After a hiatus in 2017/18 and a short season in 2018/19, we decided to purchase a 2019/20 season pass to make up for it. We got the Mountain Collective, a pass that includes 2 days of riding at 18 resorts in the world. One of the trips I decided to do was Revelstoke and Banff for Christmas and New Years’ holidays. 

Revelstoke, British Colombia

Revelstoke Resort holds the current title of the tallest vertical drop in North America —in simple terms, very long runs. It wasn’t the best idea to start the season with these never-ending runs, but we did it anyways and our legs paid for it. I could barely finish a run from the top to the bottom. The closest we got was starting midway on ‘Last Spike’ to the bottom but still need some breaks along the way. 

The runs were great and easy to navigate but could be better with fresher snow. Unfortunately, the softest snow we saw was on the day we drove out. 

The most unique part of Revelstoke was the low clouds hanging around all day.  The weather was grey and cloudy below them and as our lift went above them, it was a bluebird sunny day. The sea of clouds was remarkable and breathtaking.  

Revelstoke town was quiet and cozy, as was the ski runs. Even on Christmas, we barely shared the runs with anybody, nor did we wait long in lift lines. I’d say this is due to the driving required to get to Revelstoke —5 hours from Calgary or about 8 hours from Vancouver or Seattle. The drive isn’t easy either! We saw a truck lose traction in front of us before we did as well, despite having snow tires and all-wheel drive. We recovered but it was quite the fright. This wasn’t even in a snowstorm or bad weather… the roads were the driest they could have been in winter!

Our stay, Valley bed and breakfast was great and we met two other travel groups, a family from Seattle and a young group of Irish/Canadian friends. The house also had a garage turned into cool gear storage and wax area. The home-cooked breakfast was also great to start our day.

Revelstoke is tough to get to but you are rewarded with a great mountain without crowds. I’d love to be back one day… maybe not as a season opener and hopefully with more powder and a smooth drive.

Banff, Alberta

After 5 years, I returned to Banff and bought Chi with me for his first time. It was even more beautiful than I remembered. Banff town was more busy and touristy than I recalled… but still fun with lots of dining options. The food surprisingly was much more diverse and tastier than my last visit.

Unlike the last trip, I spent more time exploring the outdoors than snowboarding. Peyto Lake was a beautiful viewpoint with a short snowy hike to get to. The afternoon sun lit up the untouched snow-covered lake with the mountains in the background.

Johnson Canyon was a fantastic short winter hike to two frozen waterfalls. While it was a busy trail, walking along the river and below the canyon walls was a spectacular sight.

Morant Curve was a beautiful stop to photograph the curving Bow River and mountains. I wasn’t lucky enough to capture a train passing by for the perfect postcard shot.

Marble Canyon was outside of Banff in Kootenay National Park, BC. This was an easy winter hike crossing through the top of a beautiful canyon. It was a winter wonderland here —quiet and serene.

Lake Louise, the iconic view was a must-see since I never saw it last time. People were skating and taking photos. We did the same on the frozen lake.

Snowboarding in Lake Louise and Sunshine Resorts was nice but very crowded. Sunshine’s terrain isn’t the best for snowboarders as there are a few flat spots to get stuck on but Lake Louise is the better and more beautiful option… But Whistler cannot be beaten.

We ended the year in Canmore and met up with Michelle and Pat, and Yuliya and Adam. It would be my first time watching fireworks in the mountains. The next day, we started the new decade at the Kananaskis Nordic Spa before departing Calgary. It was a fantastic winter holiday than surprisingly felt quite long but also relaxing.

The Canadian Rockies are without a doubt, my favorite mountains in North America. The mountains are more beautiful due to its jagged rock, sharp peaks, lower tree lines, and snow-covered pine trees. Utah and Colorado haven’t been able to compare but let’s see if Northern California and Montana can compete.