Nolefan2011

Hi Everyone. So I am going to be taking my first trip to Canada in March, and am looking at early March for about a week. I have the Epic Mountain pass for Keystone, Breck, and A-Basin. The purpose of this trip for about 8 days, is to hit powder, trees, and aggressive bowls. The stuff that is NEVER going to open in CO this year, haha.

Park isn't important, because I can do park laps in CO.

What would you pick. I am looking for backcountry, shoots, steeps and deeps, and long tree runs. Thanks in advance.

Bones

I'll start you off until the locals chime in.

Kicking Horse and Revelstoke.

Nolefan2011

Thanks! Kicking Horse or Revelstoke? Favorites and why? Might be able to squeeze both...

roremc

Kicking Horse has about 115 inbounds avi controlled chutes so that will keep you occupied for a few days. If it hasnt snowed for a while when you hit it, it can be pretty shitty. Lots of steeps at the Horse as well.

Revi has more tree runs than you will know what to do with. They had a shitty start to the season but the snow is starting to come.

Rogers Pass between Revi and KH is a backcountry mecca so really your only problem is that you need 4 weeks off! ; )

Depending on the snow at the time Lake Louise would be worth a look as well. The back side has a lot to offer when it comes to steeps.

Where are you flying into?

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So many runs so little time.

newnew

local here. fernie, hands down. i'd say overnight on average it snows a solid 5 feet. amazing runs, trees everywhere. and i mean EVERYWHERE. but when you wanna cruise down a blue or green there's ample of those too. fuck my favorite hill for sure. i get pumped just talking about it.

kicking horse: very steep hill, i find it more of a skiiers hill imo just because of the steepness. some blues are kicking around a 45degree angle. but not to say that there are some good runs there as well. great weather when i was there. awesome scenery, just a little steep for my liking...when i would fall i would keep my speed while falling down the hill, it took alot of effort to dig my board into the ground to slow down. not so much powder...definately not even close to kicking horse's amount.

revelstoke: i've never been but i hear this is the unsung hero of british columbia. I'm planning to go there in a couple weeks so i could definately update you with how that hill is. I've had a few friends that have gone there and they absolutely loved it.

whistler: VERY crowded. IF you wanna be waiting in line for 20 mins at a time to get on the chairlifts then be my guest, gondola lineups are ridiculous too. A very saturated hill but for good reason.

So to make a post short: Fernie, you will not regret it. I personally guarantee

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2010 152 LibTech Skate Banana, 2010 Ride nRc Bindings

Nolefan2011

Thanks for the advice. Checked out Fernie's terrain map and it looks awesome. Really have heard so much about Revelstoke that I need to try that.

So, flying to Calgary, and going to go half and half in different areas.

Banff out?

newnew

yes, head west on crowchild (in calgary) and it takes you directly to the hills. Calgary to banff is about 1-1.5 hours depending how you drive. banff to revelstoke is about 6 hours

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2010 152 LibTech Skate Banana, 2010 Ride nRc Bindings

Bones

The advantage of Kicking Horse and Revelstoke is that they're about 2hrs apart. And KH isn't far from Lake Louise. Stay at KH and you're in between both.

Steeps, chutes, trees, powder are all there

AdamBQ

My vote:
FLy in and dry to Lake Louise. Stay there that night, ride LL the next day and then drive to Golden (Kicking Horse). Stay in Golden and ride KH for however many days you want, then head on to Revy. Rinse and repeat for Fernie if need be.

A lot of that is going to change depending on snow, but I think that'll be a good road map.

roremc

Fernie is too far south IMO. Lake, Horse, Revi. Be ballsy though. Book your flight and a car and work out the accom a day or so before you get here. That way if Sunshine has the best snow you can mix it up. If Castle gets 3 days of 60 cms you can go there. The best resort on the planet is shit if its not snowing. newnew is a perfect example. Fernie got 72 cms on Tuesday night. before that it has been a rainy shit hole. If you can be flexible with your lodging I would find out what the weather is doing.

If you are driving get something that is 4x4 if you think you might go to revi. Rogers Pass is super sketchy if its snowing hard and rentals in Alberta don't have winter tires.

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So many runs so little time.