Banff - Canada
Banff - Canada
MOUNT NORQUAY
You can look up from almost the center of Banff and marvel at the steep slopes of Mount Norquay rising above you. The first chairlift in Western Canada was installed in 1948 at Mount Norquay and since then, this mountain has been a foundation of the Banff Skiing community, even if the rest of the world considers it largely an expert only hill! This reputation has been gained from the steep top to bottom always moguled Lone Pine run. However, in 1990, the Mystic Ridge section of the mountain was opened. This side provides intermediate terrain that is well laid out and is serviced by two high speed quads. In fact the opening of Mystic Ridge has provided 12 additional runs which now gives Norquay sufficient variety to compete with Banff's other ski giants, Sunshine Village and Lake Louise. Another bonus is that Mount Norquay is only minutes from the Banff Townsite and the well lit slopes for night skiing has proven to be very popular.
LAKE LOUISE
Lake Louise has boutique shopping, a range of accommodation, dining and nightlife, though quite different to its counterparts. At Lake Louise the pace is slow and the architecture old world – choose Lake Louise for the ultimate rejuvenating ski holiday.
SUNSHINE VILLAGE
Sunshine Village may well be one of the best known ski resorts in Canada. From a single rope tow start back in the 1940s, the resort today offers more than 780 acres of spectacular high altitude skiing, mostly above tree-line! You can find the Sunshine Gondola lift base just 16 kilometers (10 miles) west of Banff. Drive 8 kilometers on Highway 1 and then the same distance left on Sunshine Road to the Borgeau Parking Lot.
The main gondola follows a scenic route some 5 kilometers (3 miles) to the main village which is at an elevation of 2,135 meters (7,000 feet). This ski base village is complete with restaurants, shops, a bar, cocktail lounge, hotel rooms and other amenities catering to the total skier needs. All this is found in a perfect alpine setting where you can track through light dry rocky mountain powder right to your doorstep! The snow here is so abundant that skiing into July is possible. It is not, however, an aggressive terrain as most of the mountain is classified as intermediate which provides good opportunity to catch the great views as you glide down the slopes.
The Great Divide chair carries you to the top of Lookout Mountain at 2,730 meters (almost 10,000 feet). Upon arriving you are actually in British Columbia and you will ski back into Alberta at the lift base, thus the name, continental divide. In fact you can ski bowls in a three-quarters circle from the village base which includes Mount Standish as well as Lookout Mountain. At day's end you can download on the gondola to the Borgeau Parking Lot but the sweeping Borgeau Trail is a terrific way to finish a wonderful day of skiing, Rocky Mountain style!
