Written by: Joanne Elves, Joanne Elves – On the Go.
Driving into the parking lot at Castle Mountain is a bit of a show. The parking lot attendants wear giant – and I mean enormous – foam cowboy hats and dance and ride fake ponies as they direct you to park. It’s that spirited attitude that puts a smile on your face. But the smiles continue all day long. Great skiing, wonderful service, and new attractions make this your #BucketlistAB full mountain experience. Castle Mountain is more than skiing.
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One thing about Castle Mountain Resort that we shouldn’t tell everyone is –
there is never a line-up for the lifts. Lap after lap, no lines.
Image credit: Karen Ung |
“This area has so much to offer,” says Cole Fawcett, Sales and Marketing Coordinator for Ski Castle. “We are introducing features, adventures, and events to attract the non-skiers too. Our biggest announcement is the Scenic Snow Cat Tours offered on Saturdays. It’s only been going on a few weeks, but already we are seeing positive responses.”
Don’t get me wrong. Castle is still the place in southwest Alberta to find chutes choked with powder, glades thick with untracked glory, and steep fall-lines that shake the bejebbers out of many of us.
If you want to find out exactly what to expect at Castle (and all the other ski resorts in Western Canada), check out the full story on SnowSeekers.
Scenic Snow Cat Tours open the backcountry to non-skiers
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| Talk about a perfect #BucketlistAB experience. The Powder Stagecoach is one of the only resort based cat skiing experiences in the Canadian Rockies. Image Credit: Castle Mountain Resort |
“The Scenic Snow Cat Tour is a pretty neat experience for the non-skier,” says Fawcett. “Many people who don’t usually experience the snow come to experience what it’s like to stand on the ridge of a mountain and look out at some pretty impressive landscape. If the sun is setting, it’s got them speechless.”
As the heated snow cat heads for the ridge, a host explains the landscape, the ecosystem, and the weather. Near the top, hot chocolate and a snack is offered before the guests step out on the ridge. The views of southern Alberta, Waterton Lakes National Park, and Montana make for stellar backdrops in photos. To complete the journey, guests are handed a 10-dollar coupon to enjoy après scenic cat tour at the infamous T-bar pub.
Speaking of Powder Stagecoach Cat Skiing, the experience has been enhanced this season. The all-day experience now includes a rib-sticking fueler of a full hot buffet breakfast. Also included in the powder package is avalanche safety gear, a lunch – just in case you didn’t eat enough breakfast, a fully guided day of skiing/riding through over 900 acres of private glades, and an après ski photo presentation and celebratory brew. It’s an exhilerating day only offered Thursday through Saturday to guarantee the freshies.
Last Tracks Snow Shoe Tours
The late afternoon Last Track Snow Shoe Tours on Saturdays last about two hours. The group descends through the Ghost Rider Glades (Yup…down hill all the way, baby!), and a $10 coupon for the T-Bar Pub is included. Find out more about the snowshoe tours here.
Did someone say food and good times?
Check the calendar at Castle. It’s jamming up with events beyond the snow. Live music in T-Bar, weekly Tuesday Trivia nights, avalanche awareness days, torchlight parades, Valentine’s Day festivities to name a few. Watch for the Full Moon Snowshoe & Fine Dining experience that pairs a moonlit snowshoe trek with a six-course meal paired with a selection of wines.
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| The bright orange jackets of the Castle Mountain Race club dot the resort on any day. Kids from as far away as Lethbridge and the Crowsnest learn how to handle “steep and deep” at an early age. Image Credit: Joanne Elves |
Stay and play
There really aren’t too many places in Alberta where you can ski and stay. And, Castle Mountain offers something special – reasonably priced overnight accommodations. Check out Castle Mountain Central Reservations to book rooms at the ski lodge and hostel, chalets and houses.
Castle Mountain is only 45 kilometres from Pincher Creek and the great big Ramada sign glowing in the dark is a welcome site. Head there after a day of skiing or dining so you are close by for the next day on the boards. Check the Ramada webpage for ski and stay specials.
Powder hounds…I’m talking to you!
Sure, it’s fun and games for the parking attendants, but here’s the goods on the serious part. Skiing and boarding. The resort sees an average of 900 cm of snow annually and offers 94 trails in 8 alpine bowls on two mountains. A couple of terrain parks complete the package. This place is not fancy. It’s run by a bunch of serious skiers who want to share their love for fresh tracks. It’s the perfect time to check it out.
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| Powder days are a plenty at Castle Mountain Ski Resort. Book a trip on the Powder Stagecoach or head for the Ghost Rider Glades. Image Credit: Castle Mountain Resort |
#ExploreAlberta with SnowSeekers’ #BucketlistAB Expedition. Uncover what’s in store now by visiting SnowSeekers.
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