The Cross Canada Ski Trip of a Lifetime

March 2019 stands out as one of the most exhilarating months of my life. Fresh out of university while working my first new grad job, I had managed to stash away enough savings from my time as a marketing specialist at Manitobah Mukluks for the no-frills ski adventure I had always dreamed of. My journey began in Ottawa, from where I flew to Yellowknife with stops in Winnipeg and Edmonton (less than $200 for the flight). Arriving at Yellowknife at midnight, my buddies Piers and Cody awaited me.

The thermometer read –50°C with wind chill when I stepped out of the airport. Instead of heading straight to Piers’s warm home, he thought the proper initiation was a midnight trek through the woods of Yellowknife. My new Eddie Bauer winter boots, even with wool socks, were no match for the biting cold of Great Slave Lake. Piers, seasoned by years in Yellowknife, laughed at me. Thanks man!

Our trip began with a scenic drive from Yellowknife to Fort Providence, capped off with a night at the cozy Snowshoe Inn. The next morning we braved snow-covered roads on the way to Edmonton, dodging stranded cars and running into a few hair-raising moments. Once in the city, we explored the West Edmonton Mall and recharged with a solid night’s sleep before the skiing chapter kicked off.

Marmot Basin welcomed us with blue skies and deep powder. With its elevation and vertical drops, the mountain delivered. The Canadian Rockies put on a show with perfect skiing conditions both on groomers and in the wild.

Fueled by adrenaline, we pushed on to Banff, our next stop. From alpine bowls to tree runs, groomers, and park terrain, Banff was a true winter playground. It quickly became obvious that one trip would never be enough to take in everything Alberta’s slopes have to offer.

The Rockies and the ice highway were the high points of the journey. The stretch between Calgary and Ottawa, however, couldn’t compare. The plains had their charm, but with life calling us back we pressed on. One push saw us drive from Winnipeg to Barrie in a staggering 20 hours.

Looking back, it was an adventure I can’t wait to repeat. Next time, though, I’ll be tempted to fast-track the middle stretch of Canada and spend more time where the mountains rise.

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