2021-22 Ski/Snowboard Season

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by troutman

Tell me about Castle Mountain.

https://www.skicastle.ca/

Fun just for something new that's relatively close. Mash-up between Fortress, Norquay & Nakiska IMO. I mean, it's a longer drive than Sunshine and Louise for a way worse hill, but it's absolutely worth going just to try something new and more "local". Like, it's not a destination for travellers or anything.

For me, once was enough TBH. Since you haven't been I'd say go for it and you'll have fun.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by troutman

Tell me about Castle Mountain.

https://www.skicastle.ca/

Great little hill when the conditions are right. It can be very light for traffic so it is easy to do a lot of runs and the powder can be deep. Downside is that there are limited runs and the lifts suck and there is always the possibility of the wind howling.

Amenities are pretty limited as well including lodging.

[troutman]

Castle says they are ALBERTA’S SECOND LARGEST RESORT?

https://www.skicastle.ca/stats/

Is that with the cat skiing Powder Stagecoach added?

We are home to some of the longest, continuous fall line runs in North America.

We are, on average, home to the most snow of any resort in Alberta.

1454 hectares / 3592 acres

95 + trails

8 alpine bowls

2 mountains

Lake Louise: Skiable Area 1700 hectares (4200 acres)

Sunshine: Skiable area: 3,358 acres

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by troutman

Castle says they are ALBERTA’S SECOND LARGEST RESORT?

https://www.skicastle.ca/stats/

Is that with the cat skiing Powder Stagecoach added?

That feels like a big gigantic fkn lie lol.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Shut the hell up about winter sports. It's August.

Monsters.

[troutman]

And then there is Pass Powderkeg:

https://www.passpowderkeg.com/home/trail-map-2/

With 1,000 ft of vertical over 27 trails, Pass Powderkeg truly offers something for everyone.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Originally Posted by holden

I'm thinking about getting the Mountain Collective this year as the resorts season's pass rates are ridiculous. Does anyone know if redflagdeals offers that discount on the Mountain Collective every fall?

The discount last year on Mountain Collective was due to an employee error. It's not likely to happen again - at least nowhere near to that same extent.

Originally Posted by troutman

Tell me about Castle Mountain.

https://www.skicastle.ca/

What are you looking for?

When Castle has snow it is an exceptionally good mountain for good skiers, because the snow holds and there are a lot of options for a good line in fresh snow. I have had some truly epic days there. Basically, the top of the mountain from the Tamarack chair is like one big traverse - if you go skiers left, you find trees and glades; if you go skier's right past the Huckleberry ridge, you get to the high alpine style "chutes" terrain. All of this is excellent advanced / expert terrain and it gets tracked out much slower than other, bigger resorts. Again, if it gets a good dump of snow. They also have cat-access terrain, which isn't "real" catskiing but is a cheaper substitute ($650/day).

For beginners and intermediate skiers or families, it's much more limited than SSV / LL and I wouldn't really say it's worth the trip unless it's much closer to you than those mountains - i.e. I wouldn't drive there from Calgary for that type of skiing. It's an hour longer at least and the last part of the drive is sketchier in bad weather than the TC1 west. That drive is the reason I haven't been in quite a while.

[marsplasticeraser]

Just a note that sunshine village lodge is 40% for the rest of the month. The family loft suite that fits 6 is a great family option, but bring your own snacks as food at sunshine is dire.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Do they not have the ramen spot open in the summer? I thought that was pretty solid. Not as good as you can get in town of course but perfectly serviceable.

[blender]

Anyone been to Keefer Lake lodge Cat skiing?

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by troutman

Castle says they are ALBERTA’S SECOND LARGEST RESORT?

https://www.skicastle.ca/stats/

Is that with the cat skiing Powder Stagecoach added?



Lake Louise: Skiable Area 1700 hectares (4200 acres)

Sunshine: Skiable area: 3,358 acres

Perhaps they get tricky with statistics and exclude the BC part of Sunshine?

[holden]

Originally Posted by troutman

And then there is Pass Powderkeg:

https://www.passpowderkeg.com/home/trail-map-2/

T-bars for that ass- in case you missed T-bars!

[Brupal]

So for the past 2 seasons I have bought the Ski Big 3 pass. The first year I went about 20 times and feel I got my money's worth. Last year I probably only went 8 times, so it was not economical. This year I did not renew. So question for those of you who have perhaps already crunched the numbers ... what would be the most cost effective way to ski Sunshine and Lake Louise about 7 times each this year? Get a discount card for about $99 or so each, where the first, fourth and 7th day is free? Buy discounted tickets at Costco? Or through AMA? Are there any deadlines I should be aware of? I'm sure it will probably come out to something close regardless of the choice. To help clarify, age 55 + but not yet 60, mostly mid-week, just me no other family who skis. Thanks in advance for anyone who chimes in with the math having already been done.

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by Brupal

So for the past 2 seasons I have bought the Ski Big 3 pass. The first year I went about 20 times and feel I got my money's worth. Last year I probably only went 8 times, so it was not economical. This year I did not renew. So question for those of you who have perhaps already crunched the numbers ... what would be the most cost effective way to ski Sunshine and Lake Louise about 7 times each this year? Get a discount card for about $99 or so each, where the first, fourth and 7th day is free? Buy discounted tickets at Costco? Or through AMA? Are there any deadlines I should be aware of? I'm sure it will probably come out to something close regardless of the choice. To help clarify, age 55 + but not yet 60, mostly mid-week, just me no other family who skis. Thanks in advance for anyone who chimes in with the math having already been done.

Costco prices aren't out yet, but Louise Card almost certainly wins out if you do 3 days or more. 7 days on each comes to about $1200 before GST (but a few possible variables in there)

The other option to consider is Mountain Collective. Right now it's about $900 CAD, but they often have a sale in Oct/Nov where you'd knock $2-300 off that.

The catch is that the 50% days are based on the Ski Big 3 Window Rate, which is $189 - so you're paying $95 after your 2 free days. The other catch is that your daily lift ticket cost can get quite low, but you end up spending money you otherwise wouldn't on accoms.

Say you did 5 days at each LL/SSV, and 2 days each at Revy and Marmot, it would be $1470 on todays pricing (but if you could get the MC Pass for say $650 that becomes $1220). Replace 2 SSV days with Panorama and you're down to $1280 ($1030?).

[greyshep]

I guess we will keep using a 2021/2022 thread for the 2024/2025 season discussion as well?

[troutman]

I think I will get Louise Card which also includes Castle. Or, Castle mid-week ticket. How often does wind shut things down?

[TSXCman]

Tracking this, as I may have more free time on my hands coming this winter!

Fingers crossed for a Mountain Collective drop. Looking to get out 4+ times at each of LL and SSV, and then Revy and others mixed in.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

I got a LL midweek pass. I might supplement it with a Louise plus card for the few times a year I'll wind up going on weekends, or I might not. Regardless if you go 7 weekend days in a year and the rest weekdays it winds up cheaper than the early bird anytime season pass rate. I basically never go up on Saturdays anymore anyway.

Not that it's super crowded compared to lots of other places even on a busy Saturday, but it's still lift lines and full parking lots and etc., and who needs that.

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

I got a LL midweek pass. I might supplement it with a Louise plus card for the few times a year I'll wind up going on weekends, or I might not. Regardless if you go 7 weekend days in a year and the rest weekdays it winds up cheaper than the early bird anytime season pass rate. I basically never go up on Saturdays anymore anyway.

Not that it's super crowded compared to lots of other places even on a busy Saturday, but it's still lift lines and full parking lots and etc., and who needs that.

Not sure if it's still the case, but I think midweek passes used to give you the Louise Card discount rate on weekends? Louise Card probably wins if you do 4+ weekend days though

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

Not sure if it's still the case, but I think midweek passes used to give you the Louise Card discount rate on weekends? Louise Card probably wins if you do 4+ weekend days though

Yep, still the case, although current weekend window prices are like... $150 now? So it's still usually not worth it.

Bigger perk is the whitehorn / sushi menu discount and it's not clear to me if that's still a thing.