I was inspired by (SeniorsSkiing.com contributor) Yvette Cardozo and her excellent missives re skiing Canada and the world. Her unique turn of phrase will inspire some to write, but mostly will move others to keep skiing when they can. Those three words, ‘when they can’ are important. COVID has jolted us to the here and now, prompting many to get vaccinated. To those with a needle phobia, I would suggest that a death phobia trumps needle phobia anytime.

Which leads me to think back to the 2021-20 season and this Aussie’s Canadian skiing road trip with three good senior skiing mates brimming with optimistic youthful exuberance.

We set out to tour the snow resorts of central British Columbia…just as reports of the mysterious virus were beginning.

Source: Lake Louise Ski Resort. Image by Philip Forsey

First we skied Nakiska, a family, friendly resort, steep in places and well-resourced with lifts in all the right places (season pass for those 75+ is less than $100).  Then we drove to Sunshine and Lake Louise (season pass for 80+ is $20), two of the planet’s most scenic places. In Lake Louise, large ice sculptures adorned the area between the Lake Louise Chateau Fairmont Hotel and the lake. They’re magnificent (hotel and sculptures)!

Skiers are among the many ice sculptures. Source: Lake Louise Tourism

Next, we drove the mighty Trans Canada No.1 to Golden to ski legendary Kicking Horse Mountain Resort (season pass for 75+ is less than $100). It features views that take your breath away and fall lines steep and deep enough to keep it that way. If you go, don’t fail to lunch at Eagle Eye Restaurant for great views and food. If wallet permits, you can arrange for a helicopter to transport you to the super deluxe Eagle Eye Suites, each assigned with a personal butler and the highest accomodations in Canada.

A few days later, we plunged into the unpopulated wilderness of the Western side of the massive Canadian Rockies. Our large rented SUV delivered us to Panorama  (season pass for 75+ is $39) our next ski in-ski out accommodation. The resort has plenty of back country double blacks.

Fernie is big!

Following Panorama we drove to Fernie (season pass for 75+ is less than $100), where out friend Pat shared with us his years of skiing advice and his knowledge of Fernie’s more famous watering holes. Fernie is a destination which receives prodigious dumps of dry powder all season. If visiting, be sure to partake of a lager or three, upstairs in the Griz Hotel.

Navigating the pass at Crows Nest, on the border of BC, we were soon back in Alberta on our way to Castle Mountain Ski Resort (season pass for 75+ is $19), a great hill driven by ski enthusiasts; not accountants. My kind of place. Unfortunately, a flu virus prevented me from experiencing what my friends Ray and Allen pegged to be one of the best places skied of the entire trip.

Ski buddies at the start of their journey. Source: Dave Chambers

On this journey, we were mostly constrained to groomed runs because of a lack of fresh snow. Whenever you go, I recommend driving. It’s the best way to indulge in the culture and to experience the human kindness displayed by the Canadian people.

 

 

 

 

 

 

2 Comments

  1. Enjoyed your article David

    It encouraged me to stay for for another 3 years so I can ski at 75 !!! Even better lift fees.

    Here in Victoria I can ski all season at Mt Buller for $aus 70 . However it’s a small resort

    • Dave Chambers says:

      Hey Bob As we now know Vail Resorts has taken control of skiing in Australia. With the exception of MT Buller(I guess my home mountain)where Mr Grollo reins supreme. We have a lot to thank him for, not least of which is the time honoured tradition of skiers beyond 70 years skiing for free. And now MT Buller alone and possibly MT Baw Baw allow this reward for a lifetime of skiing to those that can still do it.
      Cheers Dave

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