Fresh powder and
peaks at Lake Louise
kids: ski MarMot Basin; lake louise: Paul ZiZka PhotograPhy/Banff lake louise tourisM; fondue: Post hotel & sPa
Baby boarders
at Marmot Basin
population swells substantially at the
height of the summer tourist season, it
returns to a cozy 5,000 the rest of the
year. “Locals actually talk to you here.
They’ll happily share their experiences
and secrets on hill.”
In town, Finley recommends exploring beyond
the main street. “How
many mountain towns are
flat?” he asks rhetorically.
“You can explore everywhere on a rental bike
most of the year.”
Finley notes another
Jasper quirk that only
seems obvious once he’s
A fondue feast
at the Post Hotel
pointed it out: sunlight.
Unlike many mountain
towns, whose nearby peaks
cast shadows, Jasper lies in a valley that
sometimes make you feel like you’ve
extends significantly to the west, giving
been away for a week.”
residents and visitors more time to
The self-contained mid-mountain
absorb the low winter sun. The result
village (with a renovated slope-side
is a smiling populace, a friendlier town.
hotel) is rare among North American
Don’t believe it? Just stop in for
ski destinations. Sunshine’s skiing itself
a pay-what-you-can Sunday dinner at
covers all the bases, Woit says: “From
the community centre. On any given
its gentle, plateau-like slopes to the
Sunday from January through March,
tough stuff of Goat’s Eye and slackyou can enjoy mealtime banter with the
country of Delirium Dive.”
town minister, visitors from Germany—
“Detractors talk about flat light on
and maybe even Charlie Finley.
grey days” she says, “but in the same
breath, they’ll admit how much they
appreciate S