2021-22 Ski/Snowboard Season

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

The parking was absolute pandemonium, thank #### for my parking pass. Lined up way down Skoki road, and further than I've ever seen it down the main access road.

I went to Nakiska yesterday not knowing there was a World Cup Ski Cross race going on and the parking lots were nuts. People were parked on the road ways everywhere almost down to the Troll Falls parking lot. The worst part was almost all the cars in the parking lot had at least a half car width between them. There were a bunch of spaces that were a car width but if you tried to squeeze in there was no way of opening the doors. I know that everyone likes a bit more room between cars at the ski hill so they can walk around and get ready but this was ridiculous.

[Northendzone]

we target getting to lake lousie at 8.15 and just park in lot 4 - usually row 5 or so close to the walkway. when we left, it was nuts how far down the road people were parked. it seems so far that just getting from your car to the lodge would be way too much work for me to want to ski and at the end of the day it would seem like a death march.

the weather yesterday was a nice temp; however, later on in the morning/early afternoon the wind at top of the world was something else.

now my thoughts on the new skis (rossingol basalt 82's) - they sure seemed a lot more stable and i felt like i was skiing a lot faster (garmin suggested that my average speed was about 5 kph faster than my prior outings this year).

boots were alright (i guess they felt like i expect ski boots to feel). i need to have some work done around my one ankle bone which is a little bigger and rubs and gets annoyed thru the day.

[kevman]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

we target getting to lake lousie at 8.15 and just park in lot 4 - usually row 5 or so close to the walkway. when we left, it was nuts how far down the road people were parked. it seems so far that just getting from your car to the lodge would be way too much work for me to want to ski and at the end of the day it would seem like a death march.

8:15!?

I've always wondered how early you people get there to park so close. We're more of row 15 people. Haha

I yearn for the days when you could get a spot in lot 1 at any time of day. Is it still the lack of car pooling that's causing this? It was only a few years ago that you could get a good spot at the crack of noon. Now any time after 9 and you're looking at the unnumbered rows in lot 4.

[Weitz]

Yeesh. I haven’t been skiing yet this year but I used to get to lake Louise at like 730 when I went.

[J epworth]

Have my 7 year old niece visiting at the end of the month and thinking of going to Nakiska with her, haven’t been there since I was still learning to ski, are there ways to get discount day passes there or is it just full price? Saw AMA has some but only for mid week.

[Northendzone]

Originally Posted by kevman

8:15!?

I've always wondered how early you people get there to park so close. We're more of row 15 people. Haha

I yearn for the days when you could get a spot in lot 1 at any time of day. Is it still the lack of car pooling that's causing this? It was only a few years ago that you could get a good spot at the crack of noon. Now any time after 9 and you're looking at the unnumbered rows in lot 4.

yeah, i get up by 5.45 and we leave the house by 6.15 at the latest(we live in the deep SE). it takes us 2 hrs to get to the parking lot.

next time we go, we will be staying overnight in LL - it will be so nice to ski all day friday, then be chilling 20 minutes after taking the boots off, and then being able to sleep in until 7 on saturday morning

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

yeah, i get up by 5.45 and we leave the house by 6.15 at the latest(we live in the deep SE). it takes us 2 hrs to get to the parking lot.

next time we go, we will be staying overnight in LL - it will be so nice to ski all day friday, then be chilling 20 minutes after taking the boots off, and then being able to sleep in until 7 on saturday morning

I too live in the deep southeast

The beauty of that is you can make a day trip to Fernie.

Prior to kids a buddy and I would do it, it’s about 2 1/2 hrs.

[Northendzone]

^ to me the extra half hour to get to fernie is a little long for a day, and there is the added complication of going thru the crowsnest pass.

i have also been told the skiing there is a little harder than LL

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

^ to me the extra half hour to get to fernie is a little long for a day, and there is the added complication of going thru the crowsnest pass.

i have also been told the skiing there is a little harder than LL

I think a hill being "harder" than another hill is subjective.

Fernie is a monster hill and have some varied terrain. Personally I think it is worth it to see other hills.

[Tron_fdc]

Fernie is no "harder" than any other hill IMO. It has all kinds of greens and blues off a number of different chairs, and lots of options if you do want to go higher up and scare yourself. Lots of traversing though, so not the greatest if you're an intermediate boarder who doesn't wax their board properly.

To me the hardest hill around is still Castle. It's cold as F, windy as F, and steep as F with a "blue" run to get you down from the top of Tamarack if you don't want blacks and double blacks. Opening up huckleberry helped, but it's still mostly intermediate terrain.

[NinePack]

Went out today , was a real treat as the whole valley had been socked in with cloud. but at the top it opened up to sunny surprise.

[IMG][/IMG]
[IMG]

[NinePack]

pretty amazing inversion.

[cam_wmh]

Dope photos. Where is that?

[NinePack]

Thanks, Its Red Mountain in Rossland.

[Zarley]

Originally Posted by Weitz

Yeesh. I haven’t been skiing yet this year but I used to get to lake Louise at like 730 when I went.

What's the benefit to getting there that early (other than a shorter walk from your parking spot)?

Despite many attempts, I don't think I've ever made it there before 8:45.

[MacDaddy77]

https://imgflip.com/i/61r1zi

image isn't embedding. not as funny as I planned

[Tron_fdc]

Fernie is about 10cms on top of a sheet of ice from top to bottom. Unless it snows, stay far far away.

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

I went to Nakiska yesterday not knowing there was a World Cup Ski Cross race going on and the parking lots were nuts. People were parked on the road ways everywhere almost down to the Troll Falls parking lot. The worst part was almost all the cars in the parking lot had at least a half car width between them. There were a bunch of spaces that were a car width but if you tried to squeeze in there was no way of opening the doors. I know that everyone likes a bit more room between cars at the ski hill so they can walk around and get ready but this was ridiculous.

Nakiska has been very busy since the weather turned warmer right after the holidays - it's not just the ski cross event. It will pitter out as it cools off again and fairweather crowds lose interest. If you want to guarantee a good parking spot close to the lodge, you best arrive by 9:30 and you'll have no problem.

The hill is widely open and pretty skiable, but certainly could use 10cm to really improve the conditions throughout.

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by Zarley

What's the benefit to getting there that early (other than a shorter walk from your parking spot)?

Despite many attempts, I don't think I've ever made it there before 8:45.

Stretch. Eat my breakfast. Get good parking. Use the washroom. Get dressed.

Then still get first chair.

I did look and chairs actually open at 9? Not 8:30? Id probably target 8:00 arrival then.

I ski through lunch and finish at like 2 or 3. Home by 5.

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by Tron_fdc

Fernie is about 10cms on top of a sheet of ice from top to bottom. Unless it snows, stay far far away.

Rain hit the peaks of alot of hills the last week or so.
Friends telling me about Baker & Whistler. Fernie too, like you mentioned. I was in Revy last week, and fortunate they were still cold enough. Albeit heavy, accumulations.

NinePack, how are White Water & Red Mtn for rain of late?