Those descriptors pretty much say it all when you get to the western Canadian provinces and they especially hold true at the end of March when spring is just peeking around the corner, the snow is soft, the skies are blue and the weather is great for getting outside.
I planned an impromptu trip out west with a friend who had never seen the Canadian Rockies in all their splendor (poor guy) but who is now a convert – that usually happens once they get out there – all thoughts of Toronto being the most amazing spot in Canada get put into perspective once you experience that first glimpse of those soaring snow-capped peaks.
We planned a quick trip out west – only 6 days, but definitely action packed as both the weather and the snow conditions cooperated nicely.
We landed in Calgary and headed west to Banff, which is the main town in Banff National Park, about an hour or so away from Calgary, right in the heart of the Rockies. We stayed in a funky new hotel up in the mountains and overlooking the town site, with great views – and an excellent hot tub! Nothing like a good hot tub under the stars on a cold night..
We skied Canada’s second biggest resort (next to Whistler) on Wed, Lake Louise, which has always been my favourite ski hill in the Alberta Rockies. It didn’t disappoint this time either as we had mild weather and a nice afternoon for skiing. And, because it was mid-week, the hill was deserted – on some runs, we were the only skiers, so it felt like our own private mountain. A good friend of mine from grade school runs the ski school operations and has for years, so we hooked up with him and had a great afternoon of skiing.
We stopped in at the Post Hotel in Lake Louise (which is a lovely hotel nestled at the base of the mountain) for dinner before heading further west to Radium, Invermere and Panorama Ski Resort, where my brother works.
The Columbia Valley is a massive sprawl of flat land at the base of another stunning range of mountains, the Kootenays. Once you round the corner into Radium, you’re greeting by this huge open expanse of land bordered by snow-capped mountains on either side.
We stayed right up at Panorama, which is another 10km up the mountain, but well worth the hike. It is a totally self-contained resort that still has a very small-town cozy feel to it. The mountain itself is not too big, definitely not a lifestyles of the rich & famous type place, but more family oriented – and there are tons of outdoor activities to take advantage of… which we did!
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