Western Canada's Mountain Collective Mountains Rise High And Steep
The relentless Mountain Collective gives its passholders a chance to take on the challenges at three of western Canada's heavy hitters: Marmot Basin, Revelstoke and Panorama.
Since 2012, buying a Mountain Collective pass means two days unlimited skiing and riding at any member resort -- now totaling 21 in North America -- plus as many days as you want at half off the rack rate. Here's a trio of big mountains that honor the Mountain Collective:
Located in Jasper National Park with highest base elevation in Canada, Marmot Basin (1,720 a., 3,000 vert.) is not listed as a member of the famed Powder Highway, but its vertical drop and jaw-dropping views matches any. Marmot's got the steeps off alpine bowls that sweep off ridges that fork out under Marmot Peak (8,570 ft.). Countless expert glade lines run through Chalet Slope.
This season, the trail map added hike-to Marmot Cirque off the long summit ridge. The resort also has one of the longest chair rides around: The mile-and-a-half Canadian Rockies Express hauls from base to ridge in less than eight minutes.
With no beds at the base, nearby Jasper -- a classic intercontinental railway stop -- is the overnight hub. The Jasper Fire narrowly missed the town and ski area this summer, but evidence of the wildfire's fury can be seen. Edmonton is a six-hour drive.
Five hours south sits Revelstoke with its continent-leading 5,620-foot vertical drop, unrelenting blacks cruisers, and the longest run (9.5-mile Last Spike) in North America. The 'Stoke is taller than wide, its locale attracts lots of snow but also fog, and conditions vary by elevation.
To offset occasional thin cover below, summer crews finished the move of the ski school from the base to the top of Revelation Gondola, providing access to intermediate and expert terrain for instruction. Otherwise, once you push off the high ground at Revelstoke, there's nowhere to bail. Both North and South bowls require a hike. Below them, it's trees, trees and more trees, all pitching down and away.
Modest base facilities have a few beds, as does town of Revelstoke. Calgary is four hours away.
Farther south, Panorama Mountain (2,975 a., 4,265 vert.) may be the least known along the famed Powder Highway mountains but, with that vertical, the terrain won't disappoint. It's all below treeline, so the glades stands out. Plenty of blues and greens to cruise on lower mountain.
Half the trail map is black-rated, most accessed off the Summit chair. Lots of traverses, hike-to pitch-y glades and natural chutes cover top half of the hill. Taynton Bowl spreads far to skier's right. Extreme Dream's double blacks -- long and technical with hidden cliffs -- stick close to the ridge. Farther out, there's open bowl skiing. A $24 snowcat shuttle cuts traversing time. Since mid-mountain lifts , only way out is return to base.
Unlike its Banff neighbors, Panorama has an extensive array of close-in lodging, eatery choices, and family-friendly amenities.
