J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by Pablo Escobar

Chris,

First off, good choice. Check out some photos of Lake Louise a couple weeks ago here.

Where in Banff are you thinking about staying? The lift pass is the major killer expense - check it out on the skibig3 website. If you can get over that it is fairly cheap (despite the horrid exchange rate). You can get a steak for 10 bucks if you know where to look (Tommy's Neighbourhood Pub) and a beer should set you back 5. Pitchers are available. 2 clubs to pick from in Banff are Auroras and the Hoodoo Lounge. I'm not sure if Mels still does dollar 75 highballs... maybe.

You could get the Greyhound but it would probably knock out a day of skiing - unless you really wanted to go in to Calgary for something specific I wouldn't bother.

Pablo

broom wrote:i would love to be able to enjoy the Scottish mountains, but i think with a bit more effort it will be more attractive

If by 'effort' you mean 'investment' then yes I agree.

How much is one of your racks (irrespective of revenue it will earn)?

Why have so many resorts in Canada purchased them? Do the resorts definitely pay for them and if they do how much more expensive are they than regular racks (which they install anyway)?

It isn't so much about patriotism. It is that it can genuinely be as good or better than anywhere. If anything this season has just proved that.

The moral of the story is:

Don't come to Scotland if you want miles and miles of perfectly groomed skiing.

Do come if - you like a challenge; you are prepared to deal with less than stellar conditions; you want to experience something a bit different; you want to (potentially) experience some of the best and most interesting skiing you will ever have.

I am proud of my cornflake box game playing abilities :lol:

The question is: can you take it off the floor when there is nothing but the base left? :lol:

broom wrote:well to me it looked like ice we couldn't get the poles in the snow, and why don't they groom the pistes?

Ice is generally 'blue' looking and the chances of you being able to stand on your skis on an icey slope are slim to none. Conditions in Scotland have been fantastic of late. I was at Glencoe a week ago today and again on Friday and the snow quality is up there with the other resorts I have skied in the past year (some Scottish as well as major Swiss and French resorts and a sneaky trip to the Rockies of Canada). What days were you there? Grooming happens - just not when there is nice fresh snow to play in ;)