Banff (AB), Canada – Go ahead.  Tell your friends that you’re going skiing in western Canada.  What will you hear?   "Oh, so is this your first trip to Whistler?" Be more specific.  Tell them you’ll be skiing in the Banff area.   "Yeah, I hear Lake Louise has beautiful views." Then tell … Continue … Continue reading Sunshine Village: A Slice of the Alps in Alberta →

Pincher Creek (AB), Canada – Pulling into the town of Pincher Creek, Alberta, one certainly doesn’t feel that they’ve arrived at a ski mountain. Situated 30 miles east of Castle Mountain Resort, though, the 600 or so beds contained in a number of motels constitute the closest lodging to the ski area. The town is … Continue reading Castle Mountain: The Best Ski Hill You’ve Never Heard Of →

Lake Louise (AB), Canada – Think about your favorite place to ski or board. Think about why it’s your favorite. Make a list. Good. Got your list? Lake Louise will likely have just about everything on your list, maybe. What could possibly be … Continue Reading ››

Fernie (BC), Canada – Ever since Charlie Locke’s "Resorts of the Canadian Rockies" (RCR) purchased Fernie Snow Valley in June of 1997, rechristened it Fernie Alpine Resort and doubled the size of their lift-serviced terrain during the 1998/99 season, the southeastern British Columbia hill has been transformed … Continue Reading ››

“At the summit of Fremont Pass, the wind blows the fresh fluff into puffy drifts that curl up against the embankment like little white kittens settling in for a nap.” n The clouds hang low as I wheel toward … Continue Reading ››

Norden, CA – The alarm chirped at 6:30 AM. The kids, Jacquelin 14, and Jonathon, 10 rolled over into their respective pillows and buried their heads in a lame attempt to shut out the noise and sleep in for a bit longer. This otherwise compelling display … Continue Reading ››

Wildcat Creek Basin (BC), Canada – Bang! Crash! etc. plus bouncing around like a small skiff in tide rips. We tried to look out the nearby window and saw only a wall of white!!! Gradually I came awake and realized that wife Marilyn and I were ensconced on a 40″ wide bunk with 3″ of … Continue reading Mistaya Lodge Backcountry →