Skiing and Snowboarding - Page 11

freeweed · #**201** Posted **Aug 14, 2008, 10:30 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnnyc

Cool, I see they left the pub alone though, wise choice as that's the best place to go for lunch.

If you're talking Trappers, that's the original Sunshine lodge building. No way that will ever go, it's practically a historic site.

Calgarian · #**202** Posted **Aug 14, 2008, 10:31 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by freeweed

If you're talking Trappers, that's the original Sunshine lodge building. No way that will ever go, it's practically a historic site.

I am talking about Trappers. Great little ski pub.

sauril · #**203** Posted **Aug 15, 2008, 3:55 PM**

Plus if you have a little too much apres-skiing, you can always take the Gondola back down.

Definitely my preferred way to end the day, rather than dodging newbies and racers on the ski-out.

Champion3 · #**204** Posted **Aug 15, 2008, 8:23 PM**

The Ski Out blows.

freeweed · #**205** Posted **Aug 16, 2008, 1:33 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Champion3

The Ski Out blows.

Run it first thing in the morning on a good powder day, when it's just been groomed. Seriously, a ton of fun compared to what most people experience.

Calgarian · #**206** Posted **Aug 20, 2008, 2:48 PM**

The Ski out is just too busy, with too many people of different skill levels. it really isn't fun.

Does sunshine do mountain biking in the summer?

sauril · #**207** Posted **Aug 20, 2008, 3:17 PM**

As far as I know there's no mountain biking in the parks in the summer.

Norquay tried to get it going, but couldn't get permission (or got shut down - my memory's a little fuzzy on that point)

I think the closest to Calgary (except for COP of course) is Fernie

Calgarian · #**208** Posted **Aug 20, 2008, 3:42 PM**

Yeah, I could see environmentalists getting up in arms over mountain biking. Panorama would be the closest then.

freeweed · #**209** Posted **Aug 20, 2008, 5:58 PM**

There is plenty of mountain biking allowed in the parks during summer.

What you cannot do is random biking (ie: off trail), and most sensitive/alpine locations won't allow it. This covers Sunshine as it's considered a very sensitive alpine meadow system.

It's not even directly an environmental issue - mountain bikes postively DESTROY hiking trails, especially when they're wet. It's the same reason horses aren't allowed on most trails. Parks Canada would have to create entirely separate biking trails, and making new trails in the parks these days is difficult, to say the least.

sauril · #**210** Posted **Aug 20, 2008, 6:32 PM**

Sorry - I should have been more specific. There is no lift-serviced mountain biking in Banff National park. ie. at the ski hills

I've done lots of cross country in the park.

freeweed · #**211** Posted **Aug 20, 2008, 7:38 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by sauril

Sorry - I should have been more specific. There is no lift-serviced mountain biking in Banff National park. ie. at the ski hills

Lift-serviced. Pfft. Lazy wimps.

Kidding aside, that does sound kind of sweet. You'd get a lot more downhill in that way.

And yeah, the only place I've heard of that does that in Alberta is COP. What about Nakiska, or Castle?

sauril · #**212** Posted **Aug 20, 2008, 9:36 PM**

Nakiska doesn't. I've heard rumblings about Castle (my favourite hill in AB - ssshhhhhh) but they don't as of this summer.

I prefer cross country as well. The big issue with downhill for me is the expense of the gear. $3k for a decent d/h bike plus another $500 for equipment, only to have your bike trashed after one season.

COP is about as much downhill biking as I'd like to do. A couple of hours on a summer evening is good fun.

240glt · #**213** Posted **Aug 20, 2008, 9:56 PM**

Quote:

I've heard rumblings about Castle

My fave too.. the place is so embroiled with issues I don't know if it'll ever re-open. Maybe they can turn it into a MTB park

Silver Star has some great lift assisted riding, as of course, does Whistler.

ETA whups I was thinking about the hill south of Nakiska (can't remember the name) my bad

sauril · #**214** Posted **Aug 20, 2008, 10:10 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by 240glt

Silver Star has some great lift assisted riding, as of course, does Whistler.

ETA whups I was thinking about the hill south of Nakiska (can't remember the name) my bad

That was Fortress, and man do I miss that hill. From the third-to-fourth hand information I've heard, it's pretty much never re-opening as anything. Bungling on all sides.

ETA: and I've heard that Silver Star is fantastic from some people who should know.

freeweed · #**215** Posted **Oct 14, 2008, 9:58 PM**

Teaser:

Won't show up well if you're looking at night; they don't keep static shots on their site.

I'd say that's nearly ski-able - if you took a run only once, on a pair of skis you don't mind destroying.

ExcaliburKid · #**216** Posted **Oct 14, 2008, 10:03 PM**

^*Drool*

Calgarian · #**217** Posted **Oct 14, 2008, 10:06 PM**

That's recent? wow, only a few rocky patches left to cover up. Should easily be open in a month.

freeweed · #**218** Posted **Oct 14, 2008, 10:19 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnnyc

That's recent? wow, only a few rocky patches left to cover up. Should easily be open in a month.

That's as recent as you see it (live cam). Might be a 15-20cm base already, although of course very patchy this early on (and packs down FAST). If we get some good moisture off the Pacific we might actually see them hit their Nov 7th target.

Calgarian · #**219** Posted **Oct 14, 2008, 10:27 PM**

I just looked at the webcams for louise and they are far behind, don't they have the World Cup at the end of next month, I hope they start getting some snow soon too.

0773|=\ · #**220** Posted **Oct 14, 2008, 10:35 PM**

Sunshine can get hit with snow pretty much any time of year.

I went backpacking this summer to Mt. Assiniboine from Sunshine, and that morning there was 15 cms on the ground. It was gone the next day, but still... in the middle of JULY.