Panorama Jan 26-Feb1 2008

[kingslug]

Got back last night from a week in BC. We spent 4 days skiing panorama and 1 day at kicking Horse. The drive out of Calgary took 3 1/2 hours over 2 main roads and fortunately it wasn't snowing. These are long mountain roads and the farther you go the less civilization there is. We rented a 3 bedroom house in Radium Springs through our timeshare and where pretty much alone up there.
The best way to describe Panorama is a huge Eastern mountain, 2700 acres and 4000 vertical worth. Served by 3 main chairs it's pretty easy to get around. A mogul paradise this is, with endless runs for all abilities. You can pretty much ski bumps from top to bottom, the longest run taking about 1/2 an hour. You'll go through steep narrow runs, some long runouts, then into mild treed bowls, rolling powder fields, and finaly to the bottom. For the expert tree skier the options are endless. Tanyton bowl is their double D area with super steep tree shots, rock bands and cliffs, not my thing.
The locals where saying this was their best snow year in a long time. We recieved about 8 to 10 inches in the time we where there, a lot for this area. With absolutely no crowds the snow was consistant day to day. We got first tracks whenever we wanted, just go to the top. There where times when we where the only ones on any given run, as most stayed on the bottom runs. We've never skied so many bump runs before. They where perfect, never a drop of ice, and covered with some of the driest snow I ever skied on.
The views are spectacular, especialy from the top. Only pictures can describe them. Overall we drove around 700 miles, visiting Kimberly, the hot springs and Kicking Horse, (TR) to follow. The weather can get hairy and changes from place to place. Some white knuckle driving was to be had and those logging trucks are everywhere. If you want to really get away from it all, this is the place!
Ok, here's some pics.