2021-22 Ski/Snowboard Season

[Fuzz]

They went with Stagecoach Express when The Haig Hauler was right there for the taking?

[MacDaddy77]

anyone skiing Louise tomorrow? I think my wife and son might not go so I'll be solo. I ski everywhere, typically alot of back bowl-Paradise/summit laps. If they get the expected snowfall blue powder laps are fun as well.

might have an adult and youth ticket I'd sell at a discount as well.

[Huntingwhale]

Originally Posted by Sliver

Castle's new chair opened a week ago and I was there this weekend. It's amazing. Detachable high-speed quad opening an entire new mountain is the best. The base was incredible, obviously, since it was untouched all season. We did get 7cm fresh, which was notable on top of the pristine base. Missed their 30cm two days later, but whatever. This is a gamechanger for Castle. Get out there if you haven't been. It's an insane hill, about as close as Louise, and nobody goes so there are no lines.

P.S. The fries rule and the baked potato shack is an awesome and cheap lunch.

Please delete your post! Castle is the best kept secret when it comes to skiiing. My personal favorite #1 hill. I busted my ankle recently so can't ski this season, but that chair sounds amazing. I find the glades on Castle the best too. So much untouched terrain and amazing spaces. I like how the hill in general is meant more for advanced skiiers so it immediately filters out a ton of strugglers.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

It definitely isn't as easy to get to as Louise. It's almost an extra hour of driving and that additional extra time is much sketchier than HWY1 through the park. I haven't been in a while but it's definitely good to hear that the new chair is meeting expectations, that was definitely a very good idea in terms of the cost-benefit, basically brings all the former catskiing terrain inbounds.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by Huntingwhale

Please delete your post! Castle is the best kept secret when it comes to skiiing. My personal favorite #1 hill. I busted my ankle recently so can't ski this season, but that chair sounds amazing. I find the glades on Castle the best too. So much untouched terrain and amazing spaces. I like how the hill in general is meant more for advanced skiiers so it immediately filters out a ton of strugglers.

Time to invest in the area and build a proper resort town down there.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

I did see there's a lot in the village for sale. Not sure how it works with the leasehold interest though.

https://www.realtor.ca/real-estate/2...ountain-resort

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

It definitely isn't as easy to get to as Louise. It's almost an extra hour of driving and that additional extra time is much sketchier than HWY1 through the park. I haven't been in a while but it's definitely good to hear that the new chair is meeting expectations, that was definitely a very good idea in terms of the cost-benefit, basically brings all the former catskiing terrain inbounds.

I'm interested to give it a shot again now that this chair is finally open. I have had a couple great snow days there in the past and enjoy the terrain, but have always left slightly irked by how slow and unpredictable the old lifts are. If this chair alleviates this even minimally it will be huge.

The biggest drawback is that it is still a terribly long drive for a day trip from Calgary and the options to stay on resort or nearby are pretty limited.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Yeah I would say the drive is more comparable to Fernie than it is to the Banff/LL area, but when the weather is weathering, the last half hour can be... "harrowing" is too strong a word, "interesting" is not a strong enough word.

Tamarack chair also might be the coldest chairlift in the province when it's windy. But you just have to layer appropriately and the rewards are many.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

Yeah I would say the drive is more comparable to Fernie than it is to the Banff/LL area, but when the weather is weathering, the last half hour can be... "harrowing" is too strong a word, "interesting" is not a strong enough word.

Tamarack chair also might be the coldest chairlift in the province when it's windy. But you just have to layer appropriately and the rewards are many.

An hour and 45 minutes stuck near the top of Paradise in a howling blizzard with ice needles would like to submit an entry to the competition. Free hot chocolate coupon, though.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

I mean sure in special circumstances like that, but paradise chair is sheltered in the bowl almost the entire way up. On average, Topo gets colder than Paradise IMO. Obviously summit too but it's short so it doesn't matter.

[Fuzz]

There is something about that southern Alberta wind that seems to add a bit of suffering at Castle, I'll give you that. It can be vicious. The Teepee Town ridge used to get pretty bad sometimes back when it was a double. And with Summit, if it sucked or broke you could just, you know, get off.

[troutman]

Very windy at Castle today - red chair and stagecoach off an on. Lots of snow expected
Friday so weekend should be great.

Not sure Castle is much further from Calgary than Lake Louise, but Hwy 22 can be dodgy.

Stagecoach chair was expensive and has put them in debt. Day passes are $160. You should not expect any lift lines, even on the weekend.

There are some places for sale or rent here - not as fancy as Fernie. Some people camp in trailers.

My Punk Rock Mountain!

I can put up people in Coleman with enough notice, and good references!

[Tron_fdc]

Rode Castle years ago after a 70CM dump. It was -35C with a HOWLING wind.....lifty at the top had a sign that said -60C. I have no idea if it was that cold, but it was 2 pairs of goggles just to do a lap, straight into the lodge. I've lost count on how many times I've had frostbite there.

Such a hilarious mountain. You'll see shredders decked out in Patagucci skiing past cowboys in jeans with sealskin mitts. Also one of the only hills around where you can sled right to the pub.

I love that hill. I have a lot of fond memories and hilarious stories from riding there over the years. Strongly recommend it for anyone in south Calgary.

[troutman]

I was surprised to see that the Pass is generally a few degrees warmer than Calgary in the winter (despite being same elevation as Canmore).

[Brupal]

In-bounds avalanche at Nakiska today
https://globalnews.ca/news/11710690/...askis-country/

[powderjunkie]

Damn. Seems like a crazy bad year everywhere, but it could just be that it's reported more. Saw a video from I think Mammoth of a skier buried from just falling (they get some crazy dumps) and extremely lucky to be stumbled upon by others.

I haven't been to Nakiska in ages. Can't really imagine where they'd have an inbounds Avy, but looking at the trail map it looks like they've opened some glades off of Gold Chair that I've never skied.

[Brupal]

���������������� �������� ������ ���������������� ������������������ ���������������� �������������� ���� ������������������ ���� �������������� ������ ��������
>
���� Published Feb, 28, 2026 ����
=========================
On Feb. 27, 2026, at 12:49 p.m., Cochrane RCMP received a call of an avalanche at the Nakiska ski hill which buried two skiers. One skier was able to escape the snow, however, the second was not initially located.

Multiple resources were deployed to the scene, and the second skier was located unresponsive. He was taken by EMS to a Calgary hospital, however, the 15-year-old Calgary resident died early this morning.

RCMP sends condolences to his family and friends.
>
Cpl. Gina Slaney
Public Information Officer - SAD
Alberta RCMP Media Group

[Whynotnow]

God that’s awful. Hard to imagine at Nakiska.

[bossy22]

NM. Probably shouldn't talk about it. It's just horrible.

[troutman]

forecasts for this weekend are off the hook: 20cm louise, 40cm castle, 80cm fernie.

At Castle today - Stagecoach runs untouched since Sunday. Powder Day! More on the way.