Last week I wrote a blog post about the new Inception movie and its potential effect on Fortress Mountain’s closed Ski Hill. Writing the article got me thinking about going skiing, which I did and it was glorious, so I started researching the current state of the ski slopes that can be found locally, and not so locally. I suspect the information will be valuable to any powder hounds currently tied up in town, so here’s an informal snow report. I’m also going to briefly outline the differences between the resorts, as well as mention current ticket prices, more for any out of town visitors unfamiliar with local powder hoarding options.

town of the sun

Sunshine is definitely the main ski run in the area. Of all the hills in Alberta, Sunshine is the one that has gained international renown. Ticket prices are cheaper this year than in the past. Adults pay $76.14, youth pay $54.28, seniors $61.86, children and gondola-only passengers only pay $26.42. At the time of publication of this article they have a snow base of 107 cm. The terrain is a mix of easy and difficult runs, but there are a lot more blue runs than black diamonds. Sunshine has phenomenal snow and great access, but for more experienced riders there’s really just one interesting run. That run is Sunshine’s crown jewel, Delirium Dive. The Dive is currently not open to skiers/boarders due to all the explosives they drop in an effort to improve avalanche conditions by bombarding the snowpack back to the Stone Age. Don’t go down that run yet. They may exploit you.

lake louise

At just under three hours, Lake Louise is a bit far from Calgary. However, of all the nearby ski resorts, it is the largest at 4,200 acres of skiable terrain. It has the best balance of easy and hard runs, has decent snow (37 inches at the moment), and tickets are about the same as Sunshine. Adults pay $75.95, seniors and youth pay $54.95, and children pay $24.95. Lake Louise is a great option for anyone looking to do some easily accessible backcountry skiing. As you can see on the map I linked to earlier in this paragraph, several of the lifts drop you off on some ridges that offer easy access to lovely dusty bowls. The only thing to remember is that you need beacons, shovels, probes, and proper avalanche training to safely access these winter wonderlands.

mount norquay

Mount Norquay is located across the TransCanada Highway from the city of Banff. As such, it is a locals’ favorite spot for the town, and the hill runs accordingly. Norquay is the smallest ski resort in the area, except for Calgary Olympic Park, and has less challenging terrain than Sunshine or Lake Louise. However, they are also a very economical decision, and they are the only ski slope in the region that offers hourly rates and night skiing on Fridays. Overall this is a great hill to go and spend an afternoon or early evening, or to practice a few turns before hitting the bigger resorts later in the season.

Nakiska

Although it will open shortly, on December 5, Nakiska is currently only open to the public on weekends. Being located much closer to the eastern foothills of the Rocky Mountains, Nakiska generally has less snow than the other resorts located a little deeper into the mountains. Currently, they have a base of 71cm. The terrain at Nakiska is varied, but leans more to the easy side. It’s a great place for families to go skiing, as there are plenty of terrains suitable for beginners and children. Tickets are relatively cheap, adults pay $64.95, seniors pay $51.95, youth $44.95, and children only pay $19.95.

Canada Olympic Park

COP was built for the 1988 Winter Olympics, it is a world-class facility for almost all winter sports where gravity is the main propulsion agent. It has facilities not only for skiing, but also for bobsleigh, lugeing, ski jumping, skeleton, etc, etc. Because of this, he is a bit of a ‘Jack of all trades’. You can certainly go skiing there, but it’s not the main focus. Being located within the city of Calgary, COP also receives a very small amount of natural snowfall compared to larger resorts in the mountains. However, with tickets starting at $5 and capping out at $39, it’s very inexpensive to break things down a bit.