J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by JamesA

Am I blind? If so please ignore my request for Kicking Horse in BC Canada

Pavel...you are being hailed.

J.

PS to above...

Cold Lake is flat and the skiing is on a pimple of a hill.... the region is known for fishing and sailing and a military base... not for skiing...

Asahartz

Some info from a Canuck...

The winters are long and the days short this far north. If you want to ski you can ski until April in either Banff or Jasper. Sunshine, near Banff that gets lots of snow and stays cold we will sometimes ski until the end of May! Jasper would be skiable too but the resort has limits as to dates of operation to allow the sheep to raise young, this is a national park and they were here first after all!

Ponds freeze over in November and will stay frozen until early April depending on the year. There are several reasons for this, it takes a lot of "warm" to melt the five or six feet of ice that can form on these mountain lakes, the low sun angles slows the melt. The surface a pond if the ice is exposed (no snow cover) will freeze and thaw each day, never the less, the ice stays thick until May in some lakes. I am a sailer and often watch the ice closely at thai time of year so I can vouch for this fact. The amount of snow pack in any given year and region will affect frost depth and ice thicknesses. Pyramid Lake just north of Jasper will have ice on it in June and is frigid all year.

In Jasper the Jasper Park Lodge hotel has a pond skating surface that will operate until the end of March just about every season. The skating is gratis and the hot chocolate is too... mmm.

Banff has lakes that stay frozen quite late as well. Two Jack lake is often frozen in October and if there is little snow until December which is often. At that altitude the ice can become seven or eight feet thick under the snow. I have skated there several times in the last twenty years and see frozen fish four of five feet down.

We have lakes up here that we drive transport trucks on to reach remote areas so ice is something we know about.

http://www.thedieselgypsy.com/Ice%20Roads-3B-Denison.htm

Check it out. I like page two where the big rigs roam. :-)

The skating in the National Parks isn't quite as dramatic but you get an idea of the cold, low sun, high reflectivity of snow and snow depth all factors in the sustainability of the ice pack.

In short both Banff and Jasper will have ice in March and probably in April depending on the severity of the winter. The skiing will of course be there until May 1 or darn near to that date just about every season. I once skied every month but July and August one year and that was all at resorts too. I'll admit it I was a worker at Fortress and Canada Olympic Park that allowed me on the slope but you can get turns every month if you are prepared to climb for your turns.

Hope the note helps.

Further to car rentals.

Most if not all of the Calgary car rental agencies are set up to accommodate the ski market. They will supply roof racks if you ask. The SUV - sport utility vehicle is an all wheel drive that is rather like a tall estate wagon. They pack a lot and have the all road/weather conditions aspect to them. Having said that all Canadian cars come with all season tires that will handle the plowed roads of Banff National park. In fact you cannot drive the mountain roads with out said tires. One last comment consider a mini van with the family. These things are a God send for any time on the road and are specifically designed for the traveling family. Take a look at dodge.ca to get an idea of the types of cars you would probably be renting. Don't rent what you get at home that's just darn boring! www.dodge.ca/en/grand_caravan/

The fuel costs for the heavier SUV might swing the decision for you but gas (petrol) here is cheaper than Europe at $1.25 per liter as I write this. I find that gas prices tends to follow the price per barrel fairly closely. If a barrel of oil is $125.00 then gas is $1.25 per l. give or take.

You will need to rent in Calgary as that's your probable port of entry. Car is the easiest way to get to Banff an hour or so away and about 1.5 hours to Lake Louise. The car will prove invaluable to getting about as the ski hills are only marginally served by shuttles. ( well that's my opinion some people like waiting for the buses or hate to drive or.....)

You will find that if you stay in Canmore where it is more economical to stay you will need the car. To drive to Golden and Kicking Horse is an easy 1.5 hours. Revelstoke and Mount McKenzie the newest of the Western resorts is a more challenging 3 hours or so but it can be a longish day trip. It depends on the kid's and your stamina - endurance.

All of the resorts of the Canadian Rockies are achievable on your two week stay if you rent a car.

My comment on cold... yes it gets cold but it's a dry cold... this is the real fact of the matter, when the temps drop to minus 20C- 25C you should call it a day and sit by the fire place. Bring as many clothes as you can carry for cold weather and you'll probably be OK. When it get cold ski in the sunshine as those two things go hand in hand, cold and cloudy is rare. Most Albertians love the cold as it brings the sun and all the joys of a bright albeit cold day of dry crunchy snow that is easier to ski than that frozen slush that warm weather brings. Remember the powder is reason you want to come ... no really, cold means dry fluffy snow that is easier to ski well fall down in at least.

Remember to bring warm hats/helmets and mitts (they are warmer) for all. Check out MEC.ca for the kinds of layers of clothes and the kinds of apparel that I/we ski in.

Last come and enjoy no matter what your choices of car hotel or resort you will have a grand holiday.

There you have it. I hope that it helps.

Jasper in April can be heaven or hell. The snow is usually good but the ski area closes due to lack of people. Everyone wants to golf and ride their bikes for some reason. Maybe it's because of our long winter that can start in October!

You will be able to rent everything in town with no problem. The ski hill also has lots of gear to rent.

The ski area has now got new snow making so the chances of a mid April opening are good. I have skied Jasper on April 12th with a fresh dump of 30cms of snow on the hill. I just got too tired of going to the hill for the remainder of the month. Usual closing time is Mid April and sometimes in a good snow year early MAY.

Don't be discouraged. The weather is cold that time of year and you will need to bring winter clothes. The lakes will still be frozen and snow will dot the landscape.

Commuter travel from town to the ski hill is a piece of cake. There are busses from all of the local hotels and depending where you are staying the hotel may have it's own shuttle. The Taxis will also run up to the hill as it's only a twenty minute drive and the cabs have a set fee for the trip.

You will find the town quiet that time of year and seating in restaurants and bars will be easy. Try to get a seat at the Jasper Brewhouse in high season!

By the way that's a great place to try the a local pint. I had one there on Saturday and the special was a dark chocolate porter, YUM!!!

If you have specific questions just ask. I check back to see what folks need about my home hill.

Cheers.

You can look online at a few good clothing sites.

MEC.ca

Order by mail and get good stuff of good to best quality not made i some sweat shop overseas. They write honest reviews about their gear and Canada is cold so they know of what they speak...

Also try some motorcycle clothing sites. It's off season for many MC shops and cold weather riding gear is identical to downhill gear but usually on sale this time of year. I do this I use ski gloves bought in summer to ride with and motorbike gloves bought off season to ski with... just a thought.

My home stomping ground...

What do you want to know specifically: terrain, accommodation, food. snow, weather,.....?

Let me know and I'll find the answers. I'm there this weekend and the weekend after that. I then have a break and back for the middle of February for the school break for 10 days. The rest of the season is a by- monthly weekend trips to sum up to about 25 or 30 days a season.

The conditions are good with snow to the top of the mountain. I skied twice before Christmas and skied 10 cms fresh snow on good cover even on the steeps that usually have rocks. THe neat thing about pre Christmas is the lack of people not the lack of snow.

It's about four hours by car from my home. On that subject are you renting a car? Travel in the west of Canada can be hard by train and bus.

Ciao J.

PS my avitar is on Marmot's mid mountain slope. Notice the valley 8000 feet below!