Banff 2012

[Gary]

Hey gang....just back from 4 great days of skiing in the Candian Rockies....the Continental Divide was divine! Firm snow in the early morning softening up around 11 providing us buttery to cream cheese snow the rest of the day. Got 5-6 hours on snow time in these great conditions.

I'm posting my Koday Gallery direct link to the album...figure you all good get a good idea of what the terrain is like. Most of the terrain pics are from Sunshine.

Here's the link: http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/creativeapps/photoPicker/albums.jsp

Click and check it out...it was a great way for me to finish up the season. Svend also had a great time and really moved his ski skills up a notch skiing the varied conditions.

All the best, G

[Gary]

Sorry guys...I don't think link is working...

There are 41 photo's....if anyone is interested....send me an email and I'll send you the photo's via my Kodak account.

Too many to try and post here but certainly a good perspective of what Sunshine looks like....a few shots of me too crusing the cream cheese. 

Thanks, g

ps I had email address for Jim, Lynn and Mike and took the liberty to forward the file to them.

[jim-ratliff]

Gary:  this may work.  By the way -- new jacket??


http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/creativeapps/slideShow/Main.jsp?sourceId=533754321803&cm_mmc=Share-_-Personal-_-Email-_-Sharee-_-Images&token=5647220941105%3A1212159802&_requestid=242678

[Gary]

Thanks Jim, you are a wizard!

hope you enjoy! g

[ToddW]

My favorite is the 3rd from the end because of the huge grin.  You're having entirely too much fun, Gary!

Are you heading back to Portillo this summer for another week with Clendenin?  If so, please post photos to help get us through the long summer season.

[HighAngles]

I have the same color Spyder jacket, but mine is a different model.  There's no way any one is going to lose you with that color on.

[Gary]

HA and Todd....man Banff is a sweet place....probably won't get back to Portillo but come around August....my heart will be wimpering! Hey Todd...if we ever get to ski together...I'm always smilin' on snow.....!

Oh yeah...the jacket screams,.. I'm coming through, don't run this over, and my wife and buds never loose site of me. Hey...it's all about fun and happy attitides..

Great coat BTW....love it in cold, wet and warm weather...hope you like yours to HA!

G

[smackboy1]

Too many to try and post here but certainly a good perspective of what Sunshine looks like....a few shots of me too crusing the cream cheese. 

Holy crap that's some great scenery 

Gotta add Banff onto the Bucket List too.

[Gary]

Hope you get a chance to go....those pics are only the tip of the iceberg! There's some great sidecountry skiing, bowls, mens downhill run at Lake Louise....spent many laps there one day after it softened up....so much versatility....so much beauty.

It's 11/2 hour flight from Chicago and 11/2 hour drive from Calgary to Banff. Sunshine is 20 min from Banff and Lake Louise is about 1hr.

The Banff National Park is also as beautiful to drive through. I'd say to date this area....is at the top of our list!

[jbotti]

Great shots Gary. Love the jacket as well.

[jim-ratliff]

Gary:    My compliments to the photographer. Very nice pictures, especially given the fact that there were so few people to film.


What was the altitude, since so much appears to be above tree line.

[Svend]

A few words from the other half of the duo that skied Banff...

Yes, Gary and I had a great time.  It was a sweet way to end the ski season, in one of our favourite places to ski in North America.  As a matter of fact, Sunshine and Louise are in my Top 3, along with Snow Basin, Utah.  The fact that all three are inside protected parks is one of the reasons why I like them so much.  That, and great ski terrain.  As Gary said about Sunshine and Louise, there is so much variety at each place, they are just huge playgrounds and you will NOT be bored.  Actually, there are three ski areas in Banff park -- Sunshine, Lake Louise, and Norquay (which is the oldest ski resort in North America, apparently).

But I gotta say, Banff beats all when it comes to scenery.  I defy anyone with half a modicum of aesthetic sensibility to ski there without stopping at least once per run to admire the views.  Food for the soul, and I just love it there.

Gary -- a slight correction...Lake Louise is about 40 minutes from Banff village.  Or if someone is staying at the Chateau Lake Louise, it's just 5 minutes away  .

[Svend]

What was the altitude, since so much appears to be above tree line.

Jim -- the upper one-third to two-thirds of Sunshine is above tree line, depending on which mountain you're on.  Lookout Mountain (the big one) has a summit elevation of about 9000 ft, and two-thirds of its terrain is above tree line.  Not sure about Goat's Eye Mountain elevation, but it is slightly lower than Lookout, and I would guess that one-third to half of its terrain is above the trees. 

As for Lake Louise, I would guess that only one-quarter of the skiable terrain on the front side is above tree line, but the entire area of the backside bowls of the main mountain are bare.  All of the Larch area terrain is below tree line.  Summit elevation of Whitehorn mountain is about 8600 ft at top of lift.

Base elevation for both Sunshine and Louise is about 5400 ft.

[midwif]

Gary
Are you missing something in those pictures?
A new look?
L.

[Svend]

Lynn -- Gary is without internet for a while, I think.  Probably not connected again until next week.  But, your eyes do not deceive.  His appearance is quite different, and not just his fashionable clothing.   

[Gary]

Hi Lynn....hahahaha... .you noticed....ah yes...much more streamlined...."air efficient"!

Not sure I'll like it when cold weather arrives...but hey...just a change.

Svend got first look when he arrived in Banff...Alice didn't know until I got home.

Lots of fun anyways....best, g