MacSkiddin Posted January 7, 2015 Report Share Posted January 7, 2015 Hey folks, Looks like I may have a week in AB in the last full week of March. Any recommendations on where to go & what to bring? I gather that there are a few options within a 4-hr drive of Edmonton. Marmot Basin? Nakiska? Lake Louise? I'm not keen on crowds, so I'm hoping it's not a school break week. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks, Dave 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garybergmann Posted January 24, 2015 Report Share Posted January 24, 2015 School break in AB is that week for public schools. Nakiska may just be a little crowded as everyone around bought a seasons pass, but it is the most popular place to carve (wide open, consistent pitch terrain). Sunshine is more 'natural' terrain...funner for freeriding but you can find good carving runs. Best snow IMHO. Lousie is a fun place to carve, I find. Snow not as nice. Haven't been to Marmot in years so can't comment... In the past few years our most wet months have been feb and march (in southern alberta)...I'm personally hoping we start getting some good dumps in feb...Dec and Jan have been pretty dry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacSkiddin Posted January 29, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 29, 2015 Thanks for the insights. I didn't realize it was AB March Break. I guess at least one tight-radius board is in order. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allee Posted January 29, 2015 Report Share Posted January 29, 2015 Nakiska will be crowded for sure on spring break. Sunshine and Louise might be better bets. Sunshine in particular is ridiculously good at absorbing crowds - once they get up the gondola they scatter in all directions, and the lift lines aren't too long even on busy days. If there's no fresh snow, the grooming there is surprisingly good. I always find Louise is tending to get melt/freeze and icy around late March, but it's going to depend on the conditions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil Gendzwill Posted January 29, 2015 Report Share Posted January 29, 2015 Marmot is a great hill, a little closer to Edmontonchuk than the others. It's also not nearly as practical for daytrippers from Edmonton as the Banff hills are for Calgary, so hopefully less crowded. I may be talking out of my ass, haven't been there in years. Sunshine & Louise can be awesome in late March or complete spring conditions, you never know. If you've never been you owe it to yourself to hit Louise for a day just for the jaw-dropping scenery. I flove Louise but I realize I may be alone amongst carvers there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacSkiddin Posted March 11, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 11, 2015 Hey folks, Thanks for all the replies. I'm getting ready to book. Last I heard (yesterday) from someone from Calgary was that Marmot was "ok" and Sunshine was "good". No update on Louise. I may just book the first couple of nights and play it by ear the rest of the week. Thanks for the insights.Dave 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
big canuck Posted March 13, 2015 Report Share Posted March 13, 2015 I hate to say it man, I drove out to the lake today prepared to ride and turned around and drove home. Did not look very inspiring. They were up to plus 7 yesterday. Rained a bunch between Banff and LL on the drive up. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. That being said, maybe it's better up top or in the backside..... Did not look that inviting at the base Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allee Posted March 15, 2015 Report Share Posted March 15, 2015 I'm amazed that most of the hills are still open. It was supposed to get up to +15 at Nakiska today, and I shouldn't imagine it was any better anywhere else. Sunshine might be the best bet, because of their elevation, but the pickings look pretty slim right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacSkiddin Posted March 16, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 16, 2015 I booked three nights in Banff with Sunshine in mind for that reason. Also brought hiking boots and a camera. Got all the bases covered. Will just play it by ear, but likely to go to Marmot as well. Unfortunately, because of a blizzard on the east coast, I had to rebook on short notice and couldn't get any gear together. So I'll be renting and shifting softboot binders to something like 40/30. In EDM 'til Friday noon, then down to Banff. Fingers crossed for blizzards in the meantime. Thanks, all, for your advice & help. Carvers are a great community wherever they are. Dave 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wantok Posted March 16, 2015 Report Share Posted March 16, 2015 (edited) I was at Marmot Tuesday to Friday. Very good conditions and lots of room. It got well above freezing in the day but the snow held up. I rode a chair with a serious softboot carver there (and mentioned Bomber and EC). Edited March 16, 2015 by wantok Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allee Posted March 17, 2015 Report Share Posted March 17, 2015 Sunshine got some snow yesterday, a couple of friends went and said it was great. Temps are supposed to be lower until at least tomorrow, so that's where I'd head if I had the choice. One of the crossfit girls rode at Louise on Sunday and said it was awful. Marginal on the back and sheer ice on the front. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
big canuck Posted March 17, 2015 Report Share Posted March 17, 2015 Yup heard the exact same thing, sounds like Sunshine is DEF the spot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacSkiddin Posted March 19, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 19, 2015 I think I know the answer to this (i.e., no), but are there any places to rent alpine gear in Banff, Jasper, or Edmonton? Thanks, Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
big canuck Posted March 21, 2015 Report Share Posted March 21, 2015 I doubt it man.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacSkiddin Posted March 23, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 23, 2015 Met PuddyTat at the hill today. Conditions are epic, at least by my east coast standards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skidad62 Posted April 4, 2015 Report Share Posted April 4, 2015 Ok Dave... pics or this trip never happened... ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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