It's Still Looking Good Out West
It's Still Looking Good Out West
Published : 10-Dec-2011 06:22
Although the onus of the past seven days has switched from, North America to the Alps in terms of dramatic snowfall, conditions still remain excellent in most Western Canadian and US resorts.
Marmot Basin by Jasper in Alberta, Canada reports it has already received half of its average annual snowfall and there is still over five months of skiing and snowboarding remaining in their season!
Over six feet (two metres) of snow had fallen up to December 5 compared to 111cm on the same date in 2010 and excellent 'mid-winter conditions' are reported to exist throughout the entire ski area.
Marmot Basin has also opened two new chairlifts this winter, the Paradise high speed quad chair and the School House chair.
An official grand opening event is taking place this weekend - Saturday, December 10th and everyone lucky enough to be in Marmot on December 10th and 11th can enter to win a two day ski holiday for two people including lift tickets and rental equipment with accommodation at the Best Western Jasper Inn & Suites.
Most runs and six of seven lifts have been open, with the final lift, the Knob Chair opening today, December 10 now that grooming and avalanche control crews have completed their work in that area.
So much snow fell during November that groomers were struggling to make it up to the top of the Knob Chair to pack out the "cat track" which is a requirement for getting the lift open. Likewise the avalanche control team has been challenged to get all their work done simply due to the abundance of snow in the alpine bowls. With the Knob now opens, skiers and boarders can again be thigh deep in powder snow.
The Rogers Terrain Park will open soon as snowmaking resumes in full force tomorrow December 11. Large mounds of snow will be blown into the terrain park so groomers can sculpt various features and jumps and so terrain park staff, known locally as "the Park Rangers" can set up rails and boxes. The Rogers Terrain Park will open well before the holiday season.
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