107 days - 4 more than last year. Theoretically I was here for 12 days more this season than last as we were here when the mountain opened in November, but a combination of illnesses, injury, mountain closures and the Banff road trip pretty much wiped that out. According to the mountain stats page I did over 1000 lifts and more than 570km of vertical, but I know it is definitely missing a few lifts where the scanners are a bit slow. Didn't quite get the skiing down to $10 bucks a day or a dollar per lift, but wasn't far off.
Its been a mixed year. The season started really well with lots of snow and very cold temperatures in December, and we got to ski runs on the lower parts of both mountains that were never opened last season, especially the whole of peak to creek. Then the coastal mountains reverted to their usual tricks of rain, and when we did get snow there were very few big snow days but rather small amounts every day as every half arsed weather system off the pacific rolled over us - grey skies, low cloud/fog, poor visibility, bad light and just enough snow to make the pistes lumpy and slow without being enough to freshen up the bowls. Technically it's been a good snow year in total, but I think I enjoyed last season more and did more actual runs and miles.
We did finally get some blue sky days in April, but accompanied by very warm weather and very little fresh snow - I think 2 minor falls all month - so the past couple of week have been very slushy and an early finish with nothing to help bind it together and freeze it in.
Banff next year will be very different. Definitely higher, probably colder and with drier snow. Whether the weather pattern is any different we will have to see - some people have said its a more european style with only the occasional big storm making it over the rockies, and with clear spells in between, and others have said its often grey and cloudy like here. The main ski area is called, Sunshine - lets hope its more a statement of fact than just wishful thinking.....
We've now got 2 days to wash all my ski gear, pack the car up and clean the apartment before heading down to the US on saturday morning to reclaim badger. A few days getting set up in Bellingham and hopefully a trip out to see Orcas before we hit the road and head inland.
Its been a mixed year. The season started really well with lots of snow and very cold temperatures in December, and we got to ski runs on the lower parts of both mountains that were never opened last season, especially the whole of peak to creek. Then the coastal mountains reverted to their usual tricks of rain, and when we did get snow there were very few big snow days but rather small amounts every day as every half arsed weather system off the pacific rolled over us - grey skies, low cloud/fog, poor visibility, bad light and just enough snow to make the pistes lumpy and slow without being enough to freshen up the bowls. Technically it's been a good snow year in total, but I think I enjoyed last season more and did more actual runs and miles.
We did finally get some blue sky days in April, but accompanied by very warm weather and very little fresh snow - I think 2 minor falls all month - so the past couple of week have been very slushy and an early finish with nothing to help bind it together and freeze it in.
Banff next year will be very different. Definitely higher, probably colder and with drier snow. Whether the weather pattern is any different we will have to see - some people have said its a more european style with only the occasional big storm making it over the rockies, and with clear spells in between, and others have said its often grey and cloudy like here. The main ski area is called, Sunshine - lets hope its more a statement of fact than just wishful thinking.....
We've now got 2 days to wash all my ski gear, pack the car up and clean the apartment before heading down to the US on saturday morning to reclaim badger. A few days getting set up in Bellingham and hopefully a trip out to see Orcas before we hit the road and head inland.
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