff airfares.
 
Tony Crocker":6onalgwa said:
Red/Whitewater plus catskiing is a good trip, but the best and by far the cheapest access is through Spokane. Not sure how accessible Spokane is if you're coming from Ottawa or France. The closer small Castlegar airport is almost certainly one where you will be charged ripoff airfares.
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I am doing a long weekend trip to Red Mountain in mid/late Jan (Sierra drought). Spokane is SIGNIFICANTLY cheaper since it is a large city and the Southwest effect (competition pushing prices down). Denver, SLC, Spokane or Vancouver are all about the same amount from SFO/Oak $150-200. Car rentals are cheaper in Spokane too.

You could check out SW from Buffalo?

Red is a definite...with a maybe a stop at Schweitzer and/or 49 North to/from...and looking into snowcat. This one year old place might be convenient/OK-priced http://bigredcats.com/go/index.php?id=30.
 
The cheap air into Spokane gives you access to quite a few places. The first time I did that in 1997 I went to Fernie/Island Lake (5 hours from Spokane), then back to Red/Whitewater. You go right by Schweitzer on the Spokane to Fernie drive.

There are many cat operations within 1+ hour drive of Nelson, and most of them started up in past 10 years: Baldface, Valhalla, Retallack, White Grizzly (that's not necessarily a complete list). The 2 oldest operators Selkirk Wilderness and Great Northern, are 2+ hours north of Nelson, but they get booked way ahead for multiday trips like Island Lake and Chatter Creek.

It's easy to get in the habit of doing Calgary or Spokane loop trips. Since 1997 I've done 3 from Spokane and this February will be my 4th from Calgary.
 
Tony Crocker":2su5qqj1 said:
Red/Whitewater plus catskiing is a good trip, but the best and by far the cheapest access is through Spokane. Not sure how accessible Spokane is if you're coming from Ottawa or France. The closer small Castlegar airport is almost certainly one where you will be charged ripoff airfares.
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Red/Whitewater trip would definately not be this year, but the advantage for me is that I could probably to get into Castlegar with only 2-3 flights. Ottawa-Calgary is often direct depending on times and availability of flights. But I'll worry about this later on.

The prioirty is to book my current vacation using points, I don't want to leave until the last minute. Tony, when is the best time in February to go to the areas on my list for this year (powder + coverage). You mentioned about the issue of Panorama Extreme stuff. Should I go late February just for that OR book it for early February (ie. starting around the 5th)?
 
Since the snowfall is so high this year, I would not worry about when to go. There's even a case for going early in case El Nino asserts itself and western Canada is drier later in the season.

I suggest you book ASAP as the airlines (at least here) are getting stingy with award points availability. If you go Feb. 5, I may be in the area for the rest of that week.
 
There are many cat operations within 1+ hour drive of Nelson, and most of them started up in past 10 years: Baldface, Valhalla, Retallack, White Grizzly (that's not necessarily a complete list). The 2 oldest operators Selkirk Wilderness and Great Northern, are 2+ hours north of Nelson, but they get booked way ahead for multiday trips like Island Lake and Chatter Creek.
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Yeah, the 2 candidates are Valhalla and Big Red -- based on 1 day trips, price, availability and distance to Rossland.

I'd love to get to Fernie again too, but not enough time.
 
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