Canada gives it up

[Gary]

WOW...just got back from skiing 6 days in the Canadian Purcells and the Canadian Rockies.

Panorama is a smaller western resort in the Purcells. It had low to no crowds, best snow they've had in years and a fantastic  up on mountain small cabin restaurant called Elk Lodge that served up the best pot pies we ever had. The terrain is fun and Sun bowl was a blast to play in. Ya got a great taste of what's possible in western Canada.

The true beauty of the trip came when we went to Lake Louise and Sunshine..gotta tell ya having travled to many ski resorts....the moutains here and in the Banff National Park are truly amazing, beautiful, and just awe inspiring. Vistas of the Continenntal Divide are jaw dropping. The terrain has plenty of challenge and a wonderful accessible variety. I'm for sure hoping to making that area an annual event.

It's 21/2 hours to Calgary our of Chicago and another 11/2 hour by car to Sunshine....and WAY worth the trip. We had great snow, sun, trees, bowls, sweet steeps and just fun fun fun!

Hope you get a chance to go...it's unfogetable!? ?best, g

[LivingProof]

Gary,

Seems that your trip scheduling has produced a lot of good snow this season.

Let's hoist the maple leaf flag and sing.

Oh Canada,
You gave it up for us!

(pardon asked from our northern neighbors for mild exchange of words in their National Anthem)

Folks, G sent me some pics and,wow, the scenery is just spectacular. Alice looks spectacular too, and, the guy is blue and green sure knows how to ski.

Did you apply for a job as a Ski Patroller at Sunshine Village (ducking)?

[Gary]

Hey Mike...never duck....ski faster!!!!  Teasing of course. I will pass along the compliment to my wife for sure.

WOW...patroller at Sunshine would be a nice job....but for me MR. Gabby....mountain ambassador would be SWEET!...THEN I could talk and ski all day.

AND got my "please don't hit me" colors on....thanks for noticing!...

Heading back up to Banff to ski Louise and Sunshine mid April...gotta get some spring snow.

Come on all....who's up for going....Svend is going to be there too.

Best, Gary

PS Mike...have a great time in Vail with the gang...snow should be great!

[Svend]

The trip to Panorama and Banff was fantastic! Great company, gorgeous scenery, excellent weather and snow, fabulous terrain.? And did I mention great company? Gary and Alice are a treat to ski with.? So much fun, always cheerful.? Had a blast exploring the mountains with them.

Here are some pics to connect some images to the words.

Panorama, British Columbia (Purcell Range):

[Svend]

Lake Louise, Banff National Park, Alberta:

[Svend]

And Sunshine Mountain, Banff National Park, Alberta:

[LivingProof]

Just sharing a thought after looking at Svend's pics.

Whenever I go the Rockies and check out the views when skiing on clear days, I always feel very, very small and insignificant. I'm just in awe of what nature created and nowhere is it expressed better for me than when in big mountains. Whatever my real life problems are, they just go away.

So, Svend thanks for the pics, and, I'll get my first hand views in two weeks in Summit County.

[midwif]

Those pics are AMAZING!!!
The vistas are gorgeous.

I was up that way a life-time ago, the summer of 1976.
Slightly different color palette at that time of year.
I do remember being awed by the scenery.

And awed by the sheer number of bears visiting the campgrounds in Banff at night.

Maybe next year......
How's that exchange rate these days???

[Svend]

Hey Mike,

Someone else who feels the way I do! I share those sentiments and feelings exactly. ?That is why I included that last picture in the series, which was taken from the top of the Continental Divide at Sunshine Mtn. ?The picture has an ethereal quality to it that in a small way expresses how I feel whenever I go up there. ?That mountain makes me feel on top of the world, literally, and there is something in the quality of light up there, together with the far away vistas over the other mountains, that is just so serene and peaceful and calming. ?I could sit up there for hours and take it all in. ?But then I get a nudge and a push, and just gotta ski!

[Svend]

How's that exchange rate these days???

Sorry Lyn, exchange rate is not great for you guys right now.   

Cheer up, though.  Just go up to the top of Sunshine and all that will melt into insignificance and won't matter any more.   

Glad you like the pics.  It truly is a fabulous place to ski.  And being in a National Park, it is quite non-commercial, which we like.  Minimal development, very controlled growth and strict limits on what can be built and where.  Keeps things very uncluttered, if you know what I mean.

[Gary]

We're hooked like a couple of junkies...

The skiing is so ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. ...there....the variety of terrain and ease of access, and oh yeah...did ya see the views.

oh boy...gotta get back soon....BTW...Svend was skiing amazing, he loved the pow...and was skiing the sidewalls of runs like a half pipe pro. OH yeah....that boy is bitten deep!

Snowing here in home town today...nice to see the ground white again!
Our local mountain still has a great base and I'm thankful for that.

G