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February, 2025

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COMING TO BC

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ya_frizz
Posts: 44 - Karma: 11
Hey NS, just after some advice! heading over to British Columbia this January for a month. We are starting in whistler and then heading east finishing in Calgary. Me and a mate are looking into getting into some backcountry / slack lines (not very experienced), drops pillows that sorta stuff as well as little park.
Possible route; Whistler, Revi, Kicking horse, Fernie, or changing it up and doing something like Banff.
The main aim is to pretty much just wing it an book accommodation (backpackers) on the go.
Questions for you guys...
At that time of year is it easy enough to book last minute hostels, or do they fill up pretty easily?
Should i consider other resorts?
Also is greyhound bus the best way to get around that area?
Any general advice is appreciated!

Thanks alot!!

14 years ago
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rudager
Posts: 11336 - Karma: 4,642
Pretty easy to get into hostels. Book as ahead as you can though.

Why finish in Calgary though?

If I were you, keep going down south after Kicking Horse, check out Red in Rossland, and Whitewater down in Nelson. Beautiful skiing down there.
14 years ago
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Jaymon
Posts: 860 - Karma: 1,213
better yet, go from revy down to Red, then to Whitewater, and then hit Fernie and backtrack a bit so you can go to Golden and the whole banff stuff on your way to cgy.

Also hit me up when you are in revy, thats mah crib an i know tha place like buttah!
14 years ago
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Sharpy
Posts: 7596 - Karma: 19
Be careful even in slackcountry without avvy gear and training.
14 years ago
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rudager
Posts: 11336 - Karma: 4,642
that is a much better idea, along with a much nicer drive.
14 years ago
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ya_frizz
Posts: 44 - Karma: 11
aight sick! will do! revy looks insane!
14 years ago
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ya_frizz
Posts: 44 - Karma: 11
only reason i was thinking calgary is so i can fly out into vancouver. are there any other places to fly out of in the general area?
14 years ago
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rudager
Posts: 11336 - Karma: 4,642
Check out Cranbrook Airport. I think they do flights?
If you want to make Calgary your depart destination, have that like that then.

Do Whistler, then something like Big White or Sun Peaks, then head to Revy, instead of going to Kicking Horse, cut down south to Red and Whitewater, then cut back up, hit Kicking Horse, then Louise and Sunshine. After Sunshine, you'll only be 2 hours away from Calgary Airport

BOOM!
14 years ago
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jorb.co
Posts: 2581 - Karma: 468
If you have a big stupid family full of people who have never skied before and are stupid ignorant assholes, stop by Panorama on your way through! You'll love it!
14 years ago
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BobYohan
Posts: 3001 - Karma: 375
there's a small airport in Castlegar with flights to and from vancouver. it's about equal distance from Rossland (Red) and Nelson (Whitewater).

Honestly, with what you have planned I don't see any reason to go to Alberta at all. Lake Louise and Sunshine get less snow and are full of Calgary crowds. Unless you really want to ride park in which case they are pretty legit.

If I were planning this trip I'd do:
Whistler - Revy - Kicking Horse - Fernie - Red - Whitewater - Castelgar airport.
14 years ago
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ya_frizz
Posts: 44 - Karma: 11
thanks for your help! do you think i should actually book accommodation? or should i just wing the whole trip depending on snow conditions?

14 years ago
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Skibumsmith
Posts: 5448 - Karma: 12,113
ha. this.
14 years ago
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panojibber
Posts: 3382 - Karma: 216
Just a word of advice, backcountry is skeeetchy without proper training or at least someone to show you around. Check out Avalanche.ca for forecasts, theres even a little area especially for whistler. I think you'll probably be blown away by the stuff you find inbounds at revy/whis anyways, sickest in bounds terrain I have ever seen fo sho. I don't know the whistler backcountry at all but I'm sure there's someone in regionals who would love to help you out.
14 years ago
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Jaymon
Posts: 860 - Karma: 1,213
you nailed it, like dead on
14 years ago
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BobYohan
Posts: 3001 - Karma: 375
ive never 'paid' for accommodation in these places so not sure... but i think if you're trying to stay as cheap as possible probably better to book ahead in whis at least. the other places should be easier to do on short notice
14 years ago
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bakedpow
Posts: 8770 - Karma: 10,467
If only i had the money.
14 years ago
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zagfan5
Posts: 2608 - Karma: 144
id recommend this route as well. albertas not that great anyways. its BC that gets all the good snow. the change i would do to that route tho is instead of flying out of castlegar, then to vancouver for your flight, continue 3 hours or so south to spokane and fly home from there.
14 years ago
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will_powder
Posts: 3194 - Karma: 5,445
Golden and lake Louise have really nice hostels.
14 years ago
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zagfan5
Posts: 2608 - Karma: 144
you will have a more canadian and awesome experience if u go route 2. way better pow, less commercialness/crowds, and way better pow!
14 years ago
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hemlockjibber8
Posts: 5998 - Karma: 3,684
where are you coming from? That really determines where you fly out of...at least for cost.

make sure you stop by Kicking Horse. I wouldn't bother with anything in alberta, especially after hitting everything you said you want to.
14 years ago
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ya_frizz
Posts: 44 - Karma: 11
coming from Australia, already flying in and out of vancouver. i'm going to need a proper map by the sounds of things! i've heard nothing but good things from kicking horse. just worried about hostels, because there isn't many in that area
14 years ago
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rudager
Posts: 11336 - Karma: 4,642
Book ahead then, there is also a really handy map that can be found through out bc and Alberta called "the powder highway" it'll have everything you want to ski on the east side of bc. It shows molars between the towns, even think it shows whether there is a hostel too.
14 years ago
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