Category Archives: kicking horse

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Travel Disruption Advisory – June 07 2012

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A mudslide 60km west of Golden, British Columbia in Glacier National Park has caused a full closure of of the TransCanada Highway #1 in both directions between Revelstoke and Golden. Road crews are currently working to clean the highway and confirm it is safe for travel.

Additionally, heavy rains have resulted in weakened rail tracks resulting in the cancellation of Rocky Mountaineer rail service between Banff and Kamloops and have been replaced by coach transfers. Meals are being provided by a lunch stop at Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge and at several rest stops along the route to Kamloops or Banff. Coaches are arriving in Kamloops and Banff at approximately the same time as the scheduled train service normally does. Rocky Mountaineer will advise us when they expect the rail service will resume after inspection of the tracks.

*** UPDATE – 13:55 Pacific Standard Time ***

The tracks between Banff and Kamloops that had been blocked due to heavy rains in the area have now been cleared and Rocky Mountaineer’s full rail service has been restored in both directions.

TransCanada Highway #1 has also been cleared of debris and has been reopened for travel in both directions between Revelstoke and Golden, British Columbia.

The footage below of the Bow Falls in Banff was taken yesterday (June 06 2012)

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What’s happened to the Kicking Horse Powder Express?

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I can’t tell you how many calls and emails we have received over the past few weeks from return and new guests regarding the Kicking Horse Powder Express. There seems to be a lot of confusion over what the Kicking Horse Powder Express is this season. Where has it gone? What has replaced it? How much does it cost? We have already spent a lot of time answering these questions and to make it easier and to save us some time answering individual calls and emails regarding this topic, here are some questions and answers below.

All of our guests seem disappointed and frustrated about these changes. Feel free to comment on this post as we would like to hear your thoughts.

Okay, let’s start with the questions and answers below:

1) Is the Kicking Horse Powder Express operating this season?

The Kicking Horse Powder Express with the dedicated return transportation and lift pass included at a rate of about $100 including all tax is no more.

2) Is there a replacement to this service?

Yes. There is a scheduled service which is about $100 plus tax return for just the transportation and in addition to this, you must purchase the lift pass. There is no discount on the lift pass – you must pay full price making this ski-away day quite pricey compared to the old service.

3) How is this service different?

This service is not a dedicated Powder Express ski shuttle as in previous seasons. It is a scheduled service connecting Canmore, Banff, Lake Louise, Golden and Kicking Horse Mountain Resort. The advantage of the scheduled service means that minimum numbers are not required.

The return time of 3:30pm means that you do not get to enjoy a full ski day on the mountain but you do have the convenience of catching a one way shuttle for a reasonable price.

4) What is the schedule for this new service?

This is the new schedule correct as of today:

FROM CANMORE / BANFF / LAKE LOUISE / GOLDEN TO  KICKING HORSE

Depart Canmore 5:30
Arrive in Banff 6:00

Depart Banff 6:15
Arrive in Lake Louise 7:15

Depart Lake Louise 7:30
Arrive Golden (Prestige Inn) 8:50

Depart Golden 9:00
Arrive Kicking Horse (Glacier Mountain Lodge) 9:30

FROM KICKING HORSE TO GOLDEN TO LAKE LOUISE / BANFF / CANMORE

Depart Kicking Horse (Glacier Mountain Lodge) 15:30
Arrive Golden (Prestige Inn) 16:10

Depart Golden 16:10
Arrive Lake Luoise 17:40

Depart Lake Louise 18:00
Arrive Banff 19:15

Depart Banff 19:45
Arrive Canmore 20:00

5) When does the above new service operate?

Daily: December 20th, 2011 through March 31st, 2012.

6) Are there other ski-away options out of Banff?

Yes, the Panorama ski bus is operating again this season with a minimum of 4 required to guarantee a departure. We are finding most guests are booking this ski-away day instead this season to experience another ski resort in the Canadian Rockies at a fraction of the cost.

7) Will the original Kicking Horse Powder Express be offered for the 2012-2013 season?

We have no idea but hope so! If it does, we will be sure to get the word out!

❓ How do I book this new service?

➡Contact Ski Holidays Canada.

Happy Holidays to you all and thanks for reading. We hope that we have answered your questions okay? Remember to visit www.SkiHolidaysCanada.co.uk for ski package deals and specials.

Looking forward to your comments!

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2011 Summer Holiday Packages – Canada

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What a great start we have had to 2011 with about a metre of snow received by the ski resorts across Western Canada over the past week! Now that we are into 2011, the busy summer season does not seem so far away. With the early-bird deals starting to “fizzle” out or become less attractive for the summer, especially with the Rocky Mountaineer train packages, now is a good time to get a good deal on a 2011 spring, summer or autumn/fall package. Rocky Mountain Holidays have brochure downloads in PDF (Portable Document Format) and as always, we have provided the links below for easy reference. These packages can be easily customised based on your preferences (as long as the changes fit in with the rail or cruise schedule). Be sure to take advantage of specials such as free nights and activities in Vancouver – value added rather than discounts are the way to go.

Self-drive holidays are becoming increasingly popular in the Canadian Rockies as it gives you the independence but you also have full support when you are out here and the peace of mind that you won’t struggle to find accommodation during the peak season months in the Canadian Rockies. When booking a self-drive package, check to see if you have Loss Damage Waiver insurance coverage with your credit card provider as this can save you about $30 per day. Also, check out what the one way drop-off fees are from Vancouver to Calgary for example. When you book independently they can be as much as several hundred dollars whereas through a tour operator, typically the rates are about $75-$100.

Other things to look out for if you are shopping around are hidden fees such as “credit card surcharges”. This is a common technique used by some companies to squeeze some extra cash out of you after you have already agreed to the booking. It is also good to ask the straight question – “what extra costs will I have to pay in additional to the package price?”. Any good tour operator will be able to list these for you immediately so you know where you stand with the total of your holiday cost.

Here are the holiday brochures for 2011 – available for download through RockyMountainHolidays.com.

Wishing you all a healthy and happy 2011.

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Rocky Mountain Holidays

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Rocky Mountain Holidays

We are pleased to introduce our updated RockyMountainHolidays.com website. We have made the site simpler to navigate through to help you plan your Rocky Mountain Holiday with us.

This website provides detailed information on the following Canadian locations:

In addition, we also provide summarised details on the services we offer:

We hope you enjoy our new website and please do not hesitate to contact us through Rocky Mountain Holidays to help plan your holiday in Canada, anytime of the year!

Any feedback on our site you may have can be posted here. Thanks for reading!

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Airport Transfers to Banff and Whistler

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Airport transfers are our recommended mode of transport especially in the winter season when the roads can be dangerous.

The prices for our scheduled services are very competitive and ski resorts are set up to cater for guests without cars. In fact, Banff was recently rated in the Top 10 ‘No Car Needed’ Resorts by OnTheSnow.com. For those of you who have visited other Canada ski resorts, you will know that you can get by without a car. Whistler Blackcomb has a free village shuttle which operates in the early morning through to the early hours!

If the above doesn’t convince you to catch our transfer services, direct from Calgary International Airport YYC and Vancouver International Airport YVR, then consider the following:

  • It’s safer. Most of you will have travelled on a flight for many hours to get here.
  • It’s faster. Let an experienced driver who knows the roads get you to your hotel. No need for directions and maps!
  • It’s cleaner. By taking the airport transfer with other guests, there is less pollution which means better for the environment!
  • It’s cheaper. No parking, gas (petrol) or insurance to pay for. Note that stone chips to a rental car are not always covered.
  • It’s more enjoyable. You spent the money to get here, enjoy the scenery out of the windows while the driver concentrates on the road.
  • It’s direct. Most airport shuttles are direct or have minimal stops. The ski shuttles get you to the ski hill sooner as they drop you off right at the base.
  • It’s easy. Jet lagged? No problem, our friendly drivers know where to take you!
  • It’s peace of mind. One less thing to worry about on your Canada ski holiday.

We also organise private transfers and charter services. For more information on our winter services, view the Calgary to Banff Transfer Schedule and the Vancouver to Whistler Transfer Schedule.

Contact rocky-peak Ski Holidays to book!

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Ski Holidays Canada

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Thinking of a ski holiday in Canada? Considering visiting any of the following ski resorts: Banff Norquay, Fernie, Jasper Marmot Basin, Kicking Horse, Kimberley, Lake Louise, Nakiska, Panorama, Sunshine Village, Whistler Blackcomb? Then read on!

Things to consider before deciding where to go on a ski holiday in Canada. The following is based on statistics gathered direct from the ski hills by rocky-peak Ski Holidays.

? Price

We all have a budget to stick to, well, most of us anyway!

Best value ski resort: Jasper Marmot Basin

Most Expensive ski resort: Whistler Blackcomb

? Terrain (Based on % of resort)

Mostly beginner: Jasper Marmot Basin

Mostly intermediate: Nakiska

Mostly advanced: Whistler Blackcomb (Kicking Horse is close second)

Mostly Expert: Panorama

? Time of year

Earliest opening: Sunshine Village, Banff

Latest Closing: Whistler Blackcomb

Be aware that the coldest months are January and February. Some of the best rates of the season are in January and as long as you have plenty of warm clothes just in case, it is definately worth taking advantage of these rates.

? Duration

Longest season: Whistler Blackcomb (Sunshine Village, Banff close second)

Whistler Blackcomb opens November and closes in early June – how great is that?! Blackcomb Mountain also has a glacier which can be skiied on in the summer.

Sunshine Village, Banff closes end of May. If you are wanting to stay a season then go for the resorts with the longest season. If you are coming out for just week, it is best stick with just one resort, that way you will get to know the runs well. For two week ski holidays think about spending one week in one resort, and the other week in another.

If you don’t want to do the split resort ski holiday, Banff, for example, has access to Banff Norquay, Lake Louise and Sunshine Village and if you are prepared to travel a couple of hours, Kicking Horse onboard the popular Kicking Horse Express Ski Bus. Lake Louise also has easy access to all these resorts too.

? Snow Quantity

Greatest average snowfall: Whistler Blackcomb (Fernie is close second)

This might be why Fernie was rated number 5 best ski resort in North America in Skiing Magazine’s “Top 25 Resorts in North America”. Whistler Blackcomb was number one again!

If you are after deep powder, then increase your chances by visiting the resorts with the highest average snowfall. One thing to remember though is that you can have a powder day in most resorts if your timing is right (and you are lucky!), however, skiing while that snow is coming down is not that much fun as you can not see too much so don’t pray for too much snow at once!

? Snow Quality

Best quality: Sunshine Village, Banff

Quality not quantity comes to mind. Head to the higher resorts for the best quality snow. If the temperatures rise a bit, you still know you will be getting good quality snow, not that horrible slushy stuff. The higher the resorts, the lower the temperatures are going to be so that is something to bear in mind.

In my opinion, Sunshine Village, Banff has the best quality snow. It is ideally located on the Continental Divide and is a high resort and so Sunshine Village, Banff often receives snow when the other ski resorts aren’t.

? Best Powder

Kicking Horse without a doubt! Kicking Horse has it’s famous "champagne powder" that you can just cruise through. The air is so dry, you will find it is almost impossible to make snowballs out of this light fluffy powder. If it looks like the snow is going to hit Kicking Horse Mountain Resort while you are out here, be sure to hop on the Powder Express Bus to Kicking Horse.

? Racing

Do you like to Race?

The best for racing are Lake Louise and Nakiska. With their groomed runs you fly!

? Greatest Vertical

Do you like long runs?!

Whistler Blackcomb has the greatest vertical in North America (closely followed by Vail) and Kicking Horse has the greatest vertical in the Canadian Rockies. You will find your ankles will burn if you try to do the run from top to bottom in one go. It is certainly a buzz when you do a great last long run from top to bottom to finish your day.

? Skiable Terrain

Whistler Blackcomb comes first to no surprise. Lake Louise has the greatest skiable terrain in the Canadian Rockies. Both these resorts have enough runs for you to be finding new runs year after year!

? Family friendly resorts

All the resorts cater to families, some more so than others. Sunshine Village, Banff, Banff Norquay, Lake Louise, Jasper Marmot Basin and Whistler Blackcomb are all excellent for families of mixed ages and abilities.

? Accommodation preferences

You may want to decide what sort of ski accommodation you would like before you choose the ski resort as not all accommodation types are available at every resort. Larger resort homes are available in Whistler Blackcomb and Fernie unlike Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper which have just mostly hotel rooms. Ski-in, ski-out properties can only be found at Kicking Horse, Fernie, Kimberley, Panorama, Whistler Blackcomb, and Sunshine Village .

I hope I have been able to give you a few things to think about when planning your ski holiday in Canada. For more information and expert advice, be sure to contact rocky-peak Ski Holidays for your ski holiday in Canada.

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Kicking Horse – 3-Bedroom Resort Home – AVAILABLE New Year

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We are now almost fully booked over the New Year 2007/2008 in most of our ski resorts in the Canadian Rockies and Western Canada. Larger resort homes over New Year are therefore very hard to come by!

Due to a last minute cancellation, a 3-bedroom on-mountain resort home has become available for December 28 2007 for 4 nights in Kicking Horse Mountain Resort. This is an absolute gem and if you have not already snapped up a place over New Year, snap this one up!

Rate is CDN$695 per night plus applicable taxes (14%). Total rate for a 4 night stay is $3169.

To book this or to check if it is still available, contact rocky-peak Ski Holidays as soon as you can!

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Kicking Horse Powder Express

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Experience Canada’s newest ski resort in a day from Lake Louise and Banff onboard the Kicking Horse Powder Express. Kicking Horse Mountain Resort has developed significantly over the last few years and has a lot to offer especially for those looking for something a little more challenging. When you get there, you can catch the main gondola to the top of the mountain. At the very top of the mountain, there is a world class restaurant (The Eagle’s Eye) with impressive panoramic views. This is where the fun begins!

From the top of the mountain you have the greatest vertical in the Rockies to cruise down. Kicking Horse‘s longest run is 10 km (6 miles) and there is a green run all the way down so that the more cautious of you can join in! With plenty of steep and deep, Kicking Horse offers some of the most challenging terrain in the Rockies. You can view the full statistics on Kicking Horse Mountain Resort by visiting a Kicking Horse Mountain Resort statistic summary page (complied by rocky-peak Ski Holidays).

The price of just $90 per adult, and $80 per child/youth including ALL tax is comparable in price to that of a regular day pass in most ski resorts in Western Canada. The Kicking Horse Powder Express will operate 7 days a week from January 6 2008 until one week before the season end. From December 19 to January 6 2008, the Kicking Horse Powder Express will be only operating on Wednesdays and Fridays.

All aboard the Powder Express for Kicking Horse Mountain Resort!