Skiing Lake Louise, Canadian Rockies' Best
Ski a Big Western Mountain with Trails, Glades and Snowfields
Mar 11, 2009
Skiing farther south and east begins to deteriorate in March when the sun begins to soften the snow and rain washes it away. But in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, in western Canada, cold weather and altitude hold the temperatures closer to freezing, so the many feet of snow on the mountains lasts well through April and into May.
Snow Capped Peaks Around Lake Louise
Lake Louise Ski Area, about a 45-minute ride from Banff, stretches over about 4,200 acres of gorgeous mountains with runs of all skill levels on four separate mountain faces, all of which are seamlessly interconnected. The views from the top of the gondola look down across the valley to Lake Louise and its famous Chateau Lake Louise hotel, the 11,365-foot Mt Victoria on one side and the Waputik Range on the other. Alighting from the Top of the World Quad, there is nothing in view on the back side of the mountain but snow on the wild mountains and glaciers of Banff National Park.
Runs for All From Top to Bottom
The terrain available here runs the full range from comfortable, but challenging, greens (beginner-novice) to terrifying double blacks (super-expert) with everything in between. An added advantage of this set of mountains is the fact that from the top of practically every lift there is a novice or intermediate way down to the mid-mountain lifts or the bottom. Even from the top of the Summit Platter lift atop Mt. Whitehorn there is an intermediate run (132) down for those who don’t want to take the near vertical double blacks of the snow bowl.
Top of the World
Also at the top of the Top of The World lift, the green-ranked run 109 skirts the top of The Wall, another piece of vertical landscape intended for double black afficionados. It winds down to a very gentle run 65 along the base of the mountain to the Larch Express Quad. From here there is access to the Larch area on yet another different mountain, and the Ptarmigan Quad on the Quadra Ridge.
Bset for Novices and Intermediates
Beginners and intermediates will find the most comfort and rewarding challenge in the Larch Area, up on the side of Lipalian Mountain (8,900’). Beautiful well-groomed runs course down its sides and a full day could be spent here perfecting turns. At the bottom, the Temple Lodge is a good place for lunch or a snack, and green-ranked run 155 leads to the bottom, or the Ptarmigan lift returns you to the Grizzly Gondola area. Here there is another full range of green, blue and black runs that lead to the base area or mid-mountain lifts.
Lake Louise, the Village
The village of Lake Louise is a tiny place almost entirely devoted to providing services to travelers who come here for winter sports and in summer to savor the mountain views and indulge in the many outdoor activities available here. The U.S. Dollar has about a 20% premium in Canada now, so for Americans, money tends to go a bit further.
Use Calgary International Airport for Lake Louise
Access from the U.S. is easiest via United Airlines/Air Canada, WestJet and a few smaller airlines through the international airport at Calgary – famed for its rodeo. Bus transport is available to Lake Louise but renting a car and driving allows spending some time to see Banff and the snow covered peaks along the way.
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