Issue No 1 February 2004 Welcome Letter from the Editor Coming Up In Our Next Edition Rockies Events Calendar The best Canadian Rockies events calendar highlights so many events in Canmore and Banff that you'll be begging for some down time! Canmore's Native History Ancient pictographs are just one reminder of this area's rich and fascinating Native history. Discover the 11,000-year-old story behind the Canmore area's First Nations people. Adventures on Snowshoes Walk on clouds of powdery snow for miles amidst pristine Rocky Mountain scenery - on a snowshoeing adventure. Snowshoeing is fun, safe and a great way to enjoy the outdoors for all ages. Subscribe Today!     If you haven't already signed up to receive your free subscription to SolaraLife, sign up now by submitting your email address in the space provided above.	HOME   /   DO IT Ski resorts report in on what's new, what's next A winter holiday in the Canadian Rockies is equally appealing to those who prefer to balance their days on the ski hill with more cozy, indoor pursuits, and avid skiers or snowboarders who wouldn't think of missing a day on the slopes. With the best snow conditions at area resorts in a decade, there has never been a better time to plan a winter holiday in the Canadian Rockies. Local ski resorts — which offer every level of terrain for the first-time skier through passionate expert — all report a great start to the season, with record snowfall in November and December. With warmer temperatures, longer days and more powdery snow in the coming months, ski resorts report in on what's new: Resorts of the Canadian Rockies ("RCR"): Lake Louise, Nakiska and Fortress Mountain RCR's three popular local area resorts all have stellar conditions, says resort spokesman Matt Mosteller. "There's excellent skiing and riding conditions at all three resorts, early season year-record snowfall for all three resorts, and certainly guests have been enjoying improved offerings at each resort." Lake Louise, located in Banff National Park and a 70-minute drive from Canmore, is offering some improvements to its food facilities, with greater variety in its culinary offerings. The snowmaking system at (what locals call) 'the Lake' has had a major upgrade, which Mosteller says will mean an even better improvement to ski hill conditions. Add to this the great quantities Mother Nature has provided, and Lake Louise promises some of the best conditions in North America. Once experienced, there's little wonder that Lake Louise has earned world acclaim in top ski and snowboard magazines. The gold medal for scenery and value are just two of its accolades. Nakiska and Fortress Mountain ski areas located east of Canmore in the huge nature preserve called Kananaskis Country, are also boasting great conditions and some big improvements. Nakiska, a 35-minute drive from Canmore, has had its snowmaking system upgraded for the 2003/'04 season — but so much of the white stuff fell in November that the resort delayed its opening for a few days to deal with too much snow! The key is in continued high quality grooming, Mosteller says, for excellent skiing and boarding. Boarders also enjoy one of the best terrain parks and half-pipe for hours of fun. At Fortress Mountain, a 45-minute drive from Canmore, RCR is planning to expand its patrolled terrain for more advanced skiers and boarders — adding as much as 30 per cent more to this resort. Sunshine Village World class Sunshine Village ski and snowboard resort is about a 30-minute drive west from Canmore, into Banff National Park. Sunshine boasts "100% natural snow", and offers excellent conditions this season, says resort spokesman John Ross. With over $40 million in capital improvements over the past 10 years, Sunshine has recently re-established itself as Alberta's #1 ski resort, Ross says. The resort has attracted over 500,000 skier visits four times in the past five years — but don't be fooled by that number into thinking that huge crowds and long lift lines result. A good portion of the $40 million has been spent on improving lift capacity, both in terms of volume and speed. Sunshine completely eliminated base area lineup ins 2002 when they built a new super high-speed 8-passenger gondola. With the recent installation of quad chairs at Wawa (2002), Wolverine and Jackrabbit (2000) and this year's new quad chair at Standish, Sunshine Village now offers a total of seven quad chairs — the most in the Canadian Rockies. "The Goat's Eye high-speed quad chair is an incredible lift as it has a capacity of 2,400 skiers per hour and travels a vertical rise of 1,900 feet (579 m) in less than five minutes," says Ross. "An aggressive skier can pound out 23,000 vertical feet (7,000 m) in just three hours, if they are so inclined." Sunshine has also been making improvements to its food service outlets, as well as a $2 million renovation to the Sunshine Inn. As the only mountain-top ski hill accommodation in Banff National Park, Sunshine Inn's 84 rooms are popular with visitors keen on being as close to their chosen sport as possible. Access to the inn is by gondola only, with amazing views and quiet evenings available for enjoyment after the day's crowds have left the mountaintop. In the off-season, Ross has spent many days promoting Sunshine and the Banff-Lake Louise area in Canada, the U.S. and overseas. At a recent show in the U.K., "they raved about Banff and Lake Louise. They liked our attitude, they liked how they could speak English, the liked the beer and the pubs, and that everyone was polite. They loved the wide open spaces as well." back to top Lake Louise ski area has excellent skiing and boarding conditions, thanks to the above-average snowfall this season. Ski Banff@Norquay Ski Banff@Norquay is a popular, family friendly ski and snowboarding resort located just a few minutes from downtown Banff. "We're very much a family oriented resort, because of the convenience of being so close to Banff and Canmore, and also because we've not quite as large as some of the other resorts," says Norquay spokesman Rob Cote, "so families feel comfortable letting the kids go." A highly popular feature at Norquay is the option guests have to purchase "skiing by the hour." While other resorts offer half-day rates starting midday, the advantage at Norquay is for guests to choose which part of the day they prefer. Skiers and boarders can choose up to five hours in half-hour increments. "You're not bound by our time, you're on your own schedule," says Cote. "We virtually don't have lift lines, so you get a lot of skiing and boarding in a short period of time, so people really do enjoy the skiing by the hour option." Norquay's skiing and boarding conditions have been excellent since opening day Dec. 12, Cote said, with more snow expected to offer great times on the hill into the spring. "The other unique feature of Norquay is we do groom all beginner and intermediate terrain top to bottom every night," says Cote. "So people are guaranteed good conditions every morning." Mount Norquay is also ideally situated for skiing or boarding on the colder weather, windy days that occasionally happen in the Canadian Rockies. The mountain is very sheltered and located within tree stands, with large cliff bands above protecting the hill from heavy westerly weather. Norquay is a great spot for skiers or boarders to enjoy on a vacation to the area — all day or by the hour. "We're the local flavour when you're in the big resort town," Cote says. Canmore Nordic Centre Slap on the classic or skate skis and head to the heart of Canmore's Olympic legacy — the Canmore Nordic Centre. Just a five-minute drive from downtown Canmore, the Nordic Centre caters to cross-country skiers of all stripes, from the never-tried-it-before neophytes to the hard-core, spandex-sporting experts. Nordic Centre manager Ron Henderson is expecting the currently excellent conditions to last well into the spring, especially with the "bigger snow months" typically arriving at the latter end of February and March. "If that holds, we'll have excellent conditions right into April." Cross-country skiing is popular because of the natural beauty and quiet that can be enjoyed literally a few minutes from the parking lot, the relatively low cost, and the ability for even beginners to enjoy the trails the same day as their first lesson. Lessons with certified instructors are available for all levels and for both classic and skating techniques, Henderson says, with beginners taking their first tentative strides in the large, relatively flat area outside the day lodge that was once the start-finish line for the 1988 Winter Olympic Nordic events. Rental equipment is available at Trail Sports, the retail and rental outlet located just across from the day lodge. "You can basically enjoy a day or a few hours at the Nordic Centre by leaving your suitcase behind in your hotel, as long as you have some warm clothes," Henderson says. The Canmore Nordic Centre is located in Bow Valley Provincial Park, and features 70 km of track-set trails, with snow-making on 10 km. Night skiing is free after 5 p.m. on a 2.5 km track. At the time of writing in Canmore, a full moon and a clear night means at least a few locals will be out enjoying a ski by moonlight. While full moon skiers must watch carefully for groomers, getting off trails should they appear, a ski under the full moon with the Rocky Mountains glowing all around is an unforgettable experience. Daytime skiers enjoy full facilities at the Nordic Centre, including the Kick 'n Glide Café inside the day lodge, complete with a huge crackling fire and enough hot chocolate to warm the coldest bones. Shari Bishop Bowes
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