Banff Skiing - First Timer Advice

[wrencho]

Wife and I are off to Banff skiing sans kids this winter. First time skiing outside EU.

I am a proficient snowboarder (well, this is PH!) and happy on any piste/off piste in the Chamonix valley, which is our usual haunt.

Wife is a slightly less proficient skier. She wouldn't be massively comfortable with the steepness of the reds at Grand Montets for example. More of a cruiser.

Any top tips for where to get our ski legs and then progress from there? I'm happy to cruise around with the boss for the most part and we can get to all three resorts.

Also, got a day planned at Kicking Horse (wife may sit that out) so any tips on there would be greatly received.

I have all avalanche gear and can use it. Wife hasn't...

[bigmowley]

Kicking horse is a must, great steep slopes. There is loads to ski in and around the area, lots of good intermediate skiing so it will be a winner. Lucky you.

[wrencho]

bigmowley said:

Kicking horse is a must, great steep slopes. There is loads to ski in and around the area, lots of good intermediate skiing so it will be a winner. Lucky you.

Yep KH has been on the bucket list for a while. If I only have a day there am I best sticking to laps of Golden Eagle Express or can you cover both sides in a day?

[PurpleTurtle]

Where are you staying and how are you getting about?

It's 20yrs since I last went and we stayed out at the far end (Banff Rocky Mountain Resort) which is essentially a group of condos on the outskirts of town, We were in a big group, so reliant on the (very efficient) public bus service, consequently a very early start every morning.

In hindsight renting a couple of dayvans or SUVs would have been more convenient, or staying somewhere far more central.

Skiing wise I only had three weeks of skiing under my belt at that time, but even I found Mount Norquay a bit dull. Sunshine Village was excellent, Lake Louise good too. As above we did a daytrip to Kicking Horse which had some amazing powder, alas I was a bit too inexperienced to fully appreciate it.

It got down to minus 32 degrees one day (this was End Feb/start of March) and they closed the lifts for seniors for safety reasons because it was so cold. I've never experienced cold like it in any US or European resort, having done most of the big ones in those continents since. Pack an extra vest!!

[wrencho]

We are staying central Banff and have a truck (well an "intermediate SUV" but I really hope it's a truck!!) so we can get to LL and then beyond to KH.

So maybe even warm up days we do Sunshine....I have heard about the cold an an extra set of icebreakers have been ordered!!

[bigmowley]

wrencho said:

bigmowley said:

Kicking horse is a must, great steep slopes. There is loads to ski in and around the area, lots of good intermediate skiing so it will be a winner. Lucky you.

Yep KH has been on the bucket list for a while. If I only have a day there am I best sticking to laps of Golden Eagle Express or can you cover both sides in a day?
[/quote

Assuming your on your own then pre book an off piste guide for the day. The groomed runs are not that special its the powder bowls and chutes that are up there with the best. With a guide you don't need to try and learn the layout and the best bits. Especially as you only have the one day, it's high up and can be weather sensitive, the guide will know the best bits for the conditions. If the weather is really crap there is lots of tree skiing on the lower bits. By the way did we mention it's steep

[wrencho]

Yep good plan. I might suggest the gaffer have a rest day and I'll have a blast down the chutes.

Slightly niche but any idea if you can hire co2 cannisters for my ava bag? Can't take them on the flight...

[djc206]

wrencho said:

We are staying central Banff and have a truck (well an "intermediate SUV" but I really hope it's a truck!!) so we can get to LL and then beyond to KH.

So maybe even warm up days we do Sunshine....I have heard about the cold an an extra set of icebreakers have been ordered!!

Intermediate SUV in Canada almost always means RAV4, they’re ubiquitous out there.

[oddman]

Norquay is on the doorstep. Limited piste skiing but all goes back to the same lodge. Pleasant way to spend a day.

Sunshine possibly the most inappropriately named resort. Very cold and sun is a rare sight. Quite a bit is above tree line. Plenty of cruisy stuff. It's always been too flat viz to go off piste when I've been there

Lake Louise - furthest away but probably the best for both of you. Easy cruising front side and off piste challenges at the back.

North America they are very strict about ski area boundaries. Ducking the ropes to find a cheeky stash is more than frowned on and might lose you yourlift pass. Chamonix it is not.

You should be able to find gas canisters for airbag but due to domestic travel restrictions over there I think most of the avi devices are battery operated in north america so you might struggle. Mine's nitrogen not CO2.

Would be very worthwhile signing your other half up for lessons. The standard is very high and they have a real customer/fun focus to learning.

[Rich_AR]

djc206 said:

Intermediate SUV in Canada almost always means RAV4, they’re ubiquitous out there.

This.

[Cold]

Don't forget about Mt Nakiska, it's sandwiched between Calgary and Banff and worth a day out and may well be more suited to your wife's abilities.

Also, remember the piste labelling is different in Canada. You won't find any Red runs over there.
Green, Blue, Black, Double Black diamond.

[wrencho]

oddman said:

You should be able to find gas canisters for airbag but due to domestic travel restrictions over there I think most of the avi devices are battery operated in north america so you might struggle. Mine's nitrogen not CO2.

Thanks for the response. Wonder if my bag will work with a Nitrogen canister rather than a co2?!

[Burrow01]

djc206 said:

wrencho said:

We are staying central Banff and have a truck (well an "intermediate SUV" but I really hope it's a truck!!) so we can get to LL and then beyond to KH.

So maybe even warm up days we do Sunshine....I have heard about the cold an an extra set of icebreakers have been ordered!!

Intermediate SUV in Canada almost always means RAV4, they’re ubiquitous out there.

Also remember to ask for one with Winter Tyres - unbelievably they are not compulsory in Alberta (they are in BC)

[Rich_AR]

Burrow01 said:

Also remember to ask for one with Winter Tyres - unbelievably they are not compulsory in Alberta (they are in BC)

Not fully compulsory in all BC (only on highways or signed roads), there are muppets who still rip around Vancouver on crappy summer tires when the snow falls. Even all seasons with M+S / snowflake logo are allowed on the highways in winter.

But to your point to the OP, indeed request for winter tyres (tires ) to be fitted.

[nickd01]

When I go to Banff I always do a few days with RK Heli Ski. They pick up in Banff, drive you to Panorama Resort (Where the missus can spend the day; it's an easy resort) and you will have the best day ever in the mountains. I've done over 10 days with them, and every single day has been amazing. They're a fantastic outfit.

[oddman]

wrencho said:

oddman said:

You should be able to find gas canisters for airbag but due to domestic travel restrictions over there I think most of the avi devices are battery operated in north america so you might struggle. Mine's nitrogen not CO2.

Thanks for the response. Wonder if my bag will work with a Nitrogen canister rather than a co2?!

No gas canisters are allowed on North American plane journeys irrespective of the propellant. Hence the market for heavy battery driven bags. When I got my bag, there was a lot of forum chatter on travelling without canister and how to rent them. I don't know what the score is now. TBH if I was going to North America for a resort trip, I wouldn't bother with an avi bag. A posting on Snowheads might be a good idea. Also if you go on the website for your pack and see who the importer is for Canada they might be able to help you.

If you take up suggestion of heli skiing they might supply airbags.

As I posted above, the patrollers are super strict about keeping people in bounds and they are pretty meticulous about avalanche safety. Much of the skiing is below the tree line. The risk is very controlled. You probably shouldn't be riding outside the ski area boundary wirhout a guide and a guide won't put themselves in danger

Don't even think about using a non standard cartridge in your bag. If I was buying today, I'd get a fan driven bag

[r159]

I went 20 years ago, probably spent at least 50% of the time in Lake Louise.

What I would recommend is doing a Skidoo excursion, I was able to a whole day it is amazing fun.

As about wrap up well, saw -26c once on the temperature gauge…far colder than I’ve experienced in Europe (apart from being in an industrial blast freezer!)

For an evening thing swimming in the hot springs is good too.

[wrencho]

Holy Thread Resurrection....

Do we (or can we?!) buy our Canada Parks pass in advance? I assume you only need it to go in once on the way in? Just wondering if it will save time.