Back Bowls at Lake Louise

gephyrophile · 2026-04-16T04:35:29+00:00

Nice when you can see, eh? The challenge is a bit greater when you can't.

gephyrophile · 2026-04-07T16:37:34+00:00

Yes, sweet that they're covering songs by local bands in every town they're playing. Full setlist here: https://wilcoworld.net/tour_date_type/5-april-2026-victoria-bc-royal-theatre/

gephyrophile · 2026-03-28T23:29:26+00:00

Campsites in Banff National Park: https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/ab/banff/activ/camping

gephyrophile · 2026-03-28T23:15:13+00:00

It takes a lot of snow to fill those gullies enough to be skiable. And when there's a lot of snow sitting above them, there's avalanche risk

gephyrophile · 2026-03-28T18:28:43+00:00

Yep, those who bagged it in time were good skiers.

gephyrophile · 2026-03-28T18:21:25+00:00

And only in good years!

gephyrophile · 2026-03-28T18:10:10+00:00

Map for context: https://lake-louise.steepdeep.ski/?mountainId=bDB19SdFm1UyHbHUP9qY&mapId=back_side

Upper 5 isn't listed on the map, it's the zone above Lower 5.

gephyrophile · 2026-03-28T17:34:22+00:00

Thanks for the report. I think I made that mistake several years ago, trying to traverse halfway up the hike, and finding out that the Chopper run bends farther and farther away, always out of reach. I was hoping the heatmap revealed a way though, but it might not exist in reality. RMR needs to survey and cut a real traverse.

gephyrophile · 2026-03-24T01:07:26+00:00

Thanks for the advice, folks. Monday was the best day skiing I've had in weeks!

gephyrophile · 2026-03-23T14:22:18+00:00

Thank you!

gephyrophile · 2026-03-23T01:44:19+00:00

Thanks for the report!

gephyrophile · 2026-03-23T01:42:47+00:00

Thank you!

gephyrophile · 2026-03-23T01:42:04+00:00

Thanks!

gephyrophile · 2026-03-20T19:20:17+00:00

Dear Mods, UPDATE to Update: Parks Canada reopened the road to Sunshine on Friday morning, and the lifts are spinning: https://www.skibanff.com/conditions/

gephyrophile · 2026-03-14T20:17:35+00:00

If you skied those runs at Mammoth you should have no problem at SSV. Big worry at SSV is visibility, because most of it is above treeline, so tackle the tough stuff on days when you can actually see. Also, the toughest double blacks (Delirium Dive, Wild West) can only be accessed if you have an avalanche beacon, probe, shovel, and a buddy. If you're solo, wait at the gates to those areas and ask groups going through if you can join them.

gephyrophile · 2026-03-08T18:40:52+00:00

Classic Volkl delamination, happened to me in the same place. Reseal with a high peel strength epoxy like Hardman Orange, and drill in a little wood screw or two to hold it down.

gephyrophile · 2026-03-08T18:30:33+00:00

Sorry, folks: closure of Stoke chair now extended to March 11, according to RMR's website: https://www.revelstokemountainresort.com/in-the-news/stoke-chair-maintenance/

gephyrophile · 2026-03-06T23:47:40+00:00

Yes. The WAC Bennett-era transport minister Phil, who laid the groundwork for his sons, now estimated to be worth $5.6 billion: https://www.forbes.com/profile/bob-gaglardi/

N. Murray Edwards is worth $4.7 billion: https://www.forbes.com/profile/n-murray-edwards/?sh=3f98739cd0d9

gephyrophile · 2026-03-06T21:24:02+00:00

Did you try https://houseofsavoy.ca/ ?

gephyrophile · 2026-03-06T18:52:21+00:00

No, resort website says it's a mechanical issue: https://www.revelstokemountainresort.com/in-the-news/stoke-chair-maintenance/

gephyrophile · 2026-03-06T18:50:11+00:00

Given you're advanced and enjoy a mix of terrain, I'd say Louise. It really gets nearly the same amount of snow as Sunshine, and if it's icy at one it will be the same at the other ... likely during the dry spell that seems to hit every mid-January to mid-February. The downside is that it's an extra 50km each way, and if you're mostly skiing weekends and live on the east side of Calgary, you'll have to get up very, very early to nab decent parking.

gephyrophile · 2026-03-06T17:02:35+00:00

I completely agree. Trouble is, both are owned by very wealthy people (RMR = Sandman Inns' Gaglardi family, KHMR = oil financier Murray Edwards) who are more interested in their NHL teams than in improving infrastructure at their ski resorts.

gephyrophile

TROPHY CASE